Lawsuit: Illinois Dems can’t use state law to control the name ‘democrat’

A group of Illinois Democrats who disagree with the power structure of their party on how to address transgender civil rights law and policies have sued the state of Illinois, accusing state Democratic officials of trampling their rights by enforcing and defending a state law that denies anyone the ability to call themselves “Democrats” unless they first get permission from the leaders of the Illinois Democratic Party.

On Jan. 27, the group calling themselves Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender filed suit in Chicago federal court.

The lawsuit was filed nominally against Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

However, the lawsuit seeks a court order declaring a state law, identified as the “Party Name Provision,” embedded in the state’s election codes, which blocks nonprofit organizations from “using words associated with established political parties — li...