Speaker Mike Johnson’s Illinois swing

Jun 03, 2024

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House Speaker Mike Johnson is flanked by IL-17 Republican candidate Joe McGraw, left, and Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) during a trip to Peoria, Illinois.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is flanked by IL-17 Republican candidate Joe McGraw, left, and Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) during a trip to Peoria, Illinois, on Saturday, June 1, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO

PEORIA, Illinois: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson headlined the annual Peoria-Tazewell Lincoln Day Dinner, where he railed on the guilty verdicts against Donald Trump and pumped up the IL-17 congressional race.

It was a scene: More than 400 Republican attendees gathered to hear Johnson speak at the Four Points by Sheraton Peoria. Reporters weren’t allowed into the ballroom, but Johnson did speak to us before the event.

On Trump: Johnson said, “He is not just our nominee, not just an individual running for president. I think now he’s seen as a symbol, a symbol of one who is willing to fight back against that corruption, the deep state and all the rest.”

Here’s POLITICO’s full report with quotes from Illinois Republicans Joe Walsh, Jeanne Ives, Rhonda Belford and Jim Rule.

During the presser: Johnson stood with Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) and Joe McGraw, a retired judge who’s challenging incumbent Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen in the IL-17 District in November.

Johnson said he made the trip to Peoria to support McGraw. “[Voters] are going to look for somebody who is a grownup to represent them,” Johnson said. “Somebody who has a great resume and will be a great leader and, I think, will represent the real interest and values of the people in the district.”

Johnson called Sorensen a “radical leftist” and dismissed a question about Democrats out-raising Republicans in the race.

The IL-17 is a swing district that includes part of Rockford in northern Illinois and Rock Island to the west. In 2022, Sorensen edged out Republican Esther Joy King by just under four points. It’s close enough that Republicans see a window of opportunity in 2024 to capture the seat as they try to hold on to a House majority.

Another headline: In Peoria stop, Speaker Mike Johnson says this year's election is the most important of our lifetime, by WCBU’s Collin Schopp

THE BUZZ

A RED FLAG: The guilty verdicts against Donald Trump prompted a Will County official to fly an upside-down American flag outside the township’s offices.

From the Tribune: Will County Township Supervisor Steve Balich has no regrets flying inverted U.S. flag outside public offices for Trump, by the Tribune’s Rick Pearson.

Back story: Balich is “a controversial right-wing figure” in Will County politics as well as a Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July. He's been hosting regular weekend rallies for the former Republican president, Pearson reports.

It’s a trend: The upside-down flag was a talking point even before the verdicts against Trump. One was flown at the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters.

And The Associated Press reports: “A steady flow of images showing upside-down American flags” has appeared on social media as Trump’s supporters and right-wing commentators protest his felony conviction, according to the AP's Christine Fernando.

If you are Steve Balich, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com

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WHERE'S JB

No official public events.

WHERE's BRANDON

At Daley Plaza at 9:30 a.m. for a flag raising ceremony in honor of Pride Month.

Where's Toni

At Daley Plaza at 9:30 a.m. for the flag raising ceremony.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com

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CONVENTION ZONE

— CROWD CONTROL: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot said concerns about protests during the Democratic National Convention this August in Chicago shouldn’t be compared to 1968 but to 2020, when protesters “wanted to engage” with police, she told Fox 32’s Paris Schutz in a wide-ranging interview that also touched on the Trump verdicts. Full interview here

‘We’ll be prepared’: Law enforcement has since worked “to retool the training to make sure that police understand what they need to do and, frankly, not do when reacting to a crowd,” Lightfoot said, adding that “foremost” is safeguarding personal rights. “But you also have to be prepared for the violence. … There are going to be protests. There are protests at every political convention from the beginning of our republic. So, we'll be prepared.”

IN MEMORIAM

— Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Lois Shields Robinson, dies at 86: “Former first lady Michelle Obama said her mother was ‘my rock:' ‘I simply wouldn’t be who I am today without her,’” by the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

THE STATEWIDES

— Illinois residents can claim a bigger state tax credit next year under the new budget: “The so-called standard exemption increase will mean an extra $69 or so for families of four. The tax credit will once again be tied to inflation after lawmakers last year quietly untied it,” by WBEZ’s Dave McKinney.

— Gov. JB Pritzker bets FanDuel, DraftKings won't leave Illinois over hefty sports wagering tax hike: “Major online oddsmakers like FanDuel and DraftKings say they have to ‘reevaluate’” their Illinois operations with a hefty tax increase on the way,” by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout

— Legislation now before Pritzker: Mobile driver’s licenses, medical debt relief and a new state mushroom, by the Tribune’s Olivia Stevens, Jeremy Gorner and Olivia Olander

— Illinois' use of cameras that read license plates amounts to 'dragnet surveillance,' lawsuit alleges, by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo

— Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch sued by staffers who say he thwarted their efforts to form union, by the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Olivia Olander

CHICAGO

— Unusual mix of possible candidates line up for Chicago’s first school board elections this fall: “Potential candidates are circulating petitions while educating voters about the inaugural contests. Many are parents, advocates and former educators making their first foray into politics, navigating a steep learning curve with little name recognition or cash.” And one candidate is a noted rapper, by the AP's Sophia Tareen.

— Chicago wants to enlist remote workers in rescue of downtown: “The city is touting co-working spaces in iconic tourist locations. The campaign’s goal is to generate an economic impact of $10 million,” by Bloomberg’s Isis Almeida.

HIGHER-ED

— Columbia College Chicago lays off 70 staff members amid budget deficit, by the Sun-Times’ Kade Heather

— University Of Chicago blocks seniors from graduating over pro-Palestine protests, by the Block Club’s Maxwell Evans

— Hundreds walk out of U. of C. convocation protesting war in Gaza, one person arrested, by the Tribune’s Kate Armanini

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COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin says Kane County sheriff's decisions before police shooting led to 'unfortunate loss of life': “Irvin was referring to Sheriff Ron Hain’s order to seize the suspect’s car the night before the fatal shooting, ‘compromising’ an undercover Aurora police operation to arrest the man safely. Hain called Irvin’s comments ‘reckless and inappropriate,’” by the Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth.

— Mass shooting survivor reaches cash settlement with former Highland Park: “Chris Maliszewski, a former recreation director for the Park District, was terminated from his job in December when he says he was unable to return to work after experiencing a panic attack on the job following an active shooter incident. The panic attack came 10 months after Maliszewski worked the Chicago suburb’s Fourth of July parade in 2022 that turned deadly,” by Raw Story’s Alexandria Jacobson.

DAY IN COURT

— A young mother’s murder horrified central Illinois. Decades later, the family convicted in her death says DNA proves they’re innocent, by the Tribune’s Jonathan Bullington

TRANSITIONS

— Jeremy Custer, is now senior adviser to DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy’s team. Custer has spent the past six years as political director for Operating Engineers Local 150 and has been an adviser on numerous Chicago-area political campaigns, including the Illinois Workers Rights Amendment initiative.

— Brian Berg is now director of public affairs at the City of Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services. He was at the City Treasurer's Office, where he held the same title.

— Elena Maria Gottreich is senior policy specialist for the Crime and Justice Institute. She's the founder of Poseidon Strategies and earlier was deputy mayor under Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

TAKING NAMES

— Bears Chair George McCaskey has an amazing side gig as a youth umpire, by ESPN’s Courtney Cronin

— It was “Ashvin Lad Day” in Chicago on Saturday. The City Council approved the ceremonial day after friends of Lad, a regular Playbook reader, recommended honoring the day he moved to Chicago — June 1, 2005.

JOIN US ON 6/12 FOR A TALK ON THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY: As air travel soars again, policymakers and airlines are grappling with a series of contemporary challenges to the industry's future. Join POLITICO on June 12 for a topical and timely conversation with government leaders and aviation stakeholders about the state of the airline industry. From what passengers want to what airlines need amid the high demand for air traffic, workers and technology solutions. What can Washington do to ensure passengers and providers are equipped to fly right? REGISTER HERE.

Reader Digest

We asked what you can’t do a day without — and thank you for all the replies about “Illinois Playbook!” Here are the rest:

Jason Anderson: “Sonic Ice.”

Mike Gascoigne: “It’s coffee for me. I am a zombie without it.”

Marshall Hatlee: “Playing the NYT's Connections and doing my best at the Immaculate Grid.”

Lucas Hawley: “My AirPods.”

Jeff Nathan: “Fifty years ago it was sex. Now it’s Lipitor.” (TMI, Jeff!)

Mark Rosenberg: “New York Times’ Wordle and Spelling Bee.”

Donovan Pepper: “I can’t go without coffee and reading Sun-Times and Trib!”

NEXT QUESTION: What’s your favorite spot to work remotely?

SPOTLIGHT

— Mexico elects Claudia Sheinbaum as first woman president in landslide: “Sheinbaum is also the country’s first Jewish leader,” by POLITICO’s Šejla Ahmatović.

— Thousands of Mexican nationals in Chicago turn out to vote, some waiting over 10 hours, by the Tribune’s Laura Rodríguez Presa

— Spotted: A number of Chicagoans were in Mexico City to observe the elections Sunday, including former Congressman Luis Gutierrez; state Sens. Cristina Castro, Celina Villanueva and Karina Villa; state Reps. Norma Hernandez and Bob Morgan; Chicago Alds. Ruth Cruz and Byron Sigcho-Lopez; Evanston City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza; Committeeman Sean Tenner and consultant Frank Calabrese.

KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION

— VAPE SHOWDOWN: Sen. Dick Durbin is hosting a hearing on illegal vapes on June 12, in part because the number of electronic cigarettes sold has tripled over the past four years, with teenagers being targeted for much of that growth, according to his team. Some irony: This week, some of the biggest manufacturers of those products will attend the CHAMPS conference at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— Hunter Biden’s gun trial starts today. Here’s what to know, by POLITICO’s Betsy Woodruff Swan and Hailey Fuchs

— Eugene Debs ran for president from prison. Now this Indiana museum is having a moment, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren

— 100 years ago, U.S. citizenship for Native Americans came without voting rights in swing states, by the AP's Morgan Lee

— Fauci to face House Covid investigators amid growing concern about the government’s handling of virus research, by POLITICO’s Carmen Paun

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EVENTS

— Tuesday: A virtual panel examines “What does the Trump verdict mean for the election?” Headliners: former Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, former state Sen. Darren Bailey, political reporter Mike Flannery and political consultant Pat Brady, who co-founded the Lincoln Forum, which is sponsoring the event. Tribune reporter Rick Pearson moderates. The event is free. Register here

— June 14: The Chicago Defender’s Men of Excellence banquet will be held. Details (and honorees) here

TRIVIA

FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that actress and animal rights activist Loretta Swit testified in favor of former Ald. Joe Moore’s foie gras ban.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What Chicago pro sports team won a league championship game hosted in another country?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

State Sen. Jason Plummer, Ald. Derrick Curtis, Chicagoland Chamber government relations VP Brad Tietz, Future Founders CEO Scott Issen, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ Patrick G. Martin, Chicago FOIA Officer Cindy Lynch, Tribune reporter Christy Gutowski and Crain’s group publisher Jim Kirk.

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