| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Monday, Illinois. We’re three weeks away from the Democratic National Convention hitting Chicago. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, chief of staff to Chicago’s mayor, is our headliner Thursday in a Playbook Live discussion at the Hideout. Details here
|  | TOP TALKER | | ON THE STUMP: Gov. JB Pritzker was back on the national airwaves Sunday showing what he could bring to the table as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential running mate. A week after Harris emerged as the likely Democratic nominee for president, potential running mates are offering a glimpse of how they can help Harris in November. For some it's geographic help that they give coming from swing states. For others, like Pritzker, it’s something else. The Illinois governor is good on the attack: He showed that again Sunday, poking at Republican Donald Trump. He told ABC's Martha Raddatz that the former president “is afraid of windmills” and “talks about all kinds of crazy stuff.” Of JD Vance, Pritzker accused the VP nominee of “hiding his views on a woman's right to choose, and then just broadly, the attack on people who are childless and saying that we ought to raise taxes on childless people and calling them cat ladies. I think he apologized to cats, but he hasn't apologized to women.” He hedged on vetting: Pritzker acknowledged having talked to Harris, but he wouldn’t say whether he’s being vetted for VP. Pritzker downplayed the idea that it matters what state the VP represents: "We’ve seen over the last decades that who you pick as your vice president doesn’t determine whether you’re going to win a state or not," the Democratic governor said. "What it does determine is whether you’ve got the message right across the board." The VP chatter will continue for a few more days as Democrats hustle to meet an Aug. 7 deadline that would get Harris and her to-be-named running mate on ballots in every state. MORE ON THE VP RACE: Odds for every shortlist VP candidate, by New York magazine’s Margaret Hartmann Hill Dems believe VP contender Sen. Mike Kelly could help address Harris’ biggest weakness: immigration, via POLITICO The quiet bond Harris forged with three former state attorneys general, by the New York Times’ Katie Glueck ‘We all realize it’s unlikely.’ But Pete Buttigieg’s VP stock is rising, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren and Christopher Cadelago RELATED Where’s Rahm: “There has been speculation that Harris might want to draft Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to Japan and Barack Obama’s first White House chief of staff, to play a top role in the campaign, but nothing has been confirmed,” according to the Financial Times.
| | THE BUZZ | | FAMILY TIES: POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman has dipped back into the time machine to point out some family dissonance between Gov. JB Pritzker and his cousin, Nicholas Pritzker, in the e-cigarette world. The governor has strongly criticized e-cigarettes over the last few years, adding regulations against vaping and equating vaping companies to “predatory lenders,” “opioid manufacturers” and “gun manufacturers.” Meanwhile his cousin, Nicholas Pritzker “has profited off the surge of vaping, serving as a board member of e-cigarette company Juul. He has been Juul’s second-largest shareholder for more than a decade,” Daniel reported in last Friday's edition of POLITICO Influence. From the governor’s team: Christina Amestoy, a spokesperson for the governor’s campaign, said that he had not profited off of the investment and is not invested in Juul but declined to answer if the governor had spoken to his cousin about the investment stake. “I don’t even know who my first cousin once removed is, never mind why I would be responsible for what they do,” she said in a statement. Nicholas Pritzker didn’t respond to a request for comment. If you are Nick Pritzker, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At Chicago Beyond offices at 11 a.m. to sign birth equity legislation. — At the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Volunteer Orientation Hall at 1 p.m. to celebrate the Illinois Medicaid waiver expansion.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events.
| | Where's Toni | | At the Greater Chicago Food Depository at 1 p.m. for the Illinois Medicaid waiver expansion announcement. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | Pro Briefing: Kamala Harris and the World. What we expect on foreign policy and trade. Join POLITICO Pro for a deep-dive conversation with our specialist reporters about the vice president’s approach to foreign policy. Register Now. | | | | | | | CONVENTION ZONE | | — THIS IS TRUE: CNN-Politico Grill will be hot ticket at the Democratic convention, “‘Every convention, it seems to be the place to see and be seen,’ said Ted Johnson, the political editor for Deadline.com,” by the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet. — The hope, worry and surreal that Illinois Black women Democratic delegates see in Harris’ moment, by WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg — 'Medium Cool' at Music Box Theatre captures panic, pandemonium surrounding the 1968 convention, by the Sun-Times’ Kade Heather
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — APPOINTMENT TIME: Barbara Deer, the widow of the late Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer, and former Chicago Ald. Michael Scott Jr., who’s now director of community and industry relations at Cinespace Studios, are among seven applicants hoping to fill the county board seat left open upon the death of Dennis Deer. Also applying: Kim Davis Ambrose, community engagement manager in the Cook County Board President’s Office; Caleb Davis, a Marist College student interning with the Democratic Convention Host Committee; Eddie Johnson III, a Chicago Public Schools elementary technology coordinator and former aldermanic candidate; Andre Smith, founder of the nonprofit Chicago Against Violence and a previous aldermanic candidate; and John Gholar, assistant general counsel at JP Morgan Chase. Selection process: The selection committee will gather Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to meet the candidates and vote on Deer’s replacement. Live streaming here. The committee is headed by Chicago Ald. Bill Conway, who is the Democratic committeeman and has the most weighted votes in the county’s 2nd District. — Endorsement in DuPage: Maria Sinkule, the Democratic candidate running for DuPage County Board District 1, has been endorsed by Sen. Dick Durbin. Sinkule is hoping to unseat Republican County Board Member Cindy Cronin Cahill.
| | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Supporters at Sonya Massey rally in Springfield: State Sen. Doris Turner, who grew up knowing members of the Massey family, said while she’s proud of how the Springfield community has responded to the shooting, "we will do what we need to do to hold everyone accountable, every single person accountable, because there are layers to this thing. We're going to peel back this onion." The State Journal Register’s Steven Spearie reports. — First lawsuit under new Illinois Fertility Fraud Act illustrates challenges in proving claims, crafting legislation, by the Tribune’s Angie Leventis Lourgos — How Illinois is using lifelike Abraham Lincoln to help tourists, businesses, by the State Journal Register’s Claire Grant — Pritzker moves closer to creating a 'Silicon Valley of quantum development' at former South Works site, by WBEZ’s Abby Miller. — OPINION: The quantum revolution is coming to Illinois, write Samir Mayekar and Nadya Mason in the Tribune — Person dies from fall at Starved Rock State Park, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, by NBC 5’s Matt Stefanski
| | CHICAGO | | — Mayor Brandon Johnson’s political campaign paid a firm for fundraising help while it lobbied City Hall, spurring calls for reform: “Mercury Public Affairs, a New York City-based political strategy firm, has been lobbying Johnson since July 2023 on economic and labor causes... But starting this year, the company’s consulting division also worked for Johnson’s political fund, state campaign finance records show,” by the Tribune’s Alice Yin. — Shedd Aquarium welcomes first baby beluga whale since 2020, by the Sun-Times’ Mary Norkol
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Cook County property tax late fees could be used for tax relief for low-income homeowners: “Commissioner Bridget Gainer, said those fees are coming out ahead of budgeted amounts, providing a potential lifeline ‘to give people relief right now’ amid record spikes,” by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig. — In Dolton, former and current elected officials announce campaigns against Tiffany Henyard, by the Daily Southtown’s Olivia Stevens — Buffalo Grove amphitheater promises to be a destination, by the Daily Herald’s Steve Zalusky — With promise of $47M in public funding, Schaumburg all in on The District, by the Daily Herald’s Eric Peterson
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Anna Demacopoulos, the recently retired judge, is a co-chair of this year’s National Hellenic Museum Gala, along with broadcaster Andrea Darlas. Both are trustees with the museum. The gala is Sept. 28. Details here. — Becky Carroll, founder and CEO of C-Strategies strategic communications and public affairs firm, was awarded the silver Public Relations Professional of the Year award during the recent Bulldog PR Awards.
| | | | The space economy is already woven into our lives in ways we don't always appreciate, creating a global backbone for communications, media, data, science and defense. It's also becoming an increasingly competitive zone among nations - and a venue for complex and important public-private partnerships. Join POLITICO on July 30 for a conversation about what Washington needs to understand is at stake – which sectors of the global economy see their growth arc in space, and what the role of government leaders is in both growing and regulating the explosion of orbital ideas. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what you’re watching during the Olympics. Richard Joyce, past chair of the Grundy County Democrats: “My favorites are the track events and my wife likes gymnastics.” Andrew Davis: “Track and field. I'm pulling for Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson.” Charles Keller: “Golf and anything goofy — breakdancing or skateboarding.” Jim Lyons: “Track and field.” Porter McNeil: “Swimming.” Kathy Posner: “Breaking. For the first time ever, competitive breakdancing, known as ‘breaking,’ is in the Olympics.” James Straus: "Women's gymnastics. My wife was a gymnast and then coached gymnastics before retiring. And now my 8-year-old granddaughter is competing." Jakhari Watson: “Track and field, gymnastics, swimming, diving and basketball most of all.” Patricia Ann Watson: “Women’s gymnastics.” Judith Weinstein: “As the mother of twin former fencers, I’ll be watching fencing!” Brent Zhorne: “Gymnastics, volleyball, rugby (because I played it in college), and the world's most exciting sport — trap shooting! (yawn) because I am a trap shooter.” NEXT QUESTION: What’s your favorite high-protein meal? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — 100 days out, Dems are feeling something unusual: Optimism, by POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy and Lisa Kashinsky — Israel is an early, volatile test for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, via POLITICO — Trump says he wants to deport millions. He’ll have a hard time removing more people than Biden has, by Jack Herrera for POLITICO
| | WEDDING BELLS | | — Tactical Campaigns owner Joe DeBose and metallurgical engineer Nataly Alonso were married over the weekend on the beach in Cancun, Mexico. They met in Utah, when DeBose was working on campaigns. About 70 guests attended the wedding, including former Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey and his wife, Cindy. DeBose was spokesman for Bailey’s gubernatorial campaign in Illinois. Bailey officiated the wedding. Pic!
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Dolores "Dee" Ryan, the first woman and first Democrat elected to the Thornton Township Board, has died. She is the mother of former state Rep. Bob Ryan. She was 92. Read her obit here. — Paul Colgan, who worked for 50 years in the public affairs world, will be honored Thursday at a memorial at Old St. Pat’s church. He died in April. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Timothy Thomas Jr. and NPR’s Scott Simon for correctly answering that Jane Addams was the Chicagoan who became the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. TODAY’s QUESTION: What made the 1920 Republican National Convention in Chicago historic?
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | NBC Olympics Digital Editorial Producer Sam Brief, former NBA star and Farragut Academy alum Tony Brown and Yusuf Nekzad of Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski’s office is the big 3-0. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
