| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. Election Day is two weeks away.
|  | TOP TALKER | | PROGNOSTICATING: Kamala Harris is expected to wipe the floor with Donald Trump in Illinois on Nov. 5, but more interesting for local political watchers is how the outcome will affect the state’s down ballot races. One thing Democrats and Republicans agree on: Voter turnout will be the key. On the left: Democratic strategist Ben Hardin has got his eye on the Lake County state's attorney’s race, the Will County clerk’s race and the 3rd District Appellate Court race. “They’re all races where I expect the presidential contest to gin up voter engagement to see fairly decisive Democratic margins,” said Hardin, who also heads the Illinois Democratic Party. “Harris is a massive boon for turnout,” Hardin added. “Her ability to lead on reproductive rights at this moment is going to get people off their couches and into polling places all across the state.” Mike Ollen, senior political adviser to Gov. JB Pritzker, is watching state House and Senate races and expects to see winning results given the Illinois Democratic Party is “running a complete coordinated campaign up and down the ballot.” The coordinated campaign: Political consultant Larry Luster, who’s managed Democratic races statewide, also predicts: “Democrats will get a boost from Kamala being at the top of the ticket, and I expect Democratic Party of Illinois’ investment in down-ballot races will yield a positive result.” Luster is watching two races , whose outcome could predict Harris’ popularity outside of urban areas: the 40th District, southwest suburban state Senate race between Democratic state Rep. Patrick Joyce and Republican challenger Philip Nagel; and the 114th District, southern Illinois state rep race between Democrat LaToya Greenwood and Republican Kevin Schmidt. Everything is local: “I’ll be watching the suburbs to see if Democrats can solidify their gains made over the Trump years and even expand on those gains in places like Lake County and McHenry County,” said ARC Strategies’ Jordan Abudayyeh, who worked on Pritzker’s campaigns. And Joanna Klonsky , who’s worked on campaigns for Lori Lightfoot, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Fritz Kaegi over the years, is also keeping an eye on the 3rd Appellate Court race. She calls candidate Kenton Skarin, “a Clarence Thomas acolyte” running against Democrat John Anderson. On the right: “We know a majority of our voters vote on Election Day, so this is about activating our less reliable voters to get out early and vote. Our outreach operation has made inroads across the board and we look forward to seeing more Republicans elected come Nov. 5,” said Matt Janes, executive director of the Illinois Republican Party. Illinois could predict what happens nationally, Aaron Del Mar , the state GOP co-chair, told Playbook. “Unprecedented” early voting by Republicans “is a big sign of voter intensity across the country,” he said. School daze: The election of the first elected Chicago School Board is drawing the most attention in the city. The big question is whether progressive candidates endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union will dominate. School board fallout: “I’ll be interested in how the recent drama regarding CPS [and school board upheaval] translates into CTU losing school districts that Brandon Johnson won in the 2023 mayoral election,” said political consultant Frank Calabrese, noting that Johnson won five of the 10 school board districts. See his map here ������ As political consultant Ron Holmes put it: “The twists and turns of the elected school board have the makings of the crappy TV show that you just can’t stop binging.”
| | THE BUZZ | | |  Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan arrives at federal court where he is on trial on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Chicago. | Erin Hooley/AP | ON TRIAL: The federal trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan began Monday with opening arguments painting the former powerful legislative leader as a man focused on protecting the Democratic legislative agenda, according to his attorney, while prosecutors described him as a betrayer of the public trust. His back story: Madigan was the longest-serving House speaker in U.S. history who stepped down from his position as head of the Illinois Democratic Party in 2021 — two posts he wielded to advance several liberal causes, including legalizing gay marriage and raising the minimum wage. In 2022, he was charged with racketeering and bribery. And after long court hearings and unusually lengthy jury-selection process, his trial has begun. Madigan’s attorney, Tom Breen, described his client as a man focused on helping constituents find jobs and opportunities — just as his father, a 13th Ward superintendent, had done. The former speaker was likened to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and being a product of Depression-era practices of helping others find work. Prosecutors told a different story: “Madigan abused his power and used the organization he led to engage in a pattern of corrupt conduct over and over and over again,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker told jurors in her two-hour opening statement. On trial with Madigan is his longtime ally, Michael McClain. Opening arguments for his part of the trial are set to begin today. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Sitting in the front row for the high-profile trial were Madigan and McClain’s wives and Madigan’s daughter, Lisa Madigan, the former Illinois attorney general. The headlines: Madigan accused of running 'campaign of bribery,' but defense says case is based on 'unreliable sources,' by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Matthew Hendrickson Corrupt political boss or defender of his constituents? Madigan trial begins in earnest, by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau and Ray Long Lengthy jury selection portends arduous trial for ousted Democratic powerbroker, by Capital News’ Hannah Meisel If you are Michael Madigan, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At Maryville Academy at 11 a.m. for a ribbon cutting for new DCFS facility
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At City Hall at 2 p.m. to preside over a special meeting of the Chicago City Council
| | Where's Toni | | | At Malcolm X College at 9 a.m. to provide welcome remarks at the 2024 Chicagoland Workforce Development Symposium — At the Cook County Building at 10 a.m. to preside over the Forest Preserves meeting Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | A message from Capital One: At Capital One, our affordable housing initiatives support inclusive, thriving, resident-centered communities right here in Illinois. We strive to promote individual well-being by financing both the development and preservation of affordable housing, along with services that directly respond to resident needs. From 2020-2023, we provided nearly $378 million in capital for community development across the state – primarily for safe, equitable, and quality housing to help transform resident lives. Learn more here. | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Illinois House races to watch, where suburban challenges could affect Springfield power balance: “Democrats are spending big to hold onto one northwest suburban seat and potentially flip another, while Republicans will need to protect a south suburban seat to have any chance of chipping away at Democratic super-majorities in Springfield,” by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout. — Democrats looking for another clean sweep of Cook County races, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig — 2025 CAMPAIGN: Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin to face at least two challengers in 2025 election: Irvin, who’s seeking a third term, will face Alderman-at-Large John Laesch and 3rd Ward Alderman Ted Mesiacos, who filed their petitions for on Monday, the first day candidates could submit them, by the Daily Herald’s Susan Sarkauskas and Rick West. — 2025 CAMPAIGN: Dan Brady filed his nominating petitions to run for mayor of Bloomington. He's a former state representative and McLean County elected official.
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago Public Schools halts board meetings until December amid board and mayor’s office shake-ups: The resignation of Jen Johnson, deputy mayor for education, and the cancellation of the October meeting “are the latest developments in what has proved to be an eventful and tumultuous month for the mayor’s office, school board and district,” by the Tribune’s Molly Morrow. — How Chicago got ahead of the curve on quantum computing: “Long before Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was cajoling state legislators to give him $500 million to bet on quantum computing, University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer was pitching the guv,” by Crain’s John Pletz. — City shutting down migrant shelter system by end of the year: “The migrant shelter system will be combined with the city’s homelessness services, effectively ending a two-system approach to both crises,” by the Block Club’s Melody Mercado. — Mayor Johnson urged to fire Chicago cops tied to Oath Keepers after 'sham' investigation, by the Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos — Lowering city speed limit to 25 mph gets committee OK — but final Council vote slowed down , by the Sun-Times’ David Struett — Can Acero Schools be saved? Parents left scrambling as students mourn ‘a really good school, by the Block Club’s Francia Garcia Hernandez
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — DuPage County clerk countersues county officials in ongoing bill saga: “Jean Kaczmarek is suing the DuPage County Board, Auditor Bill White and County Board Chair Deborah Conroy in a move to assert her right to control how she runs the clerk’s office,” by the Daily Herald’s Alicia Fabbre. — WHAT A ZOO: The Cook County Forest Preserve Zoological Committee, chaired by Commissioner Kevin Morrison, will meet today to review the Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s “Next Century Plan.”
| | | | A message from Capital One:   | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Bruce Sagan, the longtime publisher of the Hyde Park Herald, was presented the National Medal of Arts on Monday by President Joe Biden, via the Herald . — Mary Mitchell, the former Chicago Sun-Times columnist, and Curtis Lawrence, the former Block Club Chicago senior editor of investigations, will receive the 2024 Chicago Journalists Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the group’s upcoming awards ceremony Nov. 15. WGN TV general assignment reporter Mike Lowe will be recognized as Chicago Journalist of the Year. Details here
| | | Reader Digest | | | We asked which pro athlete you’d like to see run for office. Eric DeBillis: “Grant Hill's parents are longtime friends of the Obamas and the Bushes, he was appearing in PSAs against anti-gay bullying back when that took guts, and he's popular in Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina and Florida from his NBA career. But instead we have Royce White (a conspiracy theorist who played three games in the NBA) running for Senate in Minnesota. What a time to be alive.” Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg: “Megan Rapinoe would be a fabulous advocate for improving our employment discrimination laws.” Lucas Hawley: NBA’s Enes Kanter Freedom. Michael Kreloff: “Ernie Banks ran for alderman and ran a distant third. Suggesting that even the greatest Illinois athletes still need clout to succeed.” Jim Lyons: Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr. Ed Mazur: “Ozzie Guillen — baseball player, manager of the 2005 World Series champion White Sox, naturalized U.S. citizen, bilingual and lives in Chicago, not the suburbs.” Timothy Thomas : “Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, who serves as the current vice president of the NBA Players Association, is an NBA All-Star, social activist, and scholar, defying the typical stereotypes associated with athletes.” Next question: If you were a wrestler, what would your name be? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Coming soon: The most pro-crypto Congress ever, by POLITICO’s Jasper Goodman — Dissecting Trump’s Arnold Palmer masculinity play, via POLITICO politics reporters — How Nevada became the swing state campaigns can’t figure out, by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly
| | A message from Capital One: At Capital One, we are committed to changing banking for good here in Illinois. We proudly employ more than 1,700 Chicagoans – who support this city from our offices and Cafés each day.
In the last 10+ years, we’ve provided over 500 grants to nonprofit organizations in Illinois, including programs that focus on community service, education, and workforce development. Our efforts are informed by a long-standing belief that our partners—who are closest to the needs of the community—are best positioned to develop effective and sustainable solutions. Deep community relationships with affordable housing developers, nonprofit organizations, local government, and civic leaders are at the heart of our community programs.
We are committed to continuing to spend with diverse suppliers operating in the state of Illinois, with over $8M in one year period spent with businesses owned by people of color, veterans, and women. Learn more here. | | | | | TRANSITIONS | | — Nahiomy Alvarez is now senior adviser for debt strategy and policy at the Treasury Department. She was senior manager for markets policy at Cboe Global Markets.
| | EVENTS | | — Today at 6 pm: John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation, will join John Shaw , director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, for a discussion about the role of philanthropy, the work of the MacArthur Foundation and the “Press Forward” initiative which seeks to revive local journalism. Register here
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Illinois Deputy Registrar Nadine O'Leary for correctly answering that Sen. Dick Durbin helped turn the Crows Mill Pub into a popular Springfield hangout. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the European king interred in Libertyville before being returned to Europe in 2013? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Chicago Ald. Anthony Beale, former state Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Patrick O’Malley, former state Rep. Bob Flider, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres partner Penelope Campbell, broadcast media strategist Jay Foot, LocalLabs CEO Brian Timpone and Sun-Times reporter Stephanie Zimmermann. -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 | | | | |
