| | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Thursday morning, Illinois. And thank you for bearing with my weak attempt at Aurora borealis word play in the headline.
|  | TOP TALKER | | The biggest political race this year is in Aurora, where Mayor Richard Irvin is seeking a third term against challenger John Laesch, an alderman who like Irvin has a long political history in Illinois. What makes it interesting: Irvin, a two-termer and the city’s first Black mayor, brings some partisan baggage to the nonpartisan race in a city that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. Irvin is a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for governor, losing in the 2022 GOP primary after securing $50 million in funding from hedge-fund billionaire Ken Griffin. Irvin came in third in that race after Democratic advertising prompted conservatives to get behind Darren Bailey for the General Election. The big question will be whether Irvin’s political views during the governor’s race will loom over the mayor’s contest. Back in 2022, Irvin wouldn’t say whether he had voted for Trump in the past election, and he wouldn’t reveal his views on abortion. Watch for those issues to come up as the mayoral campaign heats up ahead of the April 1 election. Irvin has been working to rehabilitate his image as a centrist for the mayor’s race. See his web site here. But just a few months ago at the Republican National Convention, he hosted a Black mayors for Donald Trump event. Laesch is a Democrat, union carpenter and self-described “progressive political activist” who also served on the East Aurora School Board. Here’s his bio. He’s not new to political campaigns, having run unsuccessfully a few times, including for Congress in 2008 against now Congressman Bill Foster. Connecting the dots: Foster and Sen. Dick Durbin both endorsed another mayoral candidate, Ald. Ted Mesiacos, in Tuesday’s mayoral primary. The results: Irvin edged out Laesch, and Mesiacos came in a distant third. Where his supporters land in the April election will make a difference in the race. Take a look at Tuesday’s primary election results. Note, Aurora, which is the second largest city in Illinois, has the unusual distinction of being located in four different counties, all of which voted for Harris in 2024. Interesting side note: Irvin and Laesch both have military backgrounds. Irvin served in the Army during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Laesch was an intelligence analyst in the Navy. RELATED Thaddeus Jones declares victory over James Patton in Calumet City mayoral race, by the Daily Southtown’s Olivia Stevens Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich promises orderly transition after ReSet slate wins GOP primary, by the Tribune’s Michelle Mullins Vernon Hills trustee race features four familiar names with the community at heart, by the Daily Herald’s Mick Zawislak
| | THE BUZZ | | THE CHICAGO WAY: Vice Mayor Walter Burnett, the long-serving 27th Ward alderman, seemed to invoke the legendary “Council Wars” on Wednesday during a passionate City Council speech. At issue was whether to approve a controversial $830 million infrastructure bond. Mayor Brandon Johnson supported it, and Burnett did, too. But the proposal had loud opposition, virtually splitting the council and signaling the mayor doesn’t have the trust of aldermen when it comes to making financial decisions. Burnett was reminded of the famous 1980s “Council Wars,” declaring, “Wow. I haven’t seen this in a long time, man — since I was looking at TV when I was younger.” How it played out: The mayor won and the council narrowly passed the measure, 26-23, to borrow millions to repair city streets, sidewalks and bridges — but the rift between the mayor and council remains exposed. MORE From the Tribune: City Council passes Johnson’s $830M infrastructure bond plan after pushback: “While opponents decried the debt package as financially irresponsible, allies of the mayor defended it as a typical and crucial way to fund basic infrastructure work,” by Jake Sheridan. From the Sun-Times: Johnson's $830M borrowing plan squeaks through City Council, by Fran Spielman From the Block Club: Critics say deal could leave the city on the hook for $2B when it’s set to be paid off in the 2050s, by Mack Liederman and Quinn Myers If you are Thaddeus Jones, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | On Sheffield Avenue at 10 a.m. for the Chicago Housing Authority Year of Renewal announcement and Edith Spurlock Sampson ribbon-cutting — At the Chicago-Kent law school at 6 p.m. for a symposium on Haiti
| | Where's Toni | | At Inner-City Muslim Action Network at 10:30 a.m. to mark Ramadan, Lent and Passover Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | Donald Trump's unprecedented effort to reshape the federal government is consuming Washington. To track this seismic shift, we're relaunching one of our signature newsletters. Sign up to get West Wing Playbook: Remaking Government in your inbox. | | | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Michael Sacks, the Chicago businessman who chaired the host committee for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, was feted last night as Crain’s “Executive of the Year.” Gov. JB Pritzker and former Ambassador and Mayor Rahm Emanuel gave speeches at the event held at the Peninsula Hotel. A congratulatory video featured former President Barack Obama, the Obama Center’s Valerie Jarrett, businessman John Rogers Jr. and Sacks’ partner at GCM Grosvenor Paul Meister. Chicago Sky co-owner Nadia Rawlinson was honored as an emerging leader and introduced by former NBA star Dwyane Wade. — Congressman Byron Donalds, who just declared his candidacy for governor in Florida, will keynote the Illinois Republican Party’s Red Gala on April 25. Details here — WGN’s Mike Lowe shares hopeful update about his cancer fight, by WGN 9’s Dina Bair and Katharin Czink
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Fact check: Claim that Chicago Cubs owner gave money to conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel is mostly true, by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Madeline Heim
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Audit finds many were improperly enrolled in state health care program for noncitizens, while costs were vastly underestimated: “While widely supported by the Latino caucus in Springfield and other progressive lawmakers, the programs have been a source of tension among the Democrats who control the legislature and briefly derailed budget negotiations two years ago before legislators reached a compromise that gave Pritzker broad latitude to rein in costs,” by the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Dan Petrella. — Illinois schools continuing DEI initiatives despite federal funding threats: The state receives billions annually from the federal government, by Capitol News’ Ben Szalinski. The conservative Illinois Freedom Caucus responded saying it has sent a letter to the U.S. Education Department urging it “to enforce President Donald Trump’s directives on DEI and school curriculum in Illinois.” Here’s the letter — Illinois lawmakers’ bill would decriminalize prostitution, create sex workers’ bill of rights, by WGN 9’s John Clark — Local HUD workers terminated in recent Trump administration cuts, by the Tribune’s Lizzie Kane — Channeling Jerry Lewis: Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs put on an I-CASH telethon on WCIA TV in Champaign to return missing money to people. Nearly 2,700 claims were started in the station’s viewing area totaling $1.24 million, via WCIA. — Anticipating a rush, DMV facilities to open Saturdays for Real ID applicants, by the Tribune’s Addison Wright. … The Illinois secretary of state has also launched an interactive portal to determine whether Illinoisans need a REAL ID before the May 7 enforcement begins. Check it out here.
| | CHICAGO | | — Park District CEO Rosa Escareño stepping down: “Her exit follows a series of departures by city leaders. Escareño led the Park District through a staffing shortage and high-profile spats with neighbors over using parks for music festivals,” by the Block Club’s Quinn Myers and Mack Liederman. — END OF AN ERA: Tech incubator 1871 is leaving Merchandise Mart, by Crain’s John Pletz — Immigration agents detain a Chicago adult during school drop-off, Acero Schools officials say, by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp — Chicago rents climbing fast. For many, there’s nowhere left to go, by WBEZ’s Amy Qin and Andjela Padejski
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Jury selected for Highland Park parade massacre trial — opening statements set for Monday: “The jury of six men and six women is set to return Monday for opening statements in a trial that could last three to five weeks. Six alternate jurors have also been selected,” by the Sun-Times’ David Struett. — Arlington Heights mayoral candidates deny conflicts with their day jobs, by the Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek
| | Reader Digest | | We asked about your most adventurous move. Matthew Beaudet: “When I was 24, I carried a friend on my back down One Man's Path on Slieve League in Ireland because she froze when she looked down the steep mountain.” Eli Brottman: “Took a largely spontaneous, solo road trip to the East Coast and didn't even book hotels beforehand!” Kristopher Anderson: “I once pet a tiger, but maybe more adventurous was the time I jumped on the Metra tracks at 57th Street to retrieve my cell phone.” Tammy Hansen: “Sassed my mother. Lucky to be alive!” Mark Huddle: “Riding my motorcycle 160 mph.” Charles Keller: “When I was 19, I went rock climbing at Garden of the Gods in Southern IL.” Nancy Kohn: “I once took a 30-hour train ride from Moscow to Budapest in 1986 without knowing any Russian or Hungarian.” Chris Kolker: “Sky diving and aerobatics, but not on the same day.” Ashvin Lad: “Ran with the bulls in Pamplona and jumped out of a plane from 17,000 feet.” Kathy Posner: Took flying lessons in a single engine Cessna plane when I was younger but I didn't get a pilot's license. David Prosperi: “While working in the U.S. Department of the Interior, I rode a burro down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.” Mark Rosenberg: “Did a polar plunge in the Antarctic Sea and rafted the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.” Perri Small: “I've traveled the world mostly alone.” Steve Smith: “When I was 19, I hitchhiked to all four corners of the United States with $200 in my pocket. I visited my congressman, Morgan Murphy, in Washington and he gave me $5.” Next question: What did you learn from a failure? Email skapos@politico.com
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | — Congressman Mike Bost’s telephone town hall earlier this week had so many participants (144,000), many were unable to tune in. So, he’s planned another town hall for March 11 (with a new service provider). Pre-register here.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — How Democratic AGs, including Illinois’ Kwame Raoul, are taking on Trump and Musk — and winning, by POLITICO’s Rachel Bluth and Melanie Mason — Musk’s bad rep among Dems threatens EV sales push in statehouses, by POLITICO’s Marie J. French — Democrats face decision point on shutdown strategy, by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu and Katherine Tully-McManus
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to John Engle for correctly answering that National Louis University was the first school in the country to train students (women) to teach kindergarten. TODAY’s QUESTION: What present-day Illinois municipality played host to the final muster of General Winfield Scott's army during the Blackhawk War of 1832? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, former state Rep. Coy Pugh, nonprofit leader Sara Albrecht, United Airlines Corporate Safety VP Sasha Johnson, attorney Ted Tetzlaff and cannabis lobbyist Trevian Kutti -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 | | | |
