| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. At 98 degrees in my neighborhood, yesterday was the epitome of a long, hot summer. Enjoy today's cooler temps.
|  | TOP TALKER | | With less than a week before the June 28 primary, voter turnout appears to be abysmal. According to data from the Illinois Board of Elections, 140,399 Illinois residents have voted so far. That will continue to go up with early voting and as mail-in ballots still come in. The election board reports 308,258 ballots were requested by mail. Silver lining: "Early numbers indicate vote by mail for the June 28 primary is on a good pace to surpass previous early voting records," the State Board of Elections' Matt Dietrich said in regard to requests for ballots. The big question: Will those ballots be returned? Still a ways to go: In the 2018 midterm primary, 2.1 million total votes were cast, according to the elections board. And in 2014, 1.36 million total votes came in. Apples to apples: "On the first day of citywide early voting this year, 2,337 votes were cast. On 2018′s first citywide day, 3,991 votes were cast," according to the Tribune. So far in Cook County, 9,540 voters have turned in their ballots by mail and 14,091 have voted early — that's a total of 23,631 votes so far. In 2018, 1.8 million people voted in Cook County in the primary. What it all means: Unless voting picks up, we could be looking at a low-turnout election. Not a surprise, but still… The conventional wisdom is that incumbents benefit most because they have a ground game already set up to get out the vote. But the late primary also allows more time for little-known newcomers to get their name out. Why we're voting in June : State lawmakers moved the usual March primary to June while they were trying to sort out redistricting issues. Population and demographic data from the 2020 census was released later than usual, which delayed redistricting. That created a domino effect of delaying candidacy filings and petition gathering. Now voters are planning vacations and July Fourth menus while also thinking about an election.
| | THE BUZZ | | Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Chicago on Friday for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) conference. Harris will also make a side trip to Plainfield, with Sen. Dick Durbin and Reps. Robin Kelly and Lauren Underwood to highlight efforts by the White House to address maternal health issues. It's a subject Harris, Kelly and Underwood have worked on for years. Illinois line-up: NALEO, considered the largest gathering of Latino leaders and policymakers in the county, will also see Gov. JB Pritzker, Rep. Chuy Garcia, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot making remarks. From D.C.: Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will also address the NALEO conference. Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet has more details. Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I'd like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At Metra Auburn Park Station at 10 a.m. to give remarks at the site's groundbreaking.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | In City Hall at 10 a.m. to preside over the City Council meeting.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Crypto PAC money boosting Jonathan Jackson's bid for Congress now totals more than $1M: "New FEC filings reveals Jackson is being boosted with $1,041,899 in outside money for ads and direct mail in the closing days of the 1st Congressional District campaign," by Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet. — Dems' critical views of each other make secretary of state race seem even more crowded, by Sun-Times' Mitchell Armentrout — More GOP governor intrigue: House Minority Leader Jim Durkin dismissed rumors that he was switching candidates. Durkin said he's behind Richard Irvin all the way for governor, reports NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern. — Obama factor: As attention turns again to Jesse Sullivan in the GOP governor's race, chatter has returned about his backstory, including his support for Barack Obama years ago. Sullivan responds that he's voted only for Republicans for nearly a decade, and that he has never voted in a Democratic primary. — Zalewski v. Rashid: 'Mud fight' of state rep race nears finish line: Rep. Mike Zalewski's campaign received $50,000 from Gov. JB Pritzker. Abdelnasser Rashid has been endorsed by the Chicago Tribune and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. — Cook County Assessor Kaegi touts fairer property tax valuations; challenger Steele says he's broken reform promises, created 'chaos', by Tribune's A.D. Quig — Suburban man running for Congress was convicted 27 years ago of sexually assaulting a woman, by Tribune's John Byrne — Rep. Marie Newman is being endorsed by group of Elizabeth Warren campaign workers in her bid for the IL-06 congressional seat. The group consists of former field organizers and staffers who worked for Warren in Illinois. — Anjanette Young, the high-profile victim of a wrongful police raid, has endorsed Chris Butler for the IL-01 congressional seat. — House District 112: Hackler says he's always opposed mask and vaccine mandates; Korte says as a mom she fought Pritzker lockdowns, mandates, by Madison St. Clair-Record's Steve Korris. — Fernando "Sergio" Mojica, who's running to succeed Majority Leader Greg Harris for the 13th District state House seat, is out with a new digital ad. "Present, presente, and here to represent," Mojica says to cap off the ad. — 83rd House Dem primary candidates talk experience, gun control, by Daily Herald's Susan Sarkauskas
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinois hospitals brace for a flood of out-of-state doctors seeking abortion training: "Some are already getting requests from medical residents in states expected to ban abortion if the Supreme Court overrules Roe," by Crain's Elyssa Cherney. — Title IX turns 50: Meet 50 women in Illinois who have impacted sports on — and off — the field of play, via Tribune — Asian carp is getting a new name so people might actually eat it, by Crain's Corli Jay — Endangered Blanding's turtles in Illinois face new threat from fungal disease, by Tribune's Sheryl DeVore — Illinois Department of Revenue is moving its Chicago office out of the James R. Thompson Center on Friday and will reopen Monday at 555 W. Monroe in the West Loop.
| | FROM CITY HALL | | FAST AND FURIOUS: Just weeks after three children were killed by cars, a Chicago City Council committee approved a plan to raise the threshold for being ticketed by city speed cameras. 6 to 10: Instead of getting ticketed for going 6 mph over the speed limit, drivers would start getting ticketed at 10 mph over if the proposal is passed by the full City Council today. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is livid. "It is unconscionable that any City Council member would consider voting to allow for increased speeds near spaces utilized by our children." The mayor even called out the alderpeople who voted to undo the 6 mph rule: Alds. Brian Hopkins (2nd), Pat Dowell (3rd), Sophia King (4th), Leslie Hairston (5th), Roderick Sawyer (6th), Anthony Beale (9th), Susan Sadlowski-Garza (10th), Marty Quinn (13th), Raymond Lopez (15th), David Moore (17th), Matthew O'Shea (19th), Silvana Tabares (23rd), Anthony Napolitano (41st), Brendan Reilly (42nd), Tom Tunney (44th), and Debra Silverstein (50th). "Residents need to remember these names," Lighfoot said in a statement. Sidenote: A few of those aldermen, Lopez and Sawyer, are running against Lightfoot for mayor, and King is expected to join the race, too. Lightfoot urged residents to call council members and press them to vote no on the issue. The speeding tickets are unpopular to say the least. Your Playbook host has received her fair share. After a few tickets, you learn to change your speeding habits. Or maybe not. The ticketing has been a windfall for the city to the tune of some $40 million, but Beale says it's on the backs of Black and brown communities. "This entire program is again built off of corruption," he said before the council's Finance Committee voted 16 to 15 to send the proposal to the full council. The full council takes up the issue today. — Rules Committee rubber stamps Lightfoot's pick of Monique Scott to fill 24th Ward seat: "Scott did not speak before the unanimous vote, which sets up a final vote by the City Council at its meeting set for Wednesday. After the vote, she thanked members of the City Council," by WTTW's Heather Cherone. — Measure to require apartment complexes to keep residents cool After 3 women died clears key panel, by WTTW's Heather Cherone
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago police release final version of new foot-pursuit policy: "Officers can only engage in a foot pursuit if there 'is a valid law enforcement need to detain the person' that outweighs the dangers of the pursuit," Tribune's Paige Fry reports. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Civic Federation opposes CPS' proposed $9.5B budget: "The district has not sufficiently justified raising its property tax levy by the maximum allowable amount of 5 percent under Illinois' tax cap law, which would result in a $140 million property tax increase at a time when taxpayers already face serious economic strains and when CPS has alternative options available," the organization says in a release. Here's the full report — Kellogg Co. will split into three companies, with snack headquarters in Chicago, by Tribune's Talia Soglin and Sarah Freishtat
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Primary battles will set the stage to determine if Dems can maintain control of DuPage board in November, by Bob Goldsborough for the Tribune — Evanston's Greenwood Beach closed for summer, city cites lifeguard shortage, by Tribune's Alex Hulvalchick — Why South Elgin canceled its Fourth of July parade in favor of a patriotic celebration, by Daily Herald's Rick West
| | TAKING NAMES | | — James Meeks retiring as pastor of Salem Baptist Church: "Meeks will step down next year as head of the South Side megachurch he founded 38 years ago," by Sun-Times' Andy Grimm. — Trailblazing rabbi retires from Deerfield temple but not from spiritual pursuits, by Daily Herald's Burt Constable — Legendary Chicago music producer Steve Albini wins World Series of Poker tournament again, by Tribune's Jake Sheridan — Chicago cheesemonger Cara Condon crowned champion, by Tribune's Jake Sheridan
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Federal court dissolves decades-old minority hiring decree in CFD, cites big ethnic gains: "But while federal officials looked at the increase in 'minority' employees, some current and retired black firefighters cried foul, saying their manpower numbers continued to dwindle due to slow hiring of Black recruits and high black retirement among its commanding officers," by Tribune's William Lee. .— Former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton sentenced to a year in prison in federal embezzlement case: "Prosecutors had asked the judge to give Cullerton up to 18 months in prison. The former senator's defense attorney asked for probation and community service," by Sun-Times' Jon Seidel. — Two major federal trials in Chicago — R. Kelly's next appearance before a jury and the ComEd case — delayed by courtroom availability issue, by Tribune's Megan Crepeau and Jason Meisner
| | Reader Digest | | We asked how social media has changed your political views: Judi Blakemore: "Due in part to social media and in part to the changes in the Republican Party, I've definitely moved left of center." ... Jim Strickler: "I've had to clarify my views so I can state them succinctly on Facebook." ... Rich Norman: "It has made me more afraid of the people out there." ... Gail Morse: "The rapid circulation of stories provides a handy jumping off point to dig deeper on those stories." ... Philip Siberman: "Social media played a role in pushing me leftward. I already had a left streak politically, but the volume of evidence pertaining to inequality that I hadn't even considered was massive." … Kristopher Anderson: "It's made me wary of the echo chamber." … Chicago-Kent Law School student Carson Conlon: "Social media has made it much easier for the internet generation to follow the candidates and causes we care about." ... poli sci professor John Mark Hansen: "It's mostly caused me to shake my head in wonder at all the crazy and provocative BS people will post but never would have said to anybody's face." Ain't that the truth. What are ideas to get people motivated to vote? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE FIFTY | | Interesting read, but will they come to Springfield? Washington's influence machine is coming to a state capital near you : "Lobbying firms increasingly shift money and staff to where they see their influence have greater impact — in state capitals," by POLITICO's Hailey Fuchs.
| | IN THE SPOTLIGHT | | — 'The system held, but barely': Jan. 6 hearings highlight a handful of close calls, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu — Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals, by POLITICO's Nicholas Wu and Kyle Cheney — Unseen Trump tapes subpoenaed by House panel investigating Jan. 6, by POLITICO's Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza — Compelling testimony by a Georgia election worker and her mom feeling the threat of the Big Lie, via POLITICO — Rep. Adam Kinzinger will lead the hearings Thursday on the Jan. 6 select committee's examination of the attack on the U.S. Capital.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — 2024 intrigue: DeSantis declines to ask Trump for reelection endorsement, by POLITICO's Gary Fineout — Why parents could be the new swing voters, by POLITICO's Juan Perez Jr. — Senate makes first move on bipartisan gun safety bill, by POLITICO's Marianne LeVine — Court strikes down Maine law barring state funds for religious education, by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Elena Gottreich will serve as the City of Chicago's deputy mayor of public safety starting Aug. 1. Gottreich currently serves as the deputy director of prosecutorial strategies at the Chicago Police Department. Gottreich, whose appointment was announced by Lightfoot, succeeds John O'Malley. — Skyler Larrimore will serve as the City of Chicago's chief of policy starting Aug. 1 succeeding Dan Lurie. Larrimore has served as first deputy director of policy to Lurie since January 2021. In her new role, Larrimore will work to advance the mayor's policy objectives.
| | EVENTS | | Today at 5:30 p.m.: A candidate forum for the 1st Congressional District will be held at DuSable Museum. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Brian Cross, Marla Krause, and Bill Utter for correctly answering Steve Kerr is the Warriors coach and former Bills player whose father was assassinated by the militant group Islamic Jihad. h/t to Steve McKenzie for the back story: Shortly after his dad's death, Steve Kerr was playing a game at Arizona State University, the in-state arch-rival, and the ASU fans in the pre-game warm ups taunted him with chants of "Where's your dad?" and "PLO." It remains one of, if not, the worst example of taunting at a college event ever witnessed. Kerr went out and hit all his three point shots and scored 22 points. TODAY's QUESTION: What was the name of the women's group that protested at the Illinois Capitol in 1983 — whose members chained themselves to the railings — to show support for the Equal Rights Amendment? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former state Sen. Chuck Weaver, and restaurateur Michael Kornick. And belated greetings to loyal Playbook reader Timothy Thomas Jr., who celebrated yesterday. -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 | | | | |
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