| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | With help from Marissa Martinez. Good Thursday morning, Illinois. And Ramadan Mubarak to all our readers who observe.
|  | TOP TALKER | | SCOOP: In an unprecedented move, the Illinois Democratic Party is funding campaigns for nonpartisan school board and library board races across the state out of concern that conservatives are trying to take over those organizations to ban books or impede First Amendment rights. “They’re running to push a political agenda that is completely and directly antithetical to our values,” Ben Hardin, the executive director of the Illinois Democratic Party, told Playbook in an interview. “We decided that it was absolutely necessary that we do whatever we can do to prevent these organizations supporting, and these candidates, from taking over school boards.” The party has made “a six-figure investment” in paid communications for more than 80 campaigns across Illinois. The support is going to candidates who align with the “values” of the Democratic Party, Hardin said, and to campaigns opposing candidates that have right-wing support. “This isn't about Republicans vs. Democrats,” Hardin said, adding the program came about when the party learned of “national extremist organizations supporting candidates for school library boards here in Illinois.” He pointed to Darren Bailey, the former GOP governor candidate, billionaire Republican donor Dick Uihlein and dark money from national conservative groups as trying to control school and library boards. Bailey recently told Playbook that his next political move was to get conservatives elected to school boards. Spreading the word: The Illinois Democratic Party is also launching a new website to provide voters with information about these races. DefendOurSchoolsIL.com allows voters “to identify fringe candidates that the state Democratic party considers to be far-right extremists,” according to the party. Round the clock: The effort is part of the party’s new effort to work year-round on campaigns and political endeavors. RELATED — Illinois House OKs measure to allow the state to deny grants to libraries that ban books, by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner — Des Plaines school board member says schools shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day: “In District 62, we're very mindfully teaching true history," Tina Garrett told Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau
| | THE BUZZ | | — NEW MAYORAL POLL: The latest survey by Victory Research shows the race is close with Paul Vallas at 46 percent, Brandon Johnson at 44 percent and nearly 10 percent undecided. Johnson is focusing on endorsements to help define him as well as Vallas. “Endorsements energize your base and show a positive energy about our campaign,” explained Johnson spokesman Bill Neidhardt. A good example was Wednesday’s endorsement by Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, a member of “The Squad” and someone who can rev up Johnson’s progressive base. Campaign war: Separately, Johnson’s campaign has manufactured an endorsement and claimed it’s Vallas’. Context: Oppo research revealed Vallas on a conservative radio show a few years ago claiming Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot “act like dictators” for their pandemic executive orders. The oppo prompted Republican Darren Bailey to talk about it on his Facebook live page , which Johnson’s team is calling an endorsement for Vallas. Bailey didn’t endorse anyone. Johnson’s team isn’t giving up on pinning the Republican label on Vallas, who was officially endorsed Wednesday by former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Vallas was Quinn’s running mate in his failed 2013 race against Bruce Rauner. Though Vallas’ more recent stumble might be spending too much time on conservative talk shows. Wednesday’s debate was packed: Public safety, education, Kim Foxx, eye rolls, head shakes and ‘dismissing people,’ writes Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout. On their 100-day plans for Chicago: More beat cops vs. ‘treatment not trauma,’ by Tribune’s Alice Yin and Gregory Pratt Watch the full debate via Fox 32 Johnson gets the New York Times treatment: “Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said there was no expectation that Mr. Johnson would be in lock step with the union if elected. But she said the possibility of having a mayor who understood the struggles of classroom educators and would listen to their concerns had motivated teachers to support him.” AD-ING IT UP: In a new, direct-to-camera ad released Wednesday, Johnson calls himself the “real Democrat for mayor,” highlighting his plan to go after the “root causes of crime.” Johnson is now airing four ads, including one in Spanish, and Vallas has three spots. Still, Vallas’ spending is outpacing Johnson’s. With less than two weeks before the April 4 runoff, Vallas is committed to spend $2.88 million since March 21 compared to Johnson’s $803,000. Vallas reports new $1.4M in fundraising, via Crain’s. If you are Ayanna Pressley, Playbook wants to know if you’ve ever been to Chicago. Email skapos@politico.com.
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| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. 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
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — 'Blue wall' Democrats urge the White House to give Chicago the 2024 DNC convention, A group of governors, including Gov. JB Pritzker, Congress members and city leaders across the Midwest signed a letter Wednesday, calling on the White House and DNC Chair Jaime Harrison to choose Chicago, writes NBC’s Natasha Korecki. Here’s the letter. — Chicago and Cook County each call for 1,000 election judges before April 4, by the Chicago Tribune’s Jake Sheridan
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — A quarter of a century after being carjacked, Giannoulias doles out $21M in grants to fight current surge: “Chicago carjacking reports hit an apex of 1,849 in 2021. The Illinois secretary of state said it’s also personal for him, after being carjacked with high school basketball teammates in 1998. ‘It leaves a scar you never forget,’ he said. ‘I hate the thought of anyone else going through that,’” by Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout. — Lawmakers pass bill to designate official state nut, via NBC 5
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Defense tries to flip the script in ComEd bribery trial, casting corruption charges as ‘classic, honest, legal lobbying’: “Four former political power players are charged in a scheme to bribe Michael Madigan when he was Illinois’ powerful House speaker by arranging for jobs, contracts and money for Madigan’s allies,” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles. — Tribune’s take: Ex-ComEd lawyer testifies request to put Juan Ochoa on utility’s board came from Michael Madigan, by Jason Meisner and Ray Long
| | 2023 MUNICIPAL RACES | | — 11th Ward: Nicole Lee and Anthony Ciaravino face off in Chicago’s first Asian-majority ward: “Ciaravino, a longtime cop for the Chicago Police Department, said he did not think Asian representation on the City Council is important, but that he has a lot of ‘friendships and fellowships and brothers and sisters in that Chinatown community,'” by WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Amy Qin. Lee, the current Asian alderwoman, calls Ciaravino’s statement “dismissive,” according to a statement responding to WBEZ’s story. First in Playbook: Sen. Dick Durbin is weighing in on the ward race. He’s backing Lee.
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago Public Schools and Board of Ed say help needed as $600M deficit looms: “Federal pandemic relief funding has papered over long-standing issues, but that money is set to run out in two years,” by Sun-Times’ Nader Issa and WBEZ’s Sarah Karp. — Independent day: Aldermen wanting to make the Chicago City Council run more independently from the mayor’s office are calling a vote next week to change how their committees operate. Ald. Michelle Harris, who has endorsed Paul Vallas for mayor, says changing the rules will “establish a strong and independent City Council." Here’s her message to aldermen. — City’s 2022 overtime bill stands at $441M, With $210M going to police working overtime, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone and Jared Rutecki — Chicago is required to have a chief administrative officer; it hasn’t for decades, reports Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Blackhawks will not wear Pride jerseys for Sunday’s Pride Night due to safety concerns for Russian players, Sun-Times’ Ben Pope reports
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Naperville stopped ticketing students at school. But it’s still pushing a 3-year-old case about AirPods to trial, by ProPublica’s Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked if you need to live in Illinois to run a good political campaign. Scott Fawell: “No, but it helps to know the state and have the institutional knowledge as to how to build a winning coalition. And be aware, politics in Illinois is a contact sport.” Matthew Beaudet: “Yes. Never forget that ‘All politics is local.’” Kevin Conlon: “No, but hire a person already engaged here so they don’t waste valuable time learning the players.” Rosemaria DiBenedetto: “No. I manage suburban races all the time in areas I don't live in. You need to understand the issues and have a strong field operation.” Brendan Power: “Yes. In 2016, my regional field director was based out of Ohio — never set foot in Chicago — and insisted we canvas during the Cubs playoff run and World Series. It did not go over well.” Jay Pearce: “No. However, you do need to understand the lay of the land and how to apply universally good strategies to Illinois' unique characteristics.” Andy Shaw: “No. It’s easier to build a campaign around made-up claims, charges and promises when you’re not familiar with Illinois.” Patricia Ann Watson: “No, but the manager better be surrounded by staffers who understand the uniqueness and connections.” What’s the nerdiest thing you do? Email skapos@politico.com
| | DELEGATION | | — Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) is trying to promote ESG policy making “at a time when many of his colleagues are more interested in pushing political agendas. His stated goal of working across the aisle seems almost quixotic at a moment when bipartisanship is in short supply,” writes Jordan Wolman in POLITICO’s The Long Game. — Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) reintroduced the Health Care Affordability Act, her signature legislation to permanently lower the cost of health care premiums, Wednesday with the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. A short-term version of Underwood’s measure was included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Jeff Zients was the man to make the trains run on time. It’s been a bumpy start, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn, Eugene Daniels and Nicholas Wu — Court rejects Trump’s urgent bid to keep lawyer’s records from special counsel, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney — Never Don and Never Ron: The rest of the GOP field looks for a third lane, by POLITICO’s Natalie Alison and Adam Wren — Task force challenges length of prison sentences in America, via USA Today
| | EVENTS | | — Today at 2 p.m.: Liz Dozier, founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond, will discuss “Opportunity and Hope Through Disruption” with John Shaw, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in this virtual event. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mark McCombs and Ted McClelland for correctly answering Mayor Anton Cermak’s son-in-law, Otto Kerner, was governor of Illinois. And h/t to Helena Kerner Stern, great granddaughter of Mayor Cermak, who was assassinated before Kerner took office. TODAY’s QUESTION: What was a “four-legged voter” in Chicago election terms? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former state Comptroller and 1978 governor candidate Michael Bakalis, Mac Strategies’ Monique Garcia, political consultant Charles Edwards, economist Valerie Michelman, Kivvit principal Evan Keller, Chicago’s own Chaka Khan and belated greetings to Illinois Democratic Party spokeswoman Kiera Ellis, who celebrated Wednesday. -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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