| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. And just like that, Joe Biden and Donald Trump clinched their respective Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. The Biden clinch, by Elena Schneider … The Trump clinch, by Natalie Allison
|  | TOP TALKER | | LEFTY ALERT: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders added the weight of his left-wing support to an Illinois state Senate race on Chicago’s Northwest Side on Tuesday, endorsing Graciela Guzmán in the 20th state Senate District race. Who’s behind it: The Vermon senator was nudged to endorse by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, according to someone familiar with the campaign. Guzmán is a CTU organizer in a four-way race for the seat now held by state Sen. Natalie Toro, a Chicago Public School teacher and CTU member. Toro’s got news, too: Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s political operation gave another $200,000 to Toro's campaign, making it one of the most expensive primary races. It’s the latest tit for tat in a civil war within Illinois Democratic Party. Other candidates include Dr. David Nayak, who is self-funding his campaign, and Geary Yonker, who remains a quiet fourth candidate. Tension points: Guzmán is trailing in the money race, so Sanders' endorsement may help motivate voters. Toro has her own endorsements, is up on TV and has the power of incumbency on her side. She was just seen last week standing alongside Gov. JB Pritzker promoting the film industry in her district. The reality: The 20th Senate District leans left, which benefits Guzmán. Sanders got about 60 percent of the vote there in the 2016 presidential primary and about the same in 2020 before he dropped out. It’s going to be a battle to the end. Toro and Nayak, meanwhile, are likely competing for similar votes.
| | THE BUZZ | | OVER IN CITY HALL: A number of Chicago City Council members, City Clerk Anna Valencia and others are urging Mayor Brandon Johnson to end the policy of evicting asylum seekers from city shelters after 60 days. Saturday is the first eviction deadline. “As the deadline approaches, your office risks cutting against Chicago’s values and severely harming the same new arrivals Chicago has worked diligently to care for,” they wrote in a letter circulated by Ald. Andre Vasquez, who chairs the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights. The letter also calls attention to “public health concerns that could be exacerbated if people who have no rental assistance, no work authorization and significant language barriers are put out on the street.” ABC 7’s Craig Wall has the full story. — As city pays millions to house migrants, offers of free rent from archdiocese go unheeded: “For well over a year, church officials have offered up rent-free locations to the city, potentially saving taxpayers money, but Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has yet to act. Oak Park, on the other hand, is now housing migrants at a former Catholic school,” by the Sun-Times’ Michael Loria. If you are Geary Yonker, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | A message from CVS Health: Learn how we’re delivering the future of health care. More here. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At the Governor’s Ceremonial Office in the State Capitol at 10:30 to stand with sponsors to outline proposed health insurance reform initiatives.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At Garfield Park at 11 a.m. for the People’s Plan for Community Safety – Block Group Announcement — At Daley Plaza at 3:40 p.m. for the SEIU contract campaign kick-off.
| | | Where's Toni | | | At the South Shore Cultural Center at 7 p.m. for the African American Contractors Association Membership Award Gala. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | Easily connect with the right N.Y. State influencers and foster the right relationships to champion your policy priorities. POLITICO Pro. Inside New York. Learn more. | | | | | | | CONVENTION ZONE | | — WHAT’s NEXT: Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore issued a statement after news that President Joe Biden had clinched the Democratic presidential nomination: “We are now looking ahead to the next step in our democratic process and preparing a convention in Chicago,” she said. Here’s the full statement — Republican convention 'full-speed ahead' in Milwaukee despite national upheavals, staff cuts, by the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Rich Kirchen
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Liz and Dick Uihlein have pledged financial support to Donald Trump’s campaign: “The Uihleins, who launched the Uline shipping and packaging company in their basement in 1980, donated to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Republican primary campaign before dropping out in January,” according to the Financial Times via CTN News’ Arsi Mughal. — In the Cook County state’s attorney race: Eileen O’Neill Burke’s campaign is out with a powerful new ad about Marshan Allen, who served 25 years in prison before meeting O’Neill Burke. She took him under her wing, teaming up with him on a program to mentor young people. Now he’s a law student at Chicago Kent with a full scholarship. ... O’Neill Burke also took in more than $300,000 in donations, via the State Elections Board. ... And Clayton Harris III has been endorsed by good-government advocate David Orr. — Injustice Watch is out with its Judicial Election Guide. — Larry Rogers Jr., who’s seeking reelection as Cook County Board of Review commissioner, reports some endorsements. Full list here
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — State Capitol lockdown lifted after police determine no danger: “Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias posted on X, formerly Twitter, at 2:14 p.m. to say his office received notice of a threat involving the Capitol. Out of an abundance of caution, Giannoulias said the Secretary of State Police issued a lockdown and were conducting a sweep of the building. At 3:24, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that the lockdown was lifted,” by WCIA’s Bradley Zimmerman and Theodora Koulouvaris. — With recession fears subsiding, new state economic forecast expects ‘firm but steady growth’: “Legislature’s revenue estimate closely mirrors governor’s proposed spending plan,” by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki. — Change to immigrant health care programs in Illinois will cause up to 6,000 to lose benefits: Two programs are being cut starting May 1: The Health Benefits of Immigrant Adults and the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors, report the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Olivia Olander. — Illinois will soon be cicada central when 2 broods converge on state in historic emergence, by the Tribune’s Adriana Perez
| | | | A message from CVS Health:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — Friends of the Parks to the Chicago Bears: Play ball with stakeholders on new stadium plans, by WTTW’s Patty Wetli. … Here’s their full letter to the Bears — Money matters: City Treasurer Melisssa Conyears-Ervin says her office has generated $318.7 million in investment earnings for the city during the course of fiscal year 2023. “Earnings were up 82 percent year-over-year from 2022,” according to Conyears-Ervin, who’s also focused on trying to gain traction in a competitive race for Congress. What timing. — The Chicago South Side Birth Center, which Gov. JB Pritzker featured in his budget address along with the small group’s founder, Jeanine Valrie Logan, has received $250,000 to expand into a real facility. The donation comes by way of Molina Healthcare of Illinois, The MolinaCares Accord and MolinaCares Illinois Health Equity Initiative. — Bally’s weighing buyout offer amid funding concerns for Chicago casino, by the Tribune’s Robert Channick — CTA continues to rely on bus and train operator overtime — but fails to provide detailed information within required time frame, by WTTW’s Nick Blumberg — State lawmakers challenge Chicago school board’s plans to remove police, rethink choice policy, by Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin Samantha Smylie — NFL: Simone Biles proudly live tweets husband Jonathan Owens' deal with Bears, by Yahoo Sports’ Jack Baer — CDC team in Chicago to help with measles outbreak, officials say, by the Block Club’s Madison Savedra — Chicago’s Trump Tower defaced with anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian graffiti, by the Sun-Times Emmanuel Camarillo
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Cook Co. Clerk Iris Martinez unveil Women's Right to Privacy initiative: "The (Women's) Right to Privacy initiative will lead the nation in safeguarding women's rights by automatically sealing any court records that contain women's reproductive health information," said Martinez. CBS 2’s Yolanda Perdomo reports. — Former Flossmoor police Chief Jerel Jones alleges racial discrimination in firing: “While an email from Mayor Michelle Nelson said his dismissal was triggered by ‘administrative lapses,’ the suit, filed Monday against the village and its manager, alleges the firing was because Jones complained about experiencing ‘disparate treatment’ from village manager Bridgette Wachtel,” by the Daily Southtown’s Hank Sanders.
| | | | JOIN US ON 3/21 FOR A TALK ON FINANCIAL LITERACY: Americans from all communities should be able to save, build wealth, and escape generational poverty, but doing so requires financial literacy. How can government and industry ensure access to digital financial tools to help all Americans achieve this? Join POLITICO on March 21 as we explore how Congress, regulators, financial institutions and nonprofits are working to improve financial literacy education for all. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked where you went on your first plane trip: Eli Brottman: Disney World. Tim Drea: “Parris Island, S.C., for Marine Corps Boot Camp.” Dennis Johnson: “From Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska, by jet in 1962. From there we flew to Sitka on a PBY (seaplane) where we landed in the harbor.” Ashvin Lad: “At 3 months old, my parents flew me to India so that all of the relatives could meet me.” Ron Michaelson: “At 13, I flew from Chicago Midway to New York City on a TWA Constellation to visit my grandmother.” Marilynn Miller: “In May of 1954, my family and I moved to Florence, N.J., landing at LaGuardia.” Kevin Morris: “From Los Angeles to Chicago when I was 2.” Gail Purkey: “My aunt took me to New York City for a weekend.” Mark Rosenberg: “In 1967, I flew back to the University of Iowa after semester break. I had a window seat on an Ozark DC3 and spent the whole flight watching a loose rivet. Flight attendant said not to worry.” John Straus: “Chicago to Cleveland in 1961, and Nat King Cole was among the passengers.” Whitley Tee: “To LAX from ORD on Boxing Day, about seven weeks before my 15th birthday, on a TWA L-1011.” Judith Weinstein: “In 1983 when I was 20, I flew to Paris, France, to spend my junior year of college abroad. My dad cried at JFK.” Steve Weiss: “I was 4 when I flew from New York to Midway in a DC-3 to visit my maternal grandparents on Douglas Boulevard.” NEXT QUESTION: What’s keeping you from early voting in the primary?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — 3 big moments from the Biden-Hur interview — and one that was classic Biden, by POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna — Senate Dem says blocking weapons shipments ‘on the table’ if Israel invades Rafah, by POLITICO’s Joe Gould and Alexander Ward — Donald Trump’s unforced error, by POLITICO’s Calder McHugh
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Thomas ‘TNT’ Todd, trailblazing attorney, civil rights activist and co-founder of Operation PUSH, dies at 85, by the Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek
| | TRANSITIONS | | — David Andalcio, CEO of Wynndalco Enterprises, an Illinois-based, minority-owned IT managed service provider firm, is retiring upon the sale of the company. Andalcio has served as CEO of Wynndalco since its inception in 2009.
| | A message from CVS Health: Whether in the community, at home or virtually, consumers want health care that is convenient, personalized and affordable. And we’re delivering. By connecting each step of your care – from a medical appointment to a trip to the pharmacy to ongoing check-ins with your care team – we’re making healthier happen together.
Learn more. | | | | | EVENTS | | — March 25: State Reps. Kam Buckner and Kelly Cassidy host a Baseball, Beer & Badassery” fundraiser. Details here — May 10: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s annual Women’s Power Brunch will feature Mini Timmaraju, CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All (Formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO Sarah Nelson. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Janice Anderson for correctly answering that DuPage County is named after the DuPage River. Urban legend has it that the river was named for a fur trader named DuPage. However, a historian debunked that theory as the man in question had the name Pierre Page, not DuPage. TODAY's QUESTION: Which Cub hit the game winning home run in the extra inning game on opening day 1969 to beat the Phillies? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | State Rep. Jawaharial “Omar” Williams, former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, Lieutenant Governor’s Office Comms Director Yolanda Joe, Illinois Policy Community Engagement Director Dan Patlak, Andscape Executive Editor over Culture Steve Reiss, real estate exec Robert Weil and marketing pro Julie Darling. -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 | | | | |
Comments
Post a Comment