Illinois GOP ready for Trump’s convention

Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln

Jul 15, 2024 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Happy Monday, Illinois. The world has changed since we last got together. TOP TALKER Law enforcement officers are seen on bicycles outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Sunday, July 14, 2024, for this week's Republican National Convention. | Francis Chung/POLITICO MILWAUKEE — The security lines were long to get into Sunday night’s Republican National Convention welcome party — but the lines at the bar moved quickly. It was small comfort for Republicans roiled by Saturday's assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, which left one person dead and two severely injured. The shooting has also left the presidential campaign in upheaval — and the GOP convention, which might have been seen as a snooze fest, has suddenly taken on new importance. Forging ahead: The convention runs today through Thursday, as planned with heavy police presence. Trump had planned to arrive Thursday but changed his schedule to be in Milwaukee on Sunday evening, saying, “I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.” The Illinois reax: “Being a delegate at the national convention of either party is important in ordinary times,” Illinois GOP delegate Scott Kaspar told your Playbook host. “In view of the terrible events yesterday, it’s an honor of a lifetime to cast my ballot in support of Donald Trump.” Illinois Republicans are in Milwaukee in full force to nominate Trump. Among the attendees spotted at Sunday’s "Red, White and Brew" party at the Henry Maier Festival Park were Illinois GOP Chair-elect Kathy Salvi (She was just named to the positon Friday.), outgoing Chair Don Tracy, Congressman Mike Bost and state Rep. John Cabello. For most Republicans, and some Democrats, the assassination attempt prompted some soul-searching about politics. State Sen. Terri Bryant hopes there’s a shift away from toxic language in politics. “You may find some folks taking a step back to try to find a better way to get their message out without being incendiary,” she told the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Rick Pearson. ‘Elevate the discourse and lower the temperature,” Congressman Darin LaHood says in a statement. Gov. Pritzker, Sens. Duckworth and Durbin, and other pols reacted to the shootint, too, by WCIA’s Joey Schneider, Simmy Wood and Theodora Koulouvaris It’s emotional: Delegate Aaron Del Mar said he felt fear after watching Trump get shot. Then he felt pride in how the Secret Service "acted promptly.’ That moved to anger that someone would shoot the former president. “He’s not just the presumptive nominee, he’s an American,” Del Mar told Playbook after the welcome party. ABOUT THE CONVENTION: Your Playbook host is here for the week covering the Illinois delegation, the buzz around Trump naming a running mate, the nomination and, even, the protests. Drop me a line for tips or sightings at the convention (since I can’t be everywhere at once). MORE TRUMP HEADLINES ‘Massive security breach’: Secret Service under scrutiny after gunman got clear shot at Trump, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney Former suburban police chief wounded protecting Reagan expects ‘deep dive’ into security failures, by the Daily Herald’s Steve Zalusky How Trump has turned vulnerability into power — One image at a time, by POLITICO’s Michael Kruse COLUMN: GOP finds unity with Trump while Dems face disarray with Biden, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin About the suspected gunman: He was registered as a Republican but he once donated $15 to the Chicago-based Progressive Turnout Project, a Democratic-aligned voter turnout organization, according to publicly available records, by POLITICO's Miles J. Herszenhorn and Erin Banco CONVENTION ZONE IN MILWAUKEE | There are no changes to the convention’s security plan after Trump shooting, officials say, by POLITICO’s Isabella Ramírez Wisconsin GOP chair: ‘This is one of the most secure areas on the face of the planet right now,’ by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly Republicans put Milwaukee on lockdown. Protesters fumed, by your Playbook host. Dems pause their counter-messaging in Milwaukee, including a Pritzker appearance, by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles IN CHICAGO | From regular doctor visits to injured protesters, here’s how Chicago’s hospitals are preparing for the Democratic convention: “Three of Chicago’s busiest hospitals are a short walk from the DNC, prompting preparations for protests or catastrophic disasters,” by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch. Pro-Palestinian protesters win route within ‘sight and sound’ of convention, but still want tweaks, by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan If you are Kathy Salvi, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email: skapos@politico.com WHERE'S JB No official public events. WHERE's BRANDON No official public events. Where's Toni In Tampa, Fla., for the National Association of Counties Annual Conference and Exposition. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com   SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     CHICAGO — Johnson rejected by Board of Education on CPS loan, pension payment: “The tension around taking on debt and the pension payment was the crux of a month-long delay of the school system’s budget proposal, which came out Wednesday,” by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp and the Sun-Times’ Nader Issa and Fran Spielman. — Ald. Nicole Lee wants an explanation for low arrest rates on cyberstalking, electronic harassment complaints, by the Tribune’s Stacy St. Clair and Joe Mahr — Bill Daley slams Johnson's claim of 'decades of disinvestment' by past mayors, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — New monument for Chicago White Sox great Minnie Miñoso unveiled at Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery, by the Tribune’s Shakeia Taylor COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Faced with fury over spending, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard went on media tour — and billed taxpayers, by WGN 9’s Ben Bradley and Andrew Schroedte TAKING NAMES — Arielle Rodriguez Maffei has been named board chair of Planned Parenthood Illinois. The 35-year-old lobbyist is the youngest and first Latina to serve in the position for the 100-year-old organization. In her day job, Maffei is a VP of government relations at McGuireWoods Consulting. She previously worked as a White House scheduler in the Obama administration and did advance work for the Clinton Foundation. KUDOS The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, has received a $75,000 grant from Molina Healthcare of Illinois, in collaboration with The MolinaCares Accord. The grant will benefit TrevorSpace, an online social networking platform that provides LGBTQ+ youth.   Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more.     Reader Digest We asked when you flubbed your words. Larry Beaumont: “I accidentally pled a client guilty at an arraignment when it should have been not guilty! I quickly corrected the mistake!” David Goldenberg: “At my first big ADL fundraiser, with 600-plus people in the room, my staff knew I was going to flub names, so they turned it into a drinking game. Let's just say the bar tab was higher than usual that night.” Chris Kolker: “I introduced Brendan Kelly as Brendan Reilly at a downstate political event. No one there had a clue who (Chicago Alderman) Brendan Reilly is.” NEXT QUESTION: What will you be watching for in this week's Republican National Convention? Email skapos@politico.com TRANSITIONS — Bryen Johnson is now statewide director of political activities for the Illinois Federation of Teachers. He replaces Michelle Paul, who left last month after 20 years at the organization. Johnson has been with the union since 2013, most recently as state affiliate political organizer. — Carolyn Kriss is now chief operating officer for Nourishing Hope, formerly Lakeview Pantry. She was vice president of strategy for Tovala, a food tech start-up and has also held leadership roles at Starbucks, DoorDash and Capsule. TRIVIA FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Ed Mazur and Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that Miller Lite’s beer originated from Chicagoan Peter Hand's Meister Brau Brewing “lite” recipe. TODAY’s QUESTION: What party nominated an all-Illinois-born ticket for president and vice-president? HAPPY BIRTHDAY Former Congressman Dan Lipinski, former Cook County Commissioner Luis Arroyo Jr., state Treasurer’s Chief of Staff G. Allen Mayer, Assistant Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Natashee Scott, Illinois Policy Institute VP of Marketing Austin Berg, Aon Public Affairs Manager Shantenae Robinson, Executives’ Club comms officer Eva Penar, Rev. Dr. William E. Crowder Jr. and Bloomberg’s U.S. deals team managing editor Liana B. Baker. -30-   Follow us on Twitter Shia Kapos @shiakapos   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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