In Illinois, not everyone's rushing to Harris

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

Jul 22, 2024 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Happy Monday, Illinois. It was another weekend of political upheaval and high drama. TOP TALKER Vice President Kamala Harris and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker take part in a rally at the XS Tennis and Education Foundation in Chicago in 2022. | Matt Marton/AP SEISMIC SHIFT: The stunning news that President Joe Biden is bowing out and passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris is dominating our coverage today, just 105 days until Election Day. The response: Democrats showered Biden with praise and many said they’d back Harris — but Gov. JB Pritzker, who has aspirations for national office, and the Illinois Democratic Party weren’t among them. Does it mean Pritzker might run for president? His team won’t say. We're also waiting to hear whether Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia might run, too. Manchin is an Independent and would have to return to the Democratic Party. Also keeping mum on Harris: Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Senate President Don Harmon and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who heads the county’s Democratic Party. State party chairs from across the country announced their support for Harris, but Illinois Democratic Party Chair Lisa Hernandez wasn’t one of them. Remember it was Pritzker who helped get her into that position. Holding their powder: Hernanez’s team even sent an email to Illinois delegates asking them to “hold tight” in talking about who they’ll support at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. “Our recommendation is that you hold tight and outside of thanking Biden for his service, you hold back from reacting publicly at this time,” according to Hernandez’s message obtained by Playbook. The reasoning: Biden doesn’t decide who the Democratic nominee is. Delegates do. The Democratic National Committee will meet Wednesday to consider what's next. We wonder: Maybe Pritzker and the Illinois Democratic Party are taking a page from President Barack Obama, who endorsed an open Democratic primary process at the convention next month. What to watch: Pritzker is also being mentioned as a veep nominee along with Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. Here are 9 possible running mates, via POLITICO. It's fair to say Biden’s announcement took Democrats by surprise. It took Pritzker’s team nearly an hour to issue a statement. Before the news came out, City of Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin urged Biden to step aside. “He should pass the torch to the woman he chose to succeed him,” her statement read. Also backing Harris: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Congressmen Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Sean Casten (IL-06), Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Brad Schneider (IL-10) who had all urged Biden to exit the campaign, and fellow members of Congress Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Danny Davis (IL-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bill Foster (IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and Lauren Underwood (IL-14). GOP on the attack: Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi called Biden’s exit “the culmination of years of lies from the Biden White House and Democrats shaming anyone who questioned the fitness of President Biden.” Why Biden finally quit: “When the campaign commissioned new battleground polling over the last week, it was the first time they had done surveys in some key states in more than two months, according to two people familiar with the surveys. And the numbers were grim, showing Biden not just trailing in all six critical swing states but collapsing in places like Virginia and New Mexico where Democrats had not planned on needing to spend massive resources to win,” via POLITICO’s politics team. CONVENTION ZONE: Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore said the August gathering will forge ahead. “Here in Chicago, our mission remains the same. During the convention, we will have an opportunity to show the country and the world who Democrats are and what we stand for,” she said in a statement. 55 things to know about Kamala Harris, by POLITICO’s Catherine Kim and Zach Stanton From the Tribune’s team: Biden’s decision to drop out creates big questions for Chicago convention, Pritzker’s political future OPINION: Pall lifts from the party, but Harris doesn’t have much time to turn the conversation to Trump’s conduct rather than her own, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin Party like it's 1968? History repeats itself, via NBC 5 If you are Minyon Moore, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email: skapos@politico.com WHERE'S JB No official public events. WHERE's BRANDON At Xchange Chicago at 9:30 a.m. for the TechChicago Week press conference — At Malcolm X College at 6 p.m. for a budget engagement roundtable. Where's Toni No official public events. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com   Live briefings, policy trackers, and procedural, industry, and people intelligence from POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy this election cycle. Secure your seat.      THE STATEWIDES — DAY IN COURT: Michael McClain’s lawyers want him tried separately from ex-House Speaker Madigan, by the Sun-Times’ Kade Heather — Pro-life organization files SCOTUS case against Carbondale: “The petition filed by Thomas More Society attorneys and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul comes as part of a larger effort to wipe out ‘bubble zone laws,’ which the Coalition Life group perceives are restrictive upon sidewalk counselors throughout the country,” by the Southern’s Libby Gerdes, Jeremiah Hatcher and Bryce Patterson. — Illinois continues to struggle to fill vacancies on public boards, state audit shows, by the Tribune’s Olivia Olander — Arrest made in threat to assassinate GOP state Rep. Jeff Keicher, by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke — State’s largest privately owned water utilities seek rate increase amid lawmaker scrutiny, by Capitol News’ Andrew Adams SPOTTED — MLS Public Strategies’ Fred Lebed forged ahead Sunday with a backyard fundraiser for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, even though he had tested positive Covid. Lebed secluded himself in his bedroom while his daughter, Tess Sammarco, and business partner, former Ald. Joe Moore, filled in as last-minute hosts. Making welcoming remarks: Illinois Health and Hospital Association CEO A.J. Wilhelmi, Congressman Sean Casten and Western Springs Mayor Heidi Rudolp.  Also in the Western Springs yard: Former Congressman Luis Gutierrez, County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, Hillside Mayor Joe Tamburino, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, Elmhurst Ald. and statehouse candidate Marti Deuter, Metro-Edge CEO Craig Huffman, former Medical District leader Warren Ribley, public affairs pro Dan Shoman, political bundler non-profit adviser Kevin Conlon and Rev. Leslie Sanders.   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.     Reader Digest We asked how you overcome writer’s block. Cliff Dolbeare: “Set a 10-20 minute timer and then write anything and everything that comes to mind. Don't try to review or edit till the timers are up. Repeat as needed.” Marilynn Miller: “I get up and get away, and do something that takes my mind off of it. When I come back, things are better.” Kathy Posner: “I eat a snack to bribe my brain with cookies.”  Steve Sheffey: “I force myself to write a shi--y first draft and when I edit it the next day, the words come easily.” Andy Shaw: “I wait for some mysterious internal spark to figuratively ignite my brain and restart my writing engine.” NEXT QUESTION: Who’d the first person you go to for career advice? Email skapos@politico.com KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Sen. Tammy Duckworth is the winner of the Congressional Management Foundation’s Democracy Award for her work in the category of “workplace.” — Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), a Democrat, and Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18), a Republican, have introduced legislation to reauthorize funding for the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, which cares for about 75,000 military personnel, veterans and their families each year, according to the Illinois lawmakers. — Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, has wrapped up a climate change tour of Olympic National Park. He led five members of Congress on a two-day tour of the park. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Dem ticket shakeup breathes new life into abortion-rights fight, by POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstsein — Super PAC targeting young voters pivots to Harris, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky — Inside Schumer's handling of Biden's dropout decision, by POLITICO’s Ursula Perano TRANSITIONS — Thomas Kilbride, the former Illinois Supreme Court chief justice, and appellate lawyer Adam Vaught have joined the law firm Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. — Dan Seals, the CEO of Intersect Illinois will step down at the end of the month. Intersect Illinois Senior Vice President of Business Development Paulina San Millan will serve as interim CEO while a search for Seals’ replacement takes place. IN MEMORIAM — Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee dies at age 74: The Houston Democrat had served in the House since 1995. Her son is Jason Lee, an adviser to Chicago’s mayor, via POLITICO and The Associated Press. TRIVIA FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Peg Mosgers for correctly answering that former Gov. Jim Thompson liked Checker cars. TODAY’s QUESTION: What massive public works project was started near Chicago in 1836? HAPPY BIRTHDAY Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, lobbyist and former Ald. Joe Moore and lieutenant governor’s Comms Director Taylor Brown. -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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