Trump, Biden stay on Illinois primary ballots

Jan 31, 2024

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Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. Sad news from downstate: A historic Lincoln tree has toppled in Virden, damaging a Civil War-era home, reports WCIA’s Cole Henke

TOP TALKER

Attorneys, foreground, present their case to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

Attorneys, foreground, present their case to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. | Nam Y. Huh/AP

The Illinois Board of Elections decided on Tuesday that Donald Trump can appear on the state’s Republican primary ballot, punting on the question of whether to take up his eligibility based on the 14th Amendment.

Trump gloated in Trump fashion: In a post on his Truth Social network, he criticized “radical left lunatics” and said, “I love Illinois.”

Objectors eye appeal: “We’re disappointed,” said Matthew Piers, who represented the objectors. He said objectors would appeal the election board’s decision, which could send the case to the Illinois Supreme Court, which is controlled by Democrats.

About the decision: The board turned down objectors’ claims that Trump should be barred from the ballot for intentionally inciting violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The objectors pointed to the 14th Amendment that says in some instances people can be barred from holding public office if they’ve “engaged in insurrection or rebellion.”

No one knew how the board would vote given the eight-member group is split with four Democrats and four Republicans. Ultimately, the bipartisan group voted unanimously to follow the recommendation of a hearing officer, former Republican Judge Clark Erickson, who agreed with objectors that Trump had engaged in “insurrection” but said it would be going too far for the board to decide on the constitutionality of him being on the ballot.

Interesting side note: Republican board member Catherine McCrory, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, said even though she was voting to keep Trump on the ballot, “There’s no doubt in my mind that he manipulated, instigated, aided and abetted an insurrection on January 6th.”

She said, and the board members agreed, that “it’s not my place to rule on that today.”

Biden’s on the ballot, too: The challenges to President Joe Biden were dismissed without debate. He was represented by a familiar face, attorney Michael Kasper, who has long represented Democrats in Illinois, including former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Kasper drew a chuckle from the board, saying when he first got the Biden case, he realized “it was the same case that I represented President Clinton for 18 years ago. … Then I went to my files and found it, and I realized it was 28 years ago.” Time flies, Mr. Kasper!

THE BUZZ

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is scheduled to be in the Chicago City Council chambers today for a vote on the resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East.

What we’re expecting: Big speeches and lots of drama.

ALSO worth watching …

— City Council to vote on police arbitration again after committee opposes private disciplinary hearings, by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan

— Fate of officer who fatally shot Adam Toledo depends on whether Chicago City Council rejects push to upend police discipline system, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone

If you are Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com

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WHERE'S JB

No official public events.

WHERE's BRANDON

At the Merchandise Mart at 8:45 a.m. for the Good Jobs Challenge Grant announcement — In City Hall at 10 a.m. presiding over the Chicago City Council meeting.

Where's Toni

At the Cook County Building at 11 a.m. to kick off Cook County’s Black History Month Celebration.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (gasp!) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com

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CONVENTION ZONE

— CHRISTY GEORGE, the executive director of the Democratic National Convention’s host committee, will sit down with your Playbook host at the Hideout on Thursday. Your job: send questions for Christy or your Playbook host and we’ll tackle them on stage. Email at skapos@politico.com.

Here’s how to attend

— Activists call on Chicago to reverse permit denial for march before Democratic National Convention: A group of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights groups “condemned the city for rejecting the organization’s permit application to march and protest by Chicago’s Water Tower on the eve of this summer’s Democratic National Convention." It's appealing. The Tribune’s Rebecca Johnson reports.

— FIRST IN POLITICO: The Democratic National Convention Committee is staffing up its comms team as it prepares for the Chicago convention: Nora Keefe is director of surrogate comms, Emily Soong is press secretary, Haley Wint is deputy press secretary and Isabella (Isa) O’Connor is surrogate comms assistant.

— Marriott, Hyatt hotels at McCormick Place will serve as official Democratic convention headquarters, by the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet

2024 WATCH

— Ken Griffin thinks Nikki Haley would 'run away' with the general election. The primary, however … Bloomberg’s Stephanie Lai reports

— Illinois Realtors plans $1M campaign against the Bring Chicago Home transfer-tax increase referendum, by Crain’s Dennis Rodkin

— Congresswoman Lauren Underwood has been endorsed by Boston–Healthcare for Action’s PAC in her bid for re-election in the 14th District.

— Iris Martinez, the clerk of the court in Cook County, has been endorsed by Local 2 Chicago Firefighters Union in her bid for re-election.

— Jerry Evans, a Republican running in the IL-11 congressional district, has been endorsed by state Sen. Craig Wilcox and McHenry County Board Chair Michael Buehler.

— State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid has been endorsed by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and former Congressman Luis Guttierez, among other Latino lawmakers. Here’s the full list.

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THE STATEWIDES

— Chicago nonprofit to receive federal funding to help launch regional water sustainability industry: Current Innovation NFP's mission is to “solve pressing water challenges caused by climate change and pollution,” Capitol News’ Dilpreet Raju reports.

— Tapped to serve: Republican state Reps. Jeff Keicher and Dan Ugaste have been appointed by Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie to serve on the Warehouse Safety Standards Task Force. The panel was created to improve safety and access to emergency resources following the collapse of an Amazon warehouse that was struck by a tornado in 2021.

CHICAGO

— Johnson says he supports removal of police officers from schools, he said in an interview with the Sun-Times’ Nader Issa and WBEZ’s Sarah Karp

— Mayor warned after inspectors find communication breakdowns at scenes where Chicago firefighters died, by the Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry.

— Oral history project by Chicago Theological Seminary shows how it served as incubator for area’s civil rights leaders, by the Tribune’s Darcel Rockett

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard draws scrutiny for pricey restaurants, posh hotels and first-class flights: “A township trustee said he’s pushed for explanations of the trips — and how they benefit residents — but is routinely ignored by Henyard and her allies who control the township board,” reports WGN 9’s Ben Bradley and Andrew Schroedter.

— ‘We don’t have a deal yet’: Bears and schools $100M apart on property value of Arlington Park, by the Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek

— Aurora creates TIF district for new casino site, by the Daily Herald’s Susan Sarkauskas

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Reader Digest

We asked about your favorite locations to watch a sunset:

Judge John Anderson: “Sunset Bay in Lake Barrington.”

Robert Christie: “Riverview Park in Quincy.”

Lucas Hawley: “The Chicago Riverwalk.”

James Paul Hunter: “The 19th hole at The Preserve at Oak Meadows Golf Course.”

Mike Matejka: “Along the Illinois or Mississippi rivers.”

Ed Mazur: “Our Lake Shore Drive condo.”

Tara Byrne Meyer: “Boating on Lake Michigan.”

Joan Pederson: “The Chicago Loop.”

Kathy Posner: “Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest.”

Gail Purkey: “Mississippi River Bluffs north of Alton.”

Raymond Sendejas: “On the bluffs in Alton, where you can see the sun set over the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers toward St. Louis.”

James Straus: “East Dubuque. You look to the West and wonder.”

NEXT QUESTION: What song can you sing by heart?

FROM THE DELEGATION

— Congresswoman Delia Ramirez criticized the GOP-led effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday during a meeting of the House Homeland Security Committee. The panel ultimately voted 18-15 to advance articles of impeachment. Ramirez explains her position here And Politico’s Jordain Carney has the story.

— Sen. Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, supports a package of bills that lifts tech companies’ legal protections to allow victims of child exploitation to sue them, via POLITICO’s Rebecca Kern

— Congressman Mike Quigley joined first lady Jill Biden for a screening Tuesday at the White House for “No Ordinary Campaign,” a documentary chronicling former White House staffers Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya, both from the Chicago area. The film follows Wallach’s ALS diagnosis. Pic!

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— Democrats risk a new progressive rebellion as Biden embraces border deal, by POLITICO’s Ursula Perano and Nicholas Wu

— RFK Jr. is still drawing more backing from Trump donors, even as an independent, by POLITICO’s Jessica Piper

— As judges mull presidential immunity, Trump reaps the benefits of delay, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein

TAKING NAMES

— TWO TALL GENTS: State Treasurer Mike Frerichs and former NBA star Magic Johnson participated Tuesday in the “For the Long Term Chicago Forum,” which focused on long-term investing and infrastructure. Pic!

— Mike Del Galdo, a Chicago attorney, has been selected as a state, municipal and local government “super lawyer” by Thomson Reuters’ 2024 Illinois “Super Lawyers” magazine. This is his 10th consecutive year on the list.

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EVENTS

— Today at 9:30 a.m.: Environmental justice is the focus of this virtual forum. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda, state Sen. Robert Peters and state Rep. Kim du Buclet are among the speakers. Sign up here

— Tonight: A community film screening of the documentary “Refuge” is co-sponsored by state Rep. Nabeela Syed, Cook County United Against Hate and Cook County Department of Human Rights and Ethics, among others. Details here

— April 2: Political reporters Gregory Royal Pratt and Dan Mihalopoulos discuss Pratt’s upcoming book: “The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis.” At Pilsen Community Books. Details here

TRIVIA

TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Graham Grady for correctly answering that David Letterman once called the bronze busts on the Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame giant Pez machines.

TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the first person to reach the bottom of Lake Michigan? Email skapos@politico.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Cook County Judge Laura Ayala-Gonzalez, City of Chicago marketing coordinator Marty Malone and Conlon Public Strategies senior adviser Tweed Thornton.

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