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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Monday morning, Illinois. One day to Election Day, and POLITICO's final Election Forecast is out: Senate up for grabs, GOP on brink of House majority.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Vice President Kamala Harris, center, with Gov. JB Pritzker, right, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, left, on stage during a rally at XS Tennis and Education Foundation, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Chicago. | AP Photo/Matt Marton | President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris helped Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats close out the final weekend of their campaign in Chicago and its suburbs, while Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey held a rally in Bloomington on Saturday, and campaigned in Lake Zurich, Roscoe and downtown Chicago on Sunday. They disagree on a lot, but Democrats and Republicans alike had a shared goal: to motivate their constituencies to vote in Tuesday’s election. Democrats are less concerned about Bailey than they are about races farther down the ballot. That Biden and Harris would campaign Illinois, a Blue state if there ever was one, is an indication as to how close some of the congressional races are. Biden campaigned Friday in Rosemont for Reps. Sean Casten (IL-06), Bill Foster (IL-11) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14). Casten’s and Underwood’s races against Republicans Keith Pekau and Scott Gryder, respectively, have tightened. Bidenisms: “Folks, I’m not buying the notion that we’re in trouble,” Biden told attendees, according to the Tribune’s report. “I think we’re going to win. I really do.” But he quickly added: “If we lose the House and Senate, it’s going to be a horrible two years. The good news is that I’ll have the veto pen.” In Joliet on Saturday: “Folks, I came to Illinois to talk about two programs that reflect who we are as Americans, and [Rep.] Lauren [Underwood] understands [this] to her core, to her core — Social Security and Medicare,” Biden said, according to Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet. No jokes: Harris made two stops in Chicago on Sunday. She first sat down with Sen. Tammy Duckworth and other Asian American leaders for a discussion with the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Victory Fund. The event was held at Second City Comedy Club. Harris then joined Pritzker and other statewide Democratic candidates on the South Side for a rally meant to energize Black voters. “Our president has been very clear. We just need two more senators, and he will not let the filibuster get in the way of passing the Women’s Health Protection Act,” Harris said at the event at the XS Tennis and Education Foundation Center. “Two more senators. Send Tammy Duckworth back to the Senate, and we need two more. If you’ve got any neighbors outside of Illinois … call whoever you need to. Remind them what’s at stake.” Meanwhile, Bailey emphasized his faith. He attended church Sunday in Lake Zurich, where his wife, Cindy Bailey, told the parishioners her husband’s campaign represented “a spiritual battle. That’s what really is the bottom dollar here,” the Tribune reports. Good roundups from Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles and Tribune’s Dan Petrella, Jeremy Gorner and Rick Pearson.
| | THE BUZZ | | | 
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin talks about his approach to investing — in candidates. | Courtesy Citadel | SCOOP: GOP midterm megadonor Ken Griffin is just warming up for 2024: DATELINE MIAMI! Your Playbook host interviewed the founder and CEO of the investment firm Citadel in in his new, temporary office in Miami to talk about what’s behind his philosophy for political giving. On political giving: His focus is on public safety, schools and politicians’ lack of fiscal discipline. “Charitable giving was the lane that I was most focused on for many, many years of my life as a means of moving society to a better place,” Griffin said in the interview. “Watching so much of what I did on the philanthropic side be undermined by poor policies from our political sphere has pulled me more into politics with a portion of my resources.” On Donald Trump: “For a litany of reasons, I think it’s time to move on to the next generation.” On Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: “He has a tremendous record as governor of Florida, and our country would be well-served by him as president. ... Would I support him? The bigger question is, is he going to run? That bridge has to be crossed.” On Democratic maneuvering: Griffin shook his head at Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association pouring $35 million into the June Illinois primary to prop up conservative Darren Bailey for governor in an effort to shut out Griffin-backed Richard Irvin. “That’s what I find disgusting about politics,” Griffin said. Griffin’s “new” office: Citadel officials are working out a rehabbed WeWork office space while they wait to move into another temporary building. Their permanent high-rise is being built and will take years to finish. Does he miss living in Chicago? He has some wonderful memories of the iconic Lakefront Trail along Lake Michigan. Let’s just leave it at that. If you are Kamala Harris, Playbook would like to know where you’ll be watching Tuesday night’s election returns. Email skapos@politico.com . 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
| | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO 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. With a fresh look and improved features, 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. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | In the air and on the campaign trail at GOTV rallies in Marion at 6:45 a.m., Metro East at 8:45 a.m., Springfield at 11 a.m., Peoria at 1:15 p.m., Quad Cities at 3:30 p.m. and Rockford at 5:30 p.m.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | In City Hall at 10 a.m. to preside over the City Council’s vote on her 2023 budget.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — As Election Day nears, officials across Illinois boost security amid fear of violence, by Tribune’s Kinsey Crowley and Jake Sheridan — Advocates look to combat election disinformation campaigns targeting Latinos, by WTTW’s Erica Gunderson — How an indicted state official who had volunteered for JB Pritzker became an issue in the attorney general race: “Republican challenger Thomas DeVore has accused Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul of burying a potential fraud case to prevent Pritzker and other fellow Democrats from further political embarrassment. But Raoul insists “there was no effort to try to cover anything up,” by Tribune’s Ray Long. — Voters in some suburban areas will decide Tuesday whether to pay for expanded mental health services, by Tribune’s Robert McCoppin — Abortion-rights advocates fearful of Republicans gaining control of Illinois Supreme Court, by Injustice Watch’s Rita Oceguera and Maureen Dunne — Are political ads more negative this year? Experts say no, there are just more of them, by Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek — Illinois Policy Institute’s strategy with Workers’ Rights Amendment mirrors what Dems have done in the past, Rich Miller writes in the Decatur Herald & Review | | THE STATEWIDES | | — There are two Americas when it comes to ESG: “Chicago’s decision to dump fossil fuel investments is the latest sign of the ideological divide that’s splitting the country,” via Bloomberg’s Tim Quinson. — Franciscan Health Hammond closing its ER by end of the year, leaving Lake County’s largest city with no hospital, by Post-Tribune’s Michelle L. Quinn — Personal reflections from gubernatorial interviews since the 1970s, by Sun-Times’ Michael Sneed
| | CHICAGO | | — Divorcing Chicago Public Schools from city control adds to district's looming fiscal risks: “That's the assessment of a review that delves into CPS finances and how Chicago and other city-related entities prop up CPS' budget,” reports Bond Buyer’s Yvette Shields. — With tensions high ahead of Tuesday’s election, top cop says there are no threats ‘specific to Chicago,’ by Sun-Times Tom Schuba — Hate crimes against Black Chicagoans up 50 percent this year, city agency finds, by WTTW’s Eunice Alpasan — Appellate Court strikes down FOP Covid vax lawsuit: “Because the unions have failed to identify any well-defined and dominant public policy that is implicated by this arbitration award, the public-policy exception does not apply,” according to the filing. — Floating wetlands installed on South Branch of Chicago River for native wildlife, by Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo. — Uplift High School has only about 100 students. Can the community and CPS save it from being a ‘failed experiment’? Tribune’s Maddie Ellis reports — Chicago has a karaoke champion: “In the first citywide singing contest, Chicago Sings Karaoke, Jason E. Jackson beat out 540 others to take the top prize of $5,000. Mayor Lori Lightfoot belts out ‘Dancing in the Street,’” by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers.
| | 2023 MUNICIPAL RACES | | — After descent into alcoholism cost him City Council seat, Proco Joe Moreno hits the comeback trail: “In a soul-searching interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, former Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st) talked about going into his own tailspin after failing to talk a beloved friend out of committing suicide,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — After six weeks of testimony about an onslaught of West Side gang violence, jurors poised to get Wicked Town racketeering case, by Tribune’s Jason Meisner
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — BIG VOTES | Arlington Heights board to vote today on 'road map' agreement for Bears development: “Arlington Heights village board members will cast their votes on an agreement with the Chicago Bears that could pave the way to the NFL franchise's long-sought suburban relocation,” by Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek. — Tornado touched down in Kendall, Kane counties Saturday, via NBC 5
| | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | | — Crash fatalities are down, possibly due to safer cars, rather than safer driving: “Fatal crashes reached 950 last Tuesday compared to a total of 1,210 in 2021, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported,” reports Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, “At a Crossroads: America’s Defense Strategy” on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America’s national security. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked how the news affects your daily life: Rosemary Caruk: “It contributes to how calm/hopeful or nervous/scared I feel.” Nick Kalm: “I track Chicago’s serious crime problem to see how close it is in time and place to where my employees and I live and work.” Rich Norman: “The news usually depresses me because my favored candidates often lose and the world seems to be going to pot; literally and figuratively.” Bob Remer: “Trying to be less ‘reactive’ to craziness in the news. It ain't healthy otherwise.” Phil Zeni: “I read the news until I can’t stand it anymore, then I go cold turkey and ghost it for 72 hours.” What are your Election Night plans? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — 5 big congressional contests that won't get settled on Election Day, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett, Sarah Ferris and Olivia Beavers — Cotton passes on 2024 presidential run after considering campaign, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt — Biden won on infrastructure. Democrats are struggling to get voters to care, by POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder, Jordan Wolman, Annie Snider, John Hendel and Eleanor Mueller
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mary Kay Minaghan for knowing that Rosehill Cemetery at 5800 N. Ravenswood Ave. still has an elevator tower that was once used to bring caskets to ground level. TODAY’s QUESTION: What was Chicago's first fully air-conditioned office building and the first to include underground parking? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | DuPage County Board Chair Dan Cronin, philanthropist and political donor Eleni Bousis, Harry Caray CEO Grant DePorter, crisis communications consultant Randall Samborn, Illinois Secretary of State policy adviser Bob Yadgir, Axion Analytical Labs founder and President Lee Polite and Sportico reporter Daniel Libit. -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 | | | | |  |
