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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. Get ready, President Joe Biden could launch his reelection bid next week, via POLITICO
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Illinois Republican Darren Bailey for governor during an Illinois rally on June 25, 2022. | Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images | SCOOP: Darren Bailey, the former Republican candidate for governor, talked to former President Donald Trump on Wednesday about a potential run for Congress against Rep. Mike Bost in Illinois’ downstate 12th District. Bailey was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort for a fundraiser for Louisiana governor candidate Jeff Landry and was able to buttonhole Trump, according to a person familiar with their meeting. It would be yuge: Bailey and Bost both lean right, so a primary would rally Republicans to the polls next year. There has been talk in Republican circles for months that Bailey might challenge the Republican congressman from Murphysboro. Bost is girding for a fight. He raised nearly $414,000 in the past quarter ending in March, according to Federal Election Committee reports. It’s a huge amount for Bost, who has had next to no primary competition since he took office in 2015. Bailey’s story: He’s a former state representative and state senator who won the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2022 after Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association spent millions to paint him as an extremist opposed to abortion. The former president also endorsed Bailey. That rallied the right in the GOP primary, leaving Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, a moderate Republican, in the dust. In the General Election, Pritzker continued to hammer Bailey, saying he wasn’t a fit for Illinois. Bailey, meanwhile, tried, unsuccessfully, to link Pritzker to Chicago’s crime problems, though he says Democrats’ mail-in ballot efforts ultimately did him in. Pritzker won 55 percent to 42 percent.
| | THE BUZZ | | | | 
Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson names Rich Guidice, left, and state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas as chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, respectively. | Photos via Fox 32 screen shot, Pacione-Zayas web. | Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s just-named chief of staff will be a key player in City Hall as Chicago prepares for the 2024 Democratic Convention. Rich Guidice currently is executive director of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the organization that oversees the city’s biggest events, including Lollapalooza. Guidice has worked directly under three Chicago mayors. Johnson also named state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, a well-liked legislator with a strong policy background, as deputy chief of staff. “Both Rich and Cristina have shown dedication to making Chicago work for all of Chicago, and I know they will lead these positions with a sense of collaboration, compassion and competence,” Johnson said, hyping the three C’s of his political campaign. Johnson’s selection of Guidice is an indication that he’s not afraid to keep on City Hall staffers who have worked for Mayor Lori Lightfoot or other mayoral leaders. Johnson, like Lightfoot, is a change agent, so it is a delicate dance as to whether to hold on to experienced employees from previous administrations while also wanting to make strategic shifts. Guidice had initially planned to retire from city government. He even talked about that with Fox 32. But changed his mind after meeting with Johnson’s team. Jason Lee, transition adviser to Johnson, said Guidice and Pacione Zayas’ skills complement each other. Together, they bring “institutional knowledge in how city government works and deep policy and strategic thought about how to make changes where needed,” Lee told Playbook. Along with having a strong sense of how to manage big events, Guidice has overseen the city’s emergency response, 911 call center, and traffic management system, which will all come into play during the 2024 convention. Before that, he helped create the city’s Traffic Management Authority and oversaw planning and coordination for large-scale events like the 2008 inauguration of President Barack Obama. Pacione-Zayas has been a state senator since 2020, when she was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Circuit Court Clerk Imris Martinez. Pacione-Zayas previously led Erikson Institute’s Policy and Leadership Department and was board secretary of the State Board of Education. Pacione-Zayas, whose 20th state Senate District includes parts of the Bucktown, Logan Square and Avondale neighborhoods, will resign and an appointment to fill the seat will be made by Democratic Party officials. — Johnson’s appointments draw praise from council members and others: Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. called them “smart” hires. “Rich, having the experience with public safety, would give the mayor a leg up in dealing with the police and the firemen, and that’s something that’s very needed right now,” Burnett said, via Tribune’s Alice Yin and Gregory Pratt. — Chicago’s interim top cop will step down May 15, when new mayor takes office: “Chicago Supt. Eric Carter’s announcement came four days after unrest swept downtown,” reports WTTW’s Heather Cherone. If you are Rich Guidice, Playbook would like to know your tips for planning a big event. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | In Washington, D.C., at 10 a.m. (ET) for a discussion with mayors of the “Big 4” cities at the African American Mayors Association Conference
| | Where's Toni | | At the Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont at 9:30 a.m. for an Earth Day Celebration and Day of Service. Thank you for reading Playbook! Drop me a line sometime: skapos@politico.com
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinois could require school districts to have full-day kindergarten by 2027: “Parents, educators, and advocates want school districts to offer full-day programs because they say teachers would have more time to help children learn foundational skills such as their alphabets, colors and numbers, working parents would have child care covered, and students would be better prepared to enter elementary school. But some critics have concerns about additional costs, staffing and space,” by Chalkbeat’s Samantha Smylie. — Illinois spring housing market started early, with monthly sale and price increases expected as season continues, by Tribune’s Lizzie Kane — Crime victims call for expanded protections, rights at Illinois Capitol rally, by State Journal-Register’s Patrick Keck — In Springfield, May 5 inauguration set for officials at Bank of Springfield Center, by State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie
| | CHICAGO | | — Loop security is expected to tighten over weekend after violent teen gathering: “Last week, two people were shot, a couple beaten and police slow to respond. This week, fences are up at Millennium Park, entry points are limited and a curfew will be enforced, city officials said,” by WBEZ’s Samantha Callender. — City went too far in worker crackdown over Covid vaccines, judge rules: “An administrative law judge for a state agency rules the city has to reinstate workers and make up for lost wages and benefits,” by Sun-Times’ David Roeder and Tom Schuba. — HIGHER ED: DePaul student journalists say newspapers vanished after critical story on the university’s budget gap was published, by Block Club’s Mack Liederman
| | SPOTTED | | — Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias hosted an Iftar to commemorate Ramadan on Thursday at the Chicago Cultural Center. Guests included state Reps. Abdelnasser Rashid and Nabeela Syed, the first Muslim-Americans to be elected to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. Today, Muslims across Illinois celebrate the end of the Holy month of Ramadan with Eid Il-Fitr. Pic!
| | COOK COUNTY | | — Latest Bears stadium legislation would add $3 to ticket prices at Arlington Heights site to help pay off Soldier Field debt, by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner, Caroline Kubzansky, Robert McCoppin and Dan Petrella — Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s electronic monitoring rules are ambiguous, appeals court finds, by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchel — After 50 years, Long Grove synagogue writing final chapter as independent congregation, by Daily Herald’s Steve Zalusky
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked when you last spoke up at a city council meeting: Steve Sheffey: “I spoke at a Highland Park City Council meeting in June 2013 in favor of a ban on assault weapons. I said that "There is no legitimate reason for anyone to own an assault weapon. The sole purpose of assault weapons is to kill people." On the record What legislative issue are you following this session? Email skapos@politico.com
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Kellyanne Conway’s polarizing presence at GOP’s Lincoln Day dinner: “Former Illinois GOP Chair Pat Brady said he believes Conway's $30,000 fee is exorbitant. Worse yet, he said, the invitation is detrimental to Illinois Republicans,” by Illinois Times’ Scott Reeder.
| | | DELEGATION | | | — Durbin asks Roberts to testify on Supreme Court ethics flaps: “The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee invited the chief justice to a May 2 hearing,” by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Katherine Tully -McManus. — Duckworth blasts Senate Republican attempt to roll back VA abortion care, via MSNBC
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — McCarthy assembles a new kitchen cabinet ahead of debt showdown — without his No. 2 Scalise, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers and Sarah Ferris — Larry Elder enters 2024 presidential race, by POLITICO’s Kelly Garrity — Lost on abortion politics, Republicans struggle for a solution, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Don Black is now political director for Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06). He was Casten’s 2022 campaign manager. More recently, he managed the successful reelection campaign of Chicago Ald. Gil Villegas. — Brianna Willis has returned to West Wing Writers, a strategic comms firm in Washington, D.C. She was senior speechwriter for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, helping the mayor respond to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on Chicago and to the murder of George Floyd. — Wesam Shahed is now a policy adviser for Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. He has been an assistant state’s attorney. — Meg Thurman has been named new director of student services for the Sycamore school district. She has been a member of the Springfield District 186 cabinet. State Journal Register’s Steven Spearie reports.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — James Eisenberg, who ran Vienna Beef, loved his hot dogs, dead at 92: “He knew how to do every job there before he and Jim Bodman bought the Chicago company in 1982. To celebrate, they had steaks — not hot dogs — at Gene & Georgetti,” by Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek.
| | | EVENTS | | | — Saturday at 11:30 a.m.: Congressman Jonathan Jackson and Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson will speak at Kenwood Oakland Community Organization's annual convention at King College Prep. Details here — Monday at 6 p.m.: Congresswoman Delia Ramirez holds a town hall to talk about her first 100 days in office. Location: Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center.
| | | TRIVIA | | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to public policy analyst Mark McCombs for correctly answering that the late Lawrence “Lar” Daly used the FCC’s equal time rule for air time during the 1960 presidential race. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was Clarence Darrow’s only client to be executed? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Cook County Circuit Court Judge Brendan O’Brien, former state Rep. Bob Winchester, policy pro and Chicago Police Board VP Paula Wolff, attorney and The Civil Rights Agenda founder Jacob Meister, attorney and lobbyist Scott Yonover, Free Market Ventures’ Jack Buck, The Conservation Center CEO Heather Becker, Washington Post's Lauren Weber, Sun-Times' Rummana Hussain and Left Flank Strategies’ Bill Neidhardt, who helped run Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s campaign. Saturday: Ald. Greg Mitchell, public affairs exec and former state Sen. Laura Kent Donahue, OKAY Cannabis co-founder and former Ald. Ameya Pawar, Raise Marketplace founder George Bousis, business consultant Stephanie Leese Emrich, philanthropist Sue Carey and The Wall Street Journal’s Shayndi Raice. Sunday: Lockport Township Clerk Erin Haas Gotts, Illinois Policy Institute Chair John Tillman, Block Club's Dawn Rhodes and the great Shelly Zucker. -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 | | | | |  |
