GOP stalwart Ron Gidwitz backs Chris Christie

By Shia Kapos

TGIF, Illinois. It’s a BeyHive world and we’re just living in it.

Ron Gidwitz, a former fundraiser for Donald Trump, is backing Chris Christie for president in 2024. | POLITICO's Shia Kapos

SCOOP: Ron Gidwitz, an Illinois Republican stalwart who raised funds for Donald Trump and worked in his administration, is endorsing Chris Christie in 2024, saying the former New Jersey governor has executive chops and isn’t afraid to stand up to the former president.

“He knows how to work across party lines, which is terribly important as opposed to having a constant battle between Republicans and Democrats,” Gidwitz told Playbook in an interview about endorsing Christie. “And he’s the only candidate in the race today who seems to have the courage to call out Donald Trump on the campaign trail.”

He’s got cred: Gidwitz is an Illinois establishment Republican who once ran for governor. In 2016, he worked as state finance chair for Trump’s White House bid and then was rewarded with an appointment as U.S. ambassador to Belgium.

Gidwitz soured on Trump over the years and in recent months has been watching the GOP presidential field closely while considering who to endorse. He has donated to all the Republican presidential candidates but Trump and Ron DeSantis, who Gidwitz sees as leaning too far right.

Everything’s sunshine: Gidwitz now lives in Florida, though his investing business remains in Chicago. And he’s a regular donor to political campaigns across the country. He said he’s not worried about Christie lagging in polls so far.

Handling the truth: “He's speaking the truth. He’s telling the public and the voters just how Donald Trump behaves, what he said he’s done and not done,” Gidwitz said of Christie. “We’ve got six months until the first primary. I think that’s plenty of time. A lot of things can happen between now and New Hampshire and Iowa.”

Not the only one: Gidwitz is just the latest former Trump ally to join Christie’s campaign. Murray Kushner, an uncle to Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, has also donated to Christie, reports POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi.

Mike Flannery talks to the crowd gathered at Carlucci Restaurant on Randolph Street on Thursday, July 20, 2023, for his retirement send-off. | POLITICO's Shia Kapos

Mike Flannery has always been a ratings star, and Thursday night’s crowd was no different. All the big names came out to celebrate him upon his retirement from Fox 32. He's been in the business 50 years.

Flannery basked in the limelight, thanking everyone at Carlucci's on Randolph Street for their friendship. “Someone came up to me and said ‘So, you’re hugging politicians tonight,’” Flannery told the crowd, then deadpanned, “Only the ones that I really liked and the ones I really respect.”

Spotted at the patio party: Former Gov. Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Republican Senate Leader John Curran, Chicago Ald. Anthony Beale, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.

Media mavens and friends, too: The great Pam Zekman, Tribune’s Rick Kogan, NewsGuard Executive Editor Jim Warren, Better Government Association’s David Greising, Fox 32’s Dane Placko, WBBM’s Craig Dellimore, Tribune reporter Gregory Royal Pratt, CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov, WLS Radio’s John Howell, Pulitzer Prize winner Cornelia Grumman, U. of C. Crime Lab Executive Director Roseanna Ander, comms pro Randall Samborn and Deputy Illinois Secretaries of State Hanah Jubeh and Scott Burnham.

If you are Pam Zekman, Playbook would like to plan a lunch. Email skapos@politico.com.

At Lion Electric-Factory Floor in Channahon at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate its opening

At the Fannie Emanuel Apartments at 1:15 p.m. for the annual luau celebration.

In Travis County/Austin, Texas, to attend the National Association of Counties Conference.

Before your weekend bender, send me a line: skapos@politico.com

A message from Uber:

What the City of Chicago uncovered about Uber. An independent study by the City of Chicago found that most Uber and Lyft drivers make $21-$30 per hour and earn over $1,000 a week* on average. Learn more about the City of Chicago’s study.*Full-time TNP driver avg hourly and weekly earnings, PPV Study April,'23

— GREAT READ: Republicans are at war with college towns. And they’re losing: “Growing population in America’s highly educated enclaves has led to huge gains for the Democratic Party. And it’s changing the electoral map going into 2024,” by POLITICO’s Charlie Mahtesian and Madi Alexander.

— CONVENTION ZONE: The 1948 Democratic National Convention is the missing link in Civil Rights history: “Civil rights activists failed to expel an all-white, segregationist delegation. But their efforts foreshadowed later milestones in the fight for equality,” by Samuel G. Freedman for Smithsonian magazine.

— Male politicians dress like crap. The Twitter menswear guy is here to help, by Derek Guy for POLITICO Magazine

— Illinois immigrants need more language help to thrive and partake in civic life: “In Illinois, 8 percent of the population doesn’t speak English very well, and that’s a barrier for immigrants participating in civic life,” by WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang.

— Sangamon County Board reverses vote, giving go-ahead to proposed $10M solar farm, by Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen

— 10 percent of felonies in Madison County come from Missouri residents, by St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer

— Repurposing MacMurray Hall in Jacksonville, by Illinois Times’ David Blanchette

JOIN 7/26 FOR A TALK ON THE NEW ENERGY ECONOMY: Join POLITICO's lively discussion, "Powering a Clean Energy Economy," on July 26 to explore the effectiveness of consumer-targeted policies to boost sustainability and create clean energy jobs. How are the Inflation Reduction Act's provisions faring? Which strategies truly sway consumer behavior? Hear from featured speaker, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), among other experts. Don't miss this insightful event — register today and be part of the conversation driving America's clean energy future! REGISTER NOW.

— Lightfoot attends hearing for man accused of threatening her, saying it shows need for ‘the protection to which I am entitled’: The former mayor attended a status hearing Thursday for William Kohles, 42, accused of posting a threat last fall on the mayor’s official webpage. “I have a bullet with your name on it,” the message read, according to prosecutors. “If you don’t reduce the crime in our city ... I guarantee it will go straight through your mother------- head.” Sun-Times’ Matthew Hendrickson reports.

— Former Cabrini Green site set to get over 700 new housing units: “Chicago Housing Authority has applied to build 560 apartments as part of a three-phase project. Board members also signed off on another 99-unit project nearby,” by Block Club’s Jake Wittich.

— Record number of Chicagoans reported flooded basements in July, by WBEZ’s Amy Qin, Jessica Alvarado Gamez and Claire Kurgan

— Lori Lightfoot sued to keep a letter about the city treasurer secret. Will Brandon Johnson continue her fight? Tribune’s Alice Yin reports

— Five arrests made, 10 women rescued from suburban sex trafficking ring: “A report in early spring of a brothel operating in a west side apartment in St. Charles led to a monthslong investigation of a human trafficking organized crime syndicate,” by Shaw Local’s Brenda Schory

— County officials gearing up for cashless bail: “It’s going to be a case-by-case basis,” though detention will always be sought for murder, carjacking, sexual assault and armed robbery among them, says DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin. Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart has a similar list. Daily Herald’s Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas report.

— Evanston panel votes to make taxpayers fund mayoral elections, by Evanston Now’s Bill Smith

A message from Uber:

— Chicago weed giant Cresco Labs claims in suit that competitor GTI poached a top-level employee, by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba

— Former Northwestern AD Jim Phillips says he will ‘vigorously defend myself’ after being named in 2 lawsuits in hazing scandal, by The Associated Press’ Aaron Beard

— State Rep. Adam Niemerg has kicked off his election, announcing he’ll run for re-election of the 102nd District, a seat that he was first elected to in 2020. The district includes Effingham, Champaign, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Jasper, Lawrence and Vermilion counties.

— Maria Peterson is set to kick off her campaign for state representative in the 52nd District on July 26. She’s raised nearly $25,000, according to filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The district is currently led by two-term Republican Rep. Martin McLaughlin. Peterson, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully for state Senate last year.

— Jim Nowlan is out with a new book for folks learning the ropes about government and politics. It’s titled Politics: The Starter Kit. Nowlan is a former state legislator who’s worked for three unindicted governors and behind the scenes on numerous political campaigns. He says the how-to book will be of interest to young people more than the political nerds who read this newsletter.

JOIN 7/27 FOR A TALK ON WOMEN LEADERS IN THE NEW WORKPLACE: In the wake of the pandemic, U.S. lawmakers saw a unique opportunity to address the current childcare system, which has become increasingly unaffordable for millions of Americans, but the initial proposals went nowhere. With the launch of the Congressional Bipartisan Affordable Childcare Caucus in May, there may be a path to make childcare more affordable. Join Women Rule on July 27 to dive into this timely topic and more with featured speakers Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Reshma Saujani, Founder & CEO of Moms First and Founder of Girls Who Code. REGISTER HERE.

We asked about your first restaurant job.

State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit: “I worked at the former Pockets that was located by the Fox Valley Mall to pay my rent and college expenses in the mid-1990s. My hourly rate that I recall was $2.35 an hour.”

Michael Gascoigne: McCormick’s Smokehouse in Springfield.

Barbara Guttmann: Maître d' at Jackie’s on Lincoln Avenue after the 1984 convention “when Gary Hart was not selected as the Dem nominee.”

Kevin Lampe: "The legendary Neighborhood Inn” in Hoffman Estates.

Ed Mazur: McDonald’s.

Mark Michaels: Flipped burgers at two fast food places while going to Penn State.

Phil Zeni: Sous chef at South Side Country Club in Decatur in 1958.

What’s your favorite Mike Flannery story? Email skapos@politico.com

— Manchin and Sinema back to bedeviling Democrats, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett

— Sen. Tammy Duckworth discusses Tuberville blockade and FAA reauthorization negotiations, via CNN

— What no one will say out loud about Nancy Pelosi, by POLITICO’s Dustin Gardiner

— Barack Obama is out with his summer playlist, via Twitter.

A message from Uber:

Going where taxis won’t go

The City of Chicago’s own study found that nearly 30% of Uber & Lyft rides start in underserved neighborhoods like Avalon Park and Pullman.*

Learn more about the City of Chicago’s study.

*PPV Study April,'23

— Ken Kansa is a partner in the Finance, Insolvency and Restructuring Department at Barnes & Thornburg. He had been with Sidley Austin.

— Longtime Bond Buyer reporter Yvette Shields dies: "Yvette was everything a reporter should be — perpetually curious, tenacious, whip smart and unafraid to ask the tough questions," said Mike Scarchilli, editor in chief of The Bond Buyer. "More importantly, she was a wonderful person, both personally and professionally.” Bond Buyer’s Caitlin Devitt reports.

THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Kevin Conlon for correctly answering that Playboy magazine began in Hugh Hefner’s apartment at 6052 S. Harper Ave. in Chicago in 1953.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What Illinois county has consistently produced more corn than any other county? Email skapos@politico.com

Today: State Sen. Bill Cunningham, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Erika Orr, Cook County Circuit Court Judge John Mulroe, NBC 5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern, Bully Pulpit Interactive Senior Director Sean Anderson, Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing Executive Director Mark Swartz, campaign consultant Enza Raineri and PR pro Amanda Berrios.

Saturday: Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, lobbyist and former Ald. Joe Moore and lieutenant governor’s comms manager Taylor Brown.

Sunday: Former Chicago Board of Ed President Miguel del Valle, Illinois Deputy Attorney General Adam Braun, ABC 7 political reporter Craig Wall, attorney Sam Royko, PwC tax partner Jennifer Darling, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Senior Account Manager Stephani Englund and former state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo.

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