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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Monday morning, Illinois. The Chiefs hit the Super Bowl jackpot along with Patrick Mahomes, the Kelces, Taylor Swift and Usher.
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Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, speaking in 2023, is urging Illinois Republicans to find unity ahead of the 2024 elections. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP | RONNA McDANIEL, the embattled Republican National Committee chair, headlined Friday’s Illinois GOP fundraiser, where she urged Republicans to vote early or by mail, a strategy that’s been criticized by former President Donald Trump. McDaniel spoke briefly to the 750 attendees at Westin O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont — the largest Illinois GOP fundraiser in at least a decade. But in a private VIP gathering, she preached unity, telling donors and elected officials that the divisions within the GOP put the party at risk as it tries to regain control in Illinois and the White House, too. “She said Republicans have to stop fighting with each other, and that if you see a Republican you disagree with, give them a hug and move on because we can’t win unless we get along,” according to Greg Hart, who co-chaired the GOP event with fellow DuPage County GOP member Kari Galassi. McDaniel was referring to Republicans nationally and in Illinois, a state where Democrats control the governor’s office and both chambers of the General Assembly. Even the state Supreme Court is dominated by Democrats. McDaniel didn’t address why Trump wanted her to step down from the top GOP job. She's expected to make her exit after the South Carolina’s Feb. 24 primary. Where she and Trump are divided: McDaniel indicated she and Trump disagree on the advance voting practices that Democrats have used to their advantage. “She was very positive. She definitely believes in the ‘Bank Your Vote’ strategy” that the Illinois GOP is promoting this year, said state Sen. Jil Tracy, who was in the VIP room. “She mentioned Trump isn’t as much for the concept. She believes, as the Illinois GOP does, that we have to do more in that area.” Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy headlined the event, calling McDaniel a "rock star." But in a signal as to just how divided the party is, Kennedy also made it clear where he stands on early voting strategies, saying, there should only be “an Election Day, not an election month.” The line drew a huge applause, but by then McDaniel had left the building. — The Tribune’s Rick Pearson has more.
| | THE BUZZ | | SCHOOL OF THOUGHT: There’s finally some agreement about how Chicago’s elected school board elections will play out. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon filed legislation Friday that jibes with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request that 10 of 21 school board seats be elected in November. What they wanted: It’s the plan initially sought by the Chicago Teachers Union and what the Illinois House had agreed to, too. The issue had become a political hot potato. There was a time during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration that the CTU insisted on an elected school board, instead of having the mayor appoint members. State lawmakers passed legislation that supported an elected board. Changing their minds: When the CTU’s candidate, Johnson, was elected, there seemed less urgency on the CTU’s part to move quickly on electing all board members at once. Besides, it’s costly to run 21 campaigns at the same time. As the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles points out: “The CTU’s main political action committee had $81,554.81 cash on hand as of the latest filing period in December, filings show. The union spent more than $1.8 million on Johnson’s campaign for mayor.” RELATED — School safety: While Chicago Public Schools move away from assigning police officers to schools, some Republican lawmakers are calling for more officers in schools outside of the city. State Rep. Ryan Splain has introduced a bill that would allow school districts throughout the state to hire more school safety officers. If you are Ronna McDaniel, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | On Elston Avenue at noon for the 27th Ward Senior Bingo Game.
| | Where's Toni | | In Washington, D.C., for the National Association of Counties' Legislative Conference that President Joe Biden will address Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — NATIONAL SCENE: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apologized to family members Sunday night after a super PAC supporting his independent presidential campaign aired a $7 million Super Bowl ad that appropriated a 1960 ad aired by his uncle, John F. Kennedy. His apology via ... Here’s his ad …and here’s the original. — In IL-07, the race is becoming a competition for hipness. Congressman Danny Davis has been endorsed by rap artist and producer Kurtis Blow Walker, who’s also president of the Hip Hop Church. This follows challenger Kina Collins getting an endorsement from The Strokes. — In IL-11, Congressman Bill Foster has been endorsed for reelection by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. — In IL-14, Underwood outpacing GOP rivals in fundraising, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau — In IL-17, Joe McGraw has been endorsed by Ray Estrada, a former Republican candidate for IL-17. — Fresh off their debate, Clayton Harris III has been endorsed by Teamsters Local 743. And Eileen O’Neill Burke has been endorsed by Ald. Scott Waguespack. — Arad Boxenbaum has been endorsed in his primary run against state Rep. Matt Hanson by the IVI-IPO. Here’s the full list of endorsements. — G-PAC Illinois and GIFFORDS PAC are out with their endorsements. Full list here — Dave Nayak has loaned himself $60,000 in his campaign for the Illinois state Senate seat in the 20th District, according to the latest State Board of Elections filings. He’s in the Democratic primary, hoping to unseat state Sen. Natalie Toro. Other challengers: Graciela Guzman and Geary Yonker. — James Murphy, who’s running for Cook County Circuit Court judge in the 10th Judicial Subcircuit, has been endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor, Fire Fighters Union Local 2, the Plumbers' Union Local 130 and the Operating Engineers Local 399. — Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is wading into the 12th Ward committeeperson race. He’s endorsing state Rep. Theresa Mah who faces incumbent George Cardenas, who also serves as a Cook County Board commissioner. — Mayor Brandon Johnson is a headliner at a fundraiser Thursday for Larry Rogers Jr., a Cook County Board of Review commissioner running for re-election. Details here
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — PASS THE PORK: Democrats flexed muscles in passing out pork in Springfield: It’s “a power play over Republicans that is unusual in scope and secrecy even in the history of Springfield’s chronic partisan gamesmanship,” write the Tribune’s Dan Petrella, Jeremy Gorner and Ray Long. — The Lurie Children’s outage is having ripple effects across the pediatric medical community: “Some community providers who rely on Lurie’s network say they can’t bill patients or access online records and are sending patients elsewhere,” by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch. — Covid-19 deaths are down, but Illinois’ death rate is still higher than it was pre-pandemic, by the Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin — Five Illinois farm families featured in Super Bowl commercial, by WJBD’s Bruce Kropp — Illinois gears up for Route 66 centennial with grants, by The Telegraph’s Scott Cousins
| | CHICAGO | | — A migrant family in peril: He’s paralyzed. She just had a C-section, and their immigration papers just got tossed: “City officials [threw] away the family’s immigration papers and their newborn daughter’s birth certificate,” reports the Tribune’s Nell Salzman. — Johnson hasn’t acted on Lightfoot order aimed at aldermanic ward power: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for recommendations on zoning changes be made public in hearings, but “nine months into his term, however, Mayor Brandon Johnson and his aldermanic allies have not implemented the changes,” the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan reports. — Top cop admits he mistakenly touted wrong murder clearance rate for this year, via the Sun-Times — MAKING WAVES: The Chicago-based water innovation hub called Current has been awarded up to $160 million over 10 years from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and grow a water-focused innovation engine in the Great Lakes region.
| | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | | — IRS hit Cook County judge with a lien for $114,158 in unpaid income taxes, by the Sun-Times’ Tim Novak — Commissioner Samantha Steele discussed issues of ethics and efficiency at the Cook County Board of Review on the latest episode of Good Government Illinois' podcast, Politics 101 with David Orr.
| | | | YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS: From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked which Illinois politician you’d like to see host the Super Bowl. Charles Keller: “Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky singing Facts by Tom MacDonald.” Steven McKenzie: “State Sen. Rob Martwick can sing and carry a tune, as he's lead on ‘Martwick and the Representatives.’ I'd enjoy seeing him with Senate President Don Harmon playing lead guitar. They’d rock the crowd with Born to Run.” Marilynn Miller: “Congressman Bill Foster singing You Are The Sunshine Of My Life.” Joan Pederson: “State Comptroller Susana Mendoza and state Treasurer Michael Frerichs singing the O'Jays' For the Love of Money (aka "Money Money Money Moneyyy.") Steven N. Zaris: “Congresswoman Mary Miller doing a rendition of Public Enemy’s Fight the Power.” NEXT QUESTION: What recipe did you go to great lengths to replicate?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — ‘Enough to make Reagan ill': Trump’s NATO remarks under fire, by POLITICO’s Kelly Garrity — ‘I smell a rat,’ says Dem Gov. Pritzker of special counsel report on Biden, by your Playbook host — ‘Unbelievable hypocrisy’: Democrats hope to turn the tide on border security, by POLITICO’s Ally Mutnick and Burgess Everett
| | EVENTS | | — Today at 10 a.m.: Dave Kindred, an Illinois native who’s covered sports and politics, will headline the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute’s “Illinois Authors” series with a conversation with institute director John Shaw. Free but registration required
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Graham Grady for correctly answering that Sloan Draper, the former University of Illinois president, said, “The wealth of Illinois is in her soil and her strength lies in its intelligent development.” The quote is inscribed at the entrance of Davenport Hall. TODAY's QUESTION: Who from the Chicago Bears was first to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former state Rep. Ken Dunkin, former Ald. Michele Smith, GOP insider Barb Frobish, Fidelity Investments investment pro Matthew Nadherny, Crowell & Moring attorney Jeremy Iloulian, public-relations pro Beth Silverman, POLITICO Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, POLITICO production editor and former Illinois Playbook contributor Kristen East and Illinois’ own Abraham Lincoln. -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 | | | | |  |
