
It's Primary Day, and the Mayor's Race Has Never Been Closer
This is The Sprint for City Hall, a limited-run series on the critical Democratic primary race for mayor.
Primary Day has arrived.
Hi, I'm Dean Chang, the editor running The New York Times's coverage of the mayoral primary. This was to be the eighth and last version of the newsletter, but just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in — or so it seems.
In this edition, we'll look at some of the important story lines that might influence the outcome and examine how a campaign's ground game could make the difference. We'll also explain why we probably won't know who won the primary until next Tuesday, which likely extends The Sprint's life for at least another week. (Any longer and we're going shopping for a new name.)
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
JB Pritzker to Seek Third Term as Illinois Governor
Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois is expected this week to announce a bid for re-election in 2026, according to two people close to his campaign. The announcement, expected to come on Thursday, opens the chance that Mr. Pritzker will have a third term in the governor's office while not ruling out the possibility of a presidential run in 2028. The two people who described the plans asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Mr. Pritzker, 60, a Democrat and billionaire hotel heir, has emerged as one of the most vocal national figures on the left since President Trump returned to office, sparring with Mr. Trump on policy and urging fellow Democrats to fight back against his agenda. 'It's time to fight everywhere and all at once,' he told a group of Democrats in the early presidential primary state of New Hampshire this spring. 'Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now. These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.' In Illinois, the sixth most-populous state in the country, Mr. Pritzker has pushed policies to the left, expanding abortion rights, increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and signing into law the legalization of recreational marijuana. He has been a vocal supporter of sanctuary policies for immigrants, including a state law that was signed by his predecessor, Bruce Rauner, a Republican. Mr. Pritzker signed legislation aimed at strengthening rights for residents who are undocumented or immigrants, part of a promise to make Illinois a 'firewall' against Mr. Trump's deportation efforts. Earlier this month, Mr. Pritzker testified on immigration policy in Washington before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, saying that Illinois would 'not participate in abuses of power' at the behest of federal immigration officials. In 2023, Mr. Pritzker founded Think Big America, a nonprofit that supports abortion rights. He has recruited companies to the state and helped build investments in quantum computing, but has had mixed success with some corporate interests, who have chafed at the state's high taxes, fiscal instability and deep pension problems. Mr. Pritzker has also struggled to win over rural downstate residents, many of whom see him as a wealthy, liberal Chicagoan who is out of step with their concerns. Mr. Pritzker will not have to depend on donors to power a third campaign. He is able to largely self-fund his runs for office with his family fortune. He spent $350 million on his first two campaigns, the Chicago Tribune reported. He easily won a second term in 2022 with 55 percent of the vote. Illinois governors rarely serve more than one or two terms: The last governor to be elected to a third term was James R. Thompson, a Republican who held the job from 1977 to 1991.


Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
In line with Trump, North Carolina legislature takes aim at transgender rights
RALEIGH, N.C. — Legislation much in line with President Donald Trump's political agenda on transgender rights squeezed through the North Carolina Senate this week, as state lawmakers prepare for their anticipated summer recess by the week's end. A measure approved Tuesday — despite heightened tensions in the Senate — offers protections for women and minors in pornography but had various provisions related to transgender people tacked on in a Senate committee last week. In its original form, the bill passed unanimously through the House last month before the changes, which caused a stir among Democrats who have said the bill was hijacked. 'It didn't just distract from the problem, they made it impossible to solve,' Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch said on the chamber floor Tuesday. The other bill passed Monday, entitled the Parents Protections Act, blocks certain abuse and neglect charges for parents raising transgender children. That bill was sent to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's desk for his impending veto or approval. But the bill is on track to become law even if Stein vetoes it as previous Democratic support in the House will give Republicans the supermajority necessary to override a veto. Among the many priorities unveiled by the Trump administration over the past six months, pressing back against the rights and recognition of transgender people has been at the forefront. The administration's policies include restricting passport sex markers for many transgender people, signing off on an executive order to recognize just two sexes and banning transgender troops — actions that had mixed approval from Americans as of last month. The bills passed by the Senate reinforce the Trump administration's attitude toward transgender issues. But they are also an extension of legislation already approved in North Carolina. Last legislative session, the GOP-dominated General Assembly cleared bills that largely banned gender-affirming care for minors and transgender athletes from participating in women's sports at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels. Tuesday's approved bill includes an array of provisions pertaining to transgender people, such as disallowing state-funded gender transition procedures or gender-affirming hormone therapy for prisoners. It also requires the state to officially attach a transgender person's new birth certificate to their old one if they change their sex assigned at birth, as well as affirms Trump's executive order recognizing only two sexes. Republican Sen. Buck Newton said the reason for pushing the bill with new provisions was to address the issue of women being 'systemically erased from our language.' He referenced terms such as 'pregnant person' as evidence of that. In the bill's original form that passed through the House, it solely focused on curbing sexual exploitation of women and minors by implementing age verification and consent requirements for people who appear on pornography websites. It also outlines a process to remove content from those websites if a performer requests it, regardless of age and consent. While those provisions remain in the bill, many Senate Democrats expressed their dissatisfaction by sending forth a barrage of amendments and abstaining from voting while remaining in the chamber — a rare move used in protest. The parliamentary maneuvers caused discussion on the bill to last over two hours, but it ultimately passed. Because the bill was changed in the Senate, it must now go back to House to approve of the alterations before it can go to the governor's desk. The Parents Protections Act would shield parents, guardians and caregivers from being cited for child abuse or neglect because they 'raise a juvenile consistent with the juvenile's biological sex,' according to the legislation. That includes making reference to the child, as well as making mental health or medical decisions, based on their sex assigned at birth. Adoptive agencies also wouldn't be permitted to deny someone from adopting a child because of their unwillingness to allow the child to transition. Nine House Democrats voted in favor of the legislation last week, meaning a potential veto from Stein would easily be overridden if those margins remain and allow the bill to become law.


CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
LA Tenants Union calls for eviction moratorium amid mass immigration enforcement operations
The Los Angeles Tenants Union is calling on city officials to impose a rent moratorium as ongoing immigration enforcement operations continue to spread fear throughout the region. During a news conference on Tuesday, representatives of the LATU claimed that the presence of officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement has had a noticeable impact on business, as many employees are scared to go to work while operations continue. Many self-employed immigrants have decided to stay home amid the ongoing situation, choosing to pass on much-needed money in favor of avoiding federal agents. "We know that many tenants will not be able to pay their rent come July 1," said one LATU representative, who said she's undocumented. "Why? Because this militarization of our community ... has closed down businesses, taken away street vendors, separated families and then people cannot pay their rent. They have barely the minimum to survive." The concern comes as the Trump administration cracks down on unauthorized immigration throughout the country, with much of the initial enforcement coming out of L.A. County. According to an exclusive report by CBS News on Tuesday, internal government data shows that as many as 59,000 detainees are currently being held throughout the nation, a likely record. President Trump has defended the action, claiming that leaders in cities run by Democrats use undocumented immigrants to "expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens," he wrote on Truth Social. The administration has not provided evidence to support those claims. Last week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved an emergency motion to measure and study the economic impact of immigration enforcement throughout the remainder of the year. Local politicians said the study will include information on workforce losses, locations and industries affected, and on the economic impact of property damage and imposed curfews. Some business owners reported receiving as little as 20 percent of their normal business in recent weeks, especially in areas that rely on foot traffic like the Fashion District and Little Tokyo. "Our businesses are struggling. Entrepreneurship is at a standstill," said a man who only identified himself as a "concerned community member." "Fear has taken a toll on our society and our local economy." The union called for a citywide day of action on July 1, where it encouraged community members to join in a rent strike and participate in an action to call on city officials to impose a moratorium on evictions. The office for L.A. Mayor Bass did not immediately respond to a request for comment.