Biss is running for Congress
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Good Thursday morning, Illinois. Get your coffee. There's a lot to cover today.
Illinois Playbook at the Hideout May 22: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will sit down with your Playbook host. Tickets here
TOP TALKER
Daniel Biss, the Evanston mayor who previously served in the Illinois General Assembly, is running for the congressional seat now held by retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky.
The Trump factor: 'I am running for Congress to stand up to Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies. I've never backed down from a fight, and I've won some big ones—on LGBTQ+ rights, campaign finance reform, protecting abortion access [and] defending the environment,' Biss said in a statement.
It's not a surprise: Biss has long been expected to jump into the Democratic primary race. He faces state Sen. Laura Fine, progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh and high school math teacher David Abrevaya. Republican Rocio Cleveland also is running for the seat.
Biss is a familiar name in Democratic politics, having run for governor in 2018, losing in the primary to now Gov. JB Pritzker. The two have gone on to become allies, with the governor endorsing Biss in his two mayoral campaigns — Biss just won his last race in April.
His accomplishments: As mayor, Biss enacted campaign finance reform and passed a Healthy Buildings Ordinance to curb carbon emissions. While serving in the General Assembly, he supported legislation addressing abortion rights, protections for LGBTQ+ youth and savings options for retirees.
The big question is whether Pritzker, Schakowsky or other members of congress will get into the endorsement game.
THE BUZZ
HUGE SHAKE-UP: Democratic state Rep. Fred Crespo was stripped of his leadership positions and kicked out of the Democratic caucus by House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch.
The reason: 'He wouldn't return calls' from House Majority Leader and chief budgeteer Robyn Gable, and 'didn't complete' tasks that he was assigned as chair of the House Appropriations-General Services Committee, which reviews funding for statewide offices such as treasurer, comptroller and attorney general, and some state agencies, according to a person inside the speaker's office.
Going rogue? 'We understand he was trying to introduce a budget proposal that didn't reflect input with [his Democratic] colleagues and leadership,' according to the person. 'He didn't work in collaboration with people who the speaker put in charge of budget negotiations.'
What it signals: Crespo, who declined to comment, has long been a fiscal conservative who has butted heads with Welch over past budgets. But this year's budget is even more perilous than years' past. The governor's budget office earlier this week issued a revised revenue forecast for the upcoming fiscal year, projecting about $500 million less than previously expected — a shortfall that will make it harder for the General Assembly to balance the budget.
During last year's debate, Crespo expressed disappointment that leadership didn't consider hiring freezes and other suggested cuts. 'At this rate, ladies and gentlemen, we're gonna run out of taxpayer dollars to spend,' he said before voting against the budget bill.
If you are Fred Crespo, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
WHERE'S JB
At Venice Recreation Hall at 11 a.m. to announce awards supporting the establishment of new grocery stores in food desserts — At the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion at 2:30 p.m. for the groundbreaking of the first STAR Bonds project
WHERE's BRANDON
At the Nederlander Theater at 3:30 p.m. for the Choose Chicago annual meeting
Where's Toni
At the Cook County Building at 9 a.m. to preside over a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— Rahm Emanuel on 2028: 'I am in training': 'The former two-term Chicago mayor dropped a generous hint to a 2028 presidential run,' by POLITICO's Amanda Friedman.
— ENDORSEMENT FUSS: Congressman Jonathan Jackson was so effusive of Congresswoman Robin Kelly in her bid for Senate, that he didn't clarify that he was just spreading love and not a full-fledged endorsement the other day.
'I have decided it is better not to make endorsements during Democratic primaries,' he said in a statement to Playbook. 'I understand that this primary season may have raised questions, and I sincerely apologize for any confusion,' he continued, referring to the race that has Kelly battling fellow Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi — and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood thinking about joining the race, too. (And who wants to get sideways with Gov. JB Pritzker, who's endorsing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton?)
Kelly shrugged: 'We're proud of the support we've received from so many of Robin's Congressional Black Caucus colleagues and the strong coalition she is building among voters,' a spokeswoman told Playbook.
— In IL-01, Christian Maxwell has announced she's running as a Republican against Democratic Congressman Jonathan Jackson. Maxwell describes herself as an entrepreneur who has worked to help struggling businesses. 'I'm running because I believe it's time to bring a new approach to politics — one that focuses on the needs of everyday people rather than career politicians,' she told Playbook. 'After experiencing firsthand the harm caused by the Biden administration's policies on small businesses, I realized that I couldn't stand on the sidelines anymore.'
— In IL-02, Adal Regis, who works in the nonprofit space, announced his candidacy this morning for the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Kelly. 'We need affordable housing, trustworthy policing, a healthier environment, and targeted economic development that creates jobs — not just to pay the bills, but to build lasting futures,' Regis said in a statement launching his campaign. He is director of strategy at Chicago-based Elevate, a nonprofit that helps underserved communities get access to clean energy. He previously was a grant specialist in Kelly's office and before that worked for former New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey.
— In IL-16, Paul Nolley is a Democrat hoping to unseat Republican Congressman Darin LaHood. 'I think normal people need to stand up to what's going on right now in our country. I think we are seeing the most amount of chaos, corruption, economic issues facing working people that we ever have. Just people like me, we're sick and tired of it,' Nolley said, via the WIFR Newsroom.
— Here's a roundup of the congressional moves, by the Tribune's Rick Pearson
THE STATEWIDES
— Illinois Head Start officials react with caution to RFK Jr.'s assurances of continued funding, by the Tribune's Addison Wright
— GOP plan to slash Medicaid could strip coverage from hundreds of thousands in Illinois, by Crain's Jon Asplund
— Sean Grayson's attorneys ask Illinois Supreme Court to release him from jail as he awaits trial for murder of Sonya Massey, by CBS 2's Todd Feurer and Charlie De Mar
CHICAGO
— Chicago taps Loop Capital founder Jim Reynolds to fix $1B hole: Reynolds and Chicago Urban League CEO Karen Freeman-Wilson, the former mayor of Gary, Indiana, will head a group that starts meeting Saturday, by Bloomberg's Shruti Date Singh.
— 2-YEAR MARK: Mayor Brandon Johnson says he's considering going to Rome to meet with Pope Leo XIV: In a wide ranging interview, the mayor also says he thinks his poll numbers will catch up, by CBS 2's Chris Tye.
— Chicago residential developer now negotiating to buy the entire Lincoln Yards site, which is still mostly empty, by the Tribune's Brian J. Rogal
— 'It's just devastating,' Chicago State president says of federal cuts, by WBEZ's Lisa Kurian Philip
— Firm run by CPS school board chief interested in O'Hare concession sweepstakes, raises potential for conflict, by the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman and WBEZ's Sarah Karp
— Chicago principals union blasts CPS CEO budget planning, calling it 'magical' and 'false,' by the Sun-Times' Sarah Karp and WBEZ's Mariah Woelfel and Emmanuel Camarillo
— Mayor commits $7M to raises for early childhood education workers, by Chalkbeat's Reema Amin
— Ald. David Moore warns CTA Board not to be 'backbiting snake' by opposing mayor's pick for agency leader as some call for national search, by WTTW's Nick Blumberg
COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS
— New Aurora mayor calls for people-centered economic development, better relations with council members: 'The No. 1 thing we need to do is to get our financial house in order,' Mayor John Laesch said. 'I don't want to be all gloom and doom, but I want to be truthful going into the budget cycle,' by the Daily Herald's Susan Sarkauskas.
— Also sworn in: Cicero Town President Larry Dominick was sworn in this week for his sixth term as mayor. He was sworn in by Cook County Circuit Court Judge ShawnTe Raines-Welch, who was a volunteer for his very first campaign for mayor. And Glenwood Mayor Toleda Hart was sworn in to begin her term as that south suburban village's first African-American female mayor.
— Carpentersville trustees fire village manager and hire the town's attorney to fill the post, by the Daily Herald's Alicia Fabbre
— HIGHER-ED: Northwestern spends record amount on lobbying in early 2025 amid federal scrutiny, by the Daily Northwestern's Jerry Wu
— Rosemont's late mayor to return — in robot form in museum, by the Daily Herald's Christopher Placek
— OPINION: Board of Review's Samantha Steel says her office is using a data-driven approach to address property-tax inconsistancie, via Crain's
Reader Digest
We asked what animal would have the best sense of humor (if they could talk):
Stella Black: 'A giraffe 🦒, because they are always sticking their neck out.'
Christopher Deutsch: 'Lemurs … dry, very witty, but still a bit goofy.'
Daniel Goldwin: 'The platypus … because, well, come on!'
Shayna Jaskolka: 'Frogs. I just know their dialogue would be ribbiting.'
Jim Lyons: 'My dog Tillie. She runs our house , not my wife and myself.'
Ed Mazur: 'Elephants. They smile, shake their bellies and wag their little tails.'
Marilynn Miller: 'Any of the great apes, but especially chimps.'
Omari Prince: 'A parrot because it can spy then fly away laughing with all the details.'
Lou Sandoval: 'Boston Terriers, and the perfect voiceover would be Eddie Murphy or Chris Rock.'
Bill Velazquez: 'Giant Pandas are pretty silly. I don't think they care much about what people think of them. They are probably secretly laughing at everyone.'
NEXT QUESTION: What's the political battle you can't wait to see unfold?
KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION
— Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03) took Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to task at the House Homeland Security Committee hearing Wednesday. Noem spent much of the hearing answering questions about the arrest of Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka. Ramirez, who sits on the committee, criticized Noem for 'disrespectful press conferences in my state, where,' she added, 'you are not welcome.' Here's their exchange.
— Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) on Tuesday criticized the Trump administration over its immigration policies. 'You're removing people so hastily and with so little care that you're defying court orders.' Underwood, the ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, said Tuesday during the panel's oversight hearing on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). Here's the video starting at 3:30 minutes.
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— For birthright citizenship arguments: What, exactly, are the justices deciding? by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein
— Wisconsin judge argues she is entitled to judicial immunity, by The Associated Press
— GOP leaders draw the line at Trump's Library of Congress takeover, by POLITICO's Katherine Tully-McManus
— Boeing signs deal in Doha against backdrop of Air Force One delays, Qatar's luxury jet gift, by POLITICO's Megan Messerly
IN MEMORIAM
— Pat Scala, whose legacy looms large in the city's Italian beef community, dies at 77, by the Sun-Times' Mitch Dudek
— A celebration of life will be held today for Carol Smith Donovan, a former vice chair of the Republican State Central Committee. Tribute here
TRANSITIONS
— Ben Monticello is now legislative director for Congressman Darin LaHood. He was senior legislative assistant for Michigan Republican Congressman Jack Bergman.
TRIVIA
WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Pamela Cools for correctly answering that Army Trail Road in Addison was an ancient trail used by Gen. Winfield Scott during the Black Hawk War.
TODAY's QUESTION: What Chicago suburb was once called Pennyville? Email skapos@politico.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Ald. Jeanette Taylor, former Ald. Carrie Austin, former Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, MWRD Commissioner Dan Pogorzelski, Stingray Strategies' Vincent Brandys, PAWS Chicago CEO Susanna Wickham, Goodman Williams Group Principal Linda Goodman, Former Planning and Development Commissioner Alicia Berg and the Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet.
And happy heavenly birthday to the late Mayor Richard J. Daley
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