Cash, clicks and cred in IL-09 showdown

Politico

16-07-2025

Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. We stayed up sifting through Federal Election Commission reports so you wouldn't have to.
TOP TALKER
RACE TO WATCH: In the crowded race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the 9th Congressional District, Daniel Biss won the quarterly fundraising numbers — and a big endorsement, too.
Icing on the cake: The Evanston mayor and former state legislator reported a robust $703,000 in fundraising, and he's been endorsed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Biss campaigned for her during her 2020 presidential run. The Tribune has the full story.
Fundraising is important in this race. With13 declared candidates — yes, 13 — money helps set your name apart from everyone else.
Modest numbers: State Sen. Laura Fine, a longtime ally and successor to Biss in the statehouse, posted a modest $262,805.
To be sure, Biss and Fine entered the race as presumptive frontrunners in the district drawn for Democrats. They've walked the neighborhoods, marched in parades, shaken the hands. They know IL-09 like the back of their palms.
But politics is no longer just a retail game. It's about viral moments, too.
Enter Kat Abughazaleh, the social media-savvy progressive who pulled in nearly $526,000 during the second quarter — mostly from out of state. Abughazaleh also has $666,768 cash on hand at the end of the quarter, compared to Biss' $645,474 and Fine's $237,226.
Abughazaleh is riding a Gen-Z wave that's also seen Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani captivate younger, more progressive voters in the New York mayor's race.
There's a difference in Illinois, however. While Mamdani is embedded in his community, Abughazaleh only recently moved to the district and hasn't been steeped in local issues the way other candidates are.
One world issue that's likely to become a talking point is the Israel-Hamas war, given IL-09 has a highly concentrated Jewish population along with its large Middle Eastern and Asian populations, too. It's also the home of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.
Other candidates in the race who also could draw young and progressive voters are Skokie's Bushra Amiwala, who made history as the youngest Muslim elected official in the U.S. and remains a symbol of the district's diversity. She raised $199,000 in the second quarter. And State Rep. Hoan Huynh and state Sen. Mike Simmons, progressives with legislative chops, only just recently entered the race.
Then there's Bruce Leon, an entrepreneur and Democratic committeeman who jumpstarted his campaign with a $610,000 infusion from his own wallet — a reminder that self-funding is a strategy, too.
With such a crowded field and overlapping coalitions, the battle for IL-09 is shaping up to be a political cage match. Money is important — but messaging and grassroots credibility will likely decide who survives the primary.
RELATED
Why the races to succeed Krishnamoorthi, Schakowsky in Congress are packed: 'Illinois is experiencing a weakening of party organizations that historically have limited competition by slating candidates and enforcing party loyalty,' by the Daily Herald's Eric Peterson.
THE BUZZ
EYES ON TONI: When Cook County Democrats meet Thursday and Friday to listen to candidates make their case about why they should be endorsed by the party, Toni Preckwinkle, the party chair, will be among those standing in front of her peers.
The big question: Will Democratic leaders ask her tough questions about her future as Cook County Board president? Will she run through the primary and general election? Will she hold the job all four years?
The answers: Yes, yes and yes, according to her political spokesperson, Scott Kastrup. Preckwinkle, 78, expects to get tough questions, he said. 'And if she's chosen by Cook County voters, she'll serve all four years. There's no daylight there.'
That quashes buzz that Preckwinkle might be angling to find a way to elevate her protege, Commissioner Bill Lowry, to the county's top job. Lowry declined to comment about the speculation when we ran into him the other day.
For now, Preckwinkle remains the only candidate to put her name in the running for board president. Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly has said he's considering running, and so has former state Sen. Rickey Hendon.
RELATED
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: A new poll shows Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi leading with 19 percent of the vote compared to challengers who received single-digit support. But undecided voters number a significant 60 percent. Change Research, which conducted the poll on behalf of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, views it as a 'wide open race.'
The poll also shows Kaegi's favorability and job approval numbers lag behind fellow countywide electeds — Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
The details: The survey of 1,052 likely 2026 Cook County Democratic primary voters was taken June 24 through July 2. Respondents were recruited into an online survey instrument. The modeled margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percent.The toplines are here.
If you are Brendan Reilly, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: [e-mail]
WHERE'S JB
No official public events
WHERE's BRANDON
In City Hall at 8:30 a.m. for the Curfew Veto press conference and the City Council meeting at 10 a.m.
Where's Toni
At the Cook County Building at 6 p.m. to give opening remarks at the annual Preliminary Budget Townhall
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email [e-mail]
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— Susana Mendoza, the Illinois comptroller, is making an announcement today about her plans for 2026. The presser comes amid buzz that she won't seek re-election and could run for mayor. More from the Tribune's Rick Pearson and Jeremy Gorner.
— BY THE NUMBERS: Elected officials across the state turned in their 2nd quarter fundraising numbers to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Here's what they raised from April through June:
House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch: nearly $1 million
Senate President Don Harmon: $866,638
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias: just over $1 million
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs: $268,420
Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul: $191,847
Comptroller Susana Mendoza: $84,525
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson: $106,159
Ald. Bill Conway: $203,110
— In IL-02, Jesse Jackson Jr. is now forming an exploratory committee for a potential congressional campaign in the Democratic primary. In a statement, said he's taking the step in response to retired Congressman Bobby Rush and others urging him to run. The Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles has more.
— In IL-08, Dan Tully, a Democratic congressional candidate, is taking a break from the campaign for a few weeks 'to fulfill military service obligations,' he posted Tuesday. Tully is a captain in the Army Reserve and a judge advocate.
— In IL-02: State Rep. La Shawn Ford and his decision to run for Congress, by the Austin Weekly News' Jessica Mordacq
— State Sen. Andrew Chesney, a Republican and Freedom Caucus member from Freeport, says he'll seek re-election in the 45th District.
— State Rep. Daniel Didech, a Democrat from Buffalo Grove, says he's going to run for a fifth term representing the 59th District.
— Black Bench Chicago is now accepting applications for its third cohort, a six-month training program for young Black political leaders in Chicago. Black Bench was founded by political consultant Alex Sims Jones and is chaired by former Congressman Bobby Rush and activist Jacky Grimshaw. Details here
THE STATEWIDES
— After years of poor care, preventable deaths, Illinois is changing its prison health care provider: 'The state is backing out of its 10-year, $4 billion contract with Wexford Health Sources, but the new contractor has its own troubling track record in other states,' by WBEZ's Lauren Frost.
— John Hooker, first of 'ComEd Four' to be sentenced, gets 1½ years in prison, by Capitol News' Hannah Meisel
— The Illinois Freedom Caucus has filed two identical resolutions, HR427 and SR383, urging Gov. JB Pritzker to opt Illinois into the new federal school choice tax credit program created under President Donald Trump's megabill. See more under THE BUZZ.
CHICAGO
— Report shows big drop in Chicago police traffic stops, but sharp racial disparities persist: 'CPD made 45% fewer traffic stops in 2024, but Black and Latino drivers were four times more likely than white drivers to be pulled over,' by WBEZ's Chip Mitchell.
— Chicago 'granny flats,' coach houses move a step closer to citywide legalization: Advocates say it could create more affordable housing, by the Tribune's Jake Sheridan.
— Measure to opt out 2 Northwest Side wards from an anti-gentrification zone will now go before the full City Council, by the Block Club's Ariel Parrella-Aureli
— Chicago to be flagship city for nationwide 'Good Trouble' protests denouncing Trump, by the Sun-Times' Janani Jana
— Calls show CPD knew federal immigration agents were asking for help: 'An officer in the department's 'fusion' center told 911 dispatchers Homeland Security Investigations — a division of ICE—were calling for help. He also wanted to avoid media attention,' by Southside Weekly's Jim Daley.
— 'The Bear' gets 13 Emmy nominations, including directing nod for actress Ayo Edebiri, by Block Club's Gwen Ihnat
COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS
— Chaperone policy reinstated at Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor Chicago, by the Daily Herald's Mick Zawislak
TAKING NAMES
— Neil Shubin, a professor of biology and anatomy at University of Chicago, has been nominated as the next president of the National Academy of Sciences. His term as president will start June 30, 2026, via UChicago News.
Reader Digest
We asked Which historical politician would have had the most Instagram followers.
Mark Batinick: 'Ben Franklin!'
Mimi Cowan: 'Stephen Douglas, a total showman.'
John Engle: 'Huey Long — a man with so much rizz that even FDR was scared of him.'
John Fritchey: 'Abraham Lincoln because he was famous for his headshot.'
Gregory Koeppen: 'JFK - @AskNotWhatYourInstaCanDo. Beach pics, vintage Kennedy reels, and shots of Jackie that break the internet.'
Laura Kotelman: 'Teddy Roosevelt! The youngest president, all that hiking and conservation work, assassination attempt, the Teddy Bear, etc.'
Mike Mahoney: 'Betty Loren-Maltese would have had a lucrative career doing hair and makeup tutorials if Instagram was around in the 1990s.'
Jeff Nathan: 'Marie Antoinette.'
Jennifer Olaya: 'Former Philippines Presidents Corazon Aquino and Ferdinand Marcos (from most admirable to least).'
Terry Poulos: 'JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy would be by far the power political.'
Omari Prince: 'JFK would have the most followers on Instagram.'
Alison Pure-Slovin: 'President Abraham Lincoln for his Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address.'
Timothy Thomas: 'Cyrus the Great, the head of the First Persian Empire, which comprised nearly 50 percent of the world's population in 550 or so BC.'
Jon Zahm: 'President Theodore Roosevelt. His wit, outdoor adventures and robust family life would blow up IG.'
NEXT QUESTION: If the two major political parties were pizza, what toppings would they have?
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— Illinois public broadcasters in Chicago, and especially downstate, fear impact as Senate vote to cut funding looms, by Daniel C. Vock for the Tribune
— How Elon Musk's X is fueling the MAGA-Trump split, by POLITICO's Aaron Mak
— The MAGA blowup over Pam Bondi has been a long time coming, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney, Josh Gerstein and Hailey Fuchs
TRANSITIONS
— Maggie Angel is joining Gov. JB Pritzker's office in D.C. as director of federal affairs. She was a legislative assistant for Sen. Dick Durbin.
IN MEMORIAM
— Richard J. Guidice, a former state senator and lobbyist, has died, via obituary
TRIVIA
TUESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Robert Barry for correctly answering that former state Sen. Bradley Glass was an all-American football player and NCAA heavyweight national champion at Princeton University.
TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the LaSalle County state's attorney who went on to govern Michigan? Email [e-mail]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Jewish United Fund Chief of Staff Jim Rosenberg, House Appropriations' Member Services Director Marcus Towns II, American Medical Association comms VP Justin DeJong, leadership consultant Ginny Clarke, Impact Research VP Madeline Conway, entrepreneur Victoria Rivka Zell, New Trier Chief Comms Officer Niki Dizon and POLITICO cybersecurity engineer Kalon Makle.
And a belated greeting to Chicago Board of Education member Ebony DeBerry, who celebrated Tuesday.
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