Power plays by Mike Quigley, Brendan Reilly
TOP TALKER
In the ever-churning machinery of Chicago politics, few moves happen in isolation. Today, we've got two established names making bold political plays.
Congressman Mike Quigley, who's running for reelection in 2026, isn't ruling out a run for mayor in 2027. 'I'm interested… I'm looking across the river,' he told your Playbook host during Thursday night's in-person event at the Hideout.
The Chicago Democrat cut his teeth in local politics, serving as a reform-minded Cook County commissioner before going to Congress. He has since carved out a profile in Washington as a budget hawk and transparency advocate.
In other action, downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly is gathering petition signatures to challenge Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in 2026. The 42nd Ward alderman has built a reputation as a development-savvy tactician who says voters want to see a change in leadership. Preckwinkle has held the job since 2010.
It's tough terrain for both politicos. For Quigley, the question would be whether he could build a citywide coalition beyond his North Side base. For Reilly, it's about scaling his brand from hyper-local ward politics to a countywide stage — all while navigating the shadow of a powerful Democratic machine that doesn't cede control easily.
THE BUZZ
PARTISAN PURSUIT: Sen. John Cornyn has enlisted the FBI to help locate Democratic state lawmakers from Texas holing up in Illinois to avoid a redistricting vote in Austin. It's the latest political flashpoint in a partisan battle that now spans state lines.
Cornyn announced Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel had agreed to involve federal agents in the spat, though it's unclear how the bureau would proceed given that federal laws haven't been breached.
Bring it: Gov. JB Pritzker waved off the announcement as 'grandstanding.'
'I welcome the FBI coming to the state. I hope they take in the State Fair. I hope they go see the beauty of Lake Michigan,' the governor said during a break from kicking off the Illinois State Fair. 'The adventure awaits for all of them. But they won't be arresting anyone.'
On Illinois doing another remap, Pritzker said, 'We're going to think about all the options,' via Capitol News Illinois' Peter Hancock.
Congressman Quigley's take: 'Look, in an ideal world, these maps are drawn by nonpartisan commissions, and they represent what the Constitution said we should do,' he said at The Hideout. 'We're not there yet. ... So you can't be a Boy Scout in a situation like this — you have to be as tough as they are,' via POLITICO.
At issue is Texas Republicans fuming that they can't pass gerrymandered maps because they don't have a quorum in their legislature — with as many as 50 Democrats from the Austin statehouse in Illinois.
— Rahm Emanuel's take: 'The idea that because you're scared of an election result, you rewrite the rules midway in the game. [That's] not redistricting. Now I happen to think we should be focused on reducing the cost of living. They want to focus on redistricting,' the former mayor and ambassador tells conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in an extended interview.
RELATED
'It's high season for hypocrisy': the godfather of the Indiana GOP slams Trump's redistricting push, by POLITICO's Adam Wren and Cheyanne M. Daniels
If you are Kash Patel, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
WHERE'S JB
No official public events.
WHERE's BRANDON
At Olive Harvey College for the Christmas in the Wards Back to School Giveaway.
Where's Toni
No official public events.
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— State Rep. Amy Grant of Wheaton to step aside after current term: She acknowledged that 'being in the minority in Springfield is tough' and serving in a 'super minority is even tougher… The silver lining being that you are forced to work harder, be more thoughtful and make more friends with colleagues on the other side. It also means staying motivated, no matter what. I've done that,' by the Daily Herald's Katlyn Smith.
— He's in: Bob Fioretti is running for Illinois attorney general on the Republican ticket. He'll be featured next week at Republican Day at the state fair.
— In IL-01: Joely Faren King is primarying Democratic Congressman Jonathan Jackson. King, who compares herself to New York Mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani, says she's running 'because I don't think Democrats are meeting the moment.' Here's her introduction video.
— Party politics: State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, a Democrat in the 54th District, is running for reelection and for Wheeling Township Democratic Committee seat. 'I'm running for Committeeperson because our local Democratic Party should be a hub of energy and action,' Canty said in announcing her campaign. 'We need to engage Democrats year-round, connect more deeply with our neighbors, and support the next generation of candidates for local office.'
— State House race: Jenny Levin, a trauma nurse specialist from Palatine, has launched her campaign for the Illinois House in the 51st District. 'I've seen so many sides of the healthcare system, both as a professional and through my own and my families' experiences,' Levin, a Democrat, said in a statement. 'Problems existed long before Covid drew attention to them. Some improvements have been made, but there is more work to do.'
— Elizabeth Granato, a Democrat running for Cook County commissioner, picked up several new endorsements, including Operators Local 150, 38th Ward Democrats and Chicago Ald. Sam Nugent. Full list is here.
THE STATEWIDES
— Secret DEA lab examines cocaine surging into Illinois and surrounding states, by the Sun-Times' Frank Main
— Angry with DHS, protesters disrupt job fair at Congress Plaza Hotel, by the Tribune's Sophie Levenson
— Illinois faces looming health crisis as Medicaid cuts threaten coverage, hospitals and rural access, by WTTW's Jared Rutecki
— Springfield City Council set to approve third round of cannabis grants, by Illinois Times' Dean Olsen
CHICAGO
— Chicago River Swim returns for the first time in nearly a century, by Block Club's Jake Cox.
— Founders of Chicago's premier AIDS unit gleam over decades of progress, as Trump cripples research, by the Sun-Times' Mary Norkol
— All Chicago police misconduct cases could be heard in secret if court sides with union, by the Sun-Times' Sophie Sherry and Tom Schuba
— Concerns swirl about potential closure of Weiss hospital, which will lose Medicare funding this weekend, by the Tribune's Lisa Schencker and Katherine Weaver
TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES
— Union Pacific to launch faster service linking California's Inland Empire with Chicago, by Trains Magazine's Bill Stephens
Reader Digest
We asked about the most underrated amendment in the Constitution.
Brent Pruim: 'The Third Amendment (Restrictions on Housing Soldiers). I don't need to be an airbnb just because King George had trust issues.'
Charles Keller: 'The Second Amendment (Right to Bear Arms). Without it, you couldn't defend the Constitution, and we would have been a communist state long ago.'
Bob Kieckhefer: 'I'll be very disappointed if your audience does not overwhelmingly select the First Amendment (Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition).'
Kathy Posner: 'The Ninth Amendment (Unenumerated Rights), which limits government power. It serves as a reminder that the federal government is one of limited powers, and the people retain all powers and rights not specifically delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states.'
Timothy Thomas: 'The 17th Amendment (Direct Election of U.S. Senators by the People) gets little fanfare, but it should because it puts power in the hands of the people directly (ostensibly anyway) instead of the legislature.'
NEXT QUESTION: If you could redesign how Congress works, what's one thing you'd change?
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— MAGA world swallows a difficult truth: Arresting Trump's opponents is easier said than done, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney
— Epstein victims speak out: This 'smacks of a cover up,' by POLITICO's Erica Orden
— Trump's trade onslaught escalates as global tariffs kick in, by POLITICO's Daniel Desrochers, Doug Palmer and Ari Hawkins
TRANSITIONS
— JUST TO CLARIFY: Elizabeth C. Babcock is now president and CEO of the Adler Planetarium. We misidentified her new gig yesterday.
— Lynne Turner, CSO harpist since 1962, retires from the orchestra, Hannah Edgar writes in the Tribune.
— Andy Masur will be the WGN Radio sports anchor on the Bob Sirott weekday show starting Aug. 28. Dave Eanet, the current sports anchor, is retiring after more than 30 years at the station.
— Jeffrey Charkow, has joined Duane Morris LLP's Chicago office as a partner in the firm's Trial Practice Group. Charkow, a construction attorney, was a partner at Harris Winick Harris LLP.
EVENTS
— Aug. 19: 'Why Fair Maps Matter' is the discussion of Lincoln Forum event featuring former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, former Democratic Party General Counsel Michael Dorf and former Illinois State Board of Elections Chair Bill Cadigan. Details here.
— Oct. 3 and 4: The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Policy Summit and Power Brunch is titled 'Endgame: Relentless Power.' Details here.
TRIVIA
THURSDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that Aledo, Ill., was originally named after Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernando De Soto.
TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the first Illinois-born person to have a U.S. Naval ship named after them? Email to: skapos@politico.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Today: Cook County Circuit Court Judge Marian Perkins, election attorney Michael Dorf, Chicago Public Library Foundation President Brenda Langstraat Bui, attorney Antonio Romanucci, Alpha Epsilon Pi Marketing Director Zachary Pellish, former Cubs Assistant GM Craig Breslow and Chicago Fire Department's Survive Alive House Foundation board member AmySue Mertens
Saturday: Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, Chicago Architecture Biennial Co-Chair Nora Daley, Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Greg Ahern, Dezenhall Resources Senior VP Fred Brown and activist and former mayoral candidate Ja'Mal Green
Sunday: Former state Sen. Jim DeLeo, 42nd Ward Director of Development Joanna Angarone, Cook County Clerk HR Specialist Kara Highfill, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives President David Doig and essayist Elaine Soloway
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