6 days ago
Texas Dems preach defiance in Chicago
Good Monday morning, Illinois. We're back, heat wave be damned.
TOP TALKER
PULPIT POLITICS: A few Texas Democrats attended Sunday church services in Chicago, where they addressed the Saint Sabina congregation of Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Catholic priest and prominent social activist.
'The devil is alive,' said state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, referring to Texas Republicans who have made it difficult for the Democrats to get paid and frozen their operation budgets. 'But guess what? It only energizes us.'
Applause erupted from the congregation of 300, which included U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, former state Sen. Jacqueline Collins and Ald. Ronnie Mosley. Joining Gervin-Hawkins at the pulpit were Texas state Reps. Ron Reynolds and Charlene Ward Johnson.
Ratcheting up the standoff: Gervin-Hawkins was referencing the Texas GOP House speaker issuing an order that the Democrats can only collect their monthly paychecks in person. And she was referring to the Texas attorney general enlisting Illinois state Sen. Jil Tracy in petitioning the court to compel the Democrats to return to Texas.
How we got here: The Texas Democrats — anywhere from 30 to 50 of them — have been camping out in Illinois for a week, skipping a special legislative session to avoid a vote on a GOP redistricting plan designed to lock in Republican control of Congress years before the next census. Without the Democrats, the Texas House doesn't have a quorum.
It's a national issue: Gov. JB Pritzker was on TV on Sunday calling out Republicans as 'cheats' for making such a move years before the census cycle wraps up, when states usually conduct redistricting.
Big quote: 'What [Texas Gov.] Greg Abbott is doing and what [President] Donald Trump is attempting to do is to cheat mid-decade here. They're attempting to change the map,'Pritzker told NBC's Kristen Welker in an interview on 'Meet the Press.' 'They know that they're going to lose in 2026, the Congress, and so they're trying to steal seats. So that is what these Texas Democrats are trying to stand up against.'
The Texans are keeping their whereabouts mostly under wraps, but they're making their voices heard wherever they can. On Saturday, a group spoke at the Rainbow Push weekly meeting. And Democratic Leader Gene Wu met with Chicago Ald. Nicole Lee, state Rep. Theresa Mah and Chicago Federation of Labor's Don Villar at MingHin restaurant in Chinatown.
RELATED
Democrats push back in court against Abbott's bid to remove them, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney
Texas files suit in downstate Illinois seeking an order recognizing civil arrest warrants for the rebel Dems, by the Sun-Times' Kade Heather
Some of the Texas Dems joined their allies in California, by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White and Lindsey Holden
'Pack a toothbrush. Pack hair spray.' How the Texas Democrats are living on the run, by USA Today's Phillip M. Bailey
Illinois lawmakers doubt state's districts could be more gerrymandered, by the Daily Herald's Russell Lissau
THE BUZZ
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit is announcing her candidacy for Illinois comptroller today, making her the third high-profile Democrat to join the race for the seat now held by Susana Mendoza.
Kifowit is emphasizing her expertise in the state Legislature. 'The Comptroller's Office touches everyone's life, and with higher costs squeezing families, small businesses and retirees, we need leadership and experience to protect every taxpayer dollar,' Kifowit said in a statement. 'I know what it means to work hard, live within your means, and make tough choices. I'll bring that same discipline to managing Illinois' over $100 billion budget with transparency, integrity and accountability.'
The Oswego Democrat is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former financial adviser who's known for having an independent streak. Kifowit didn't vote on the most recent state budget, expressing concerns about it omitting funding for property-tax relief.
And she famously stuck her neck out in 2020 calling for then-House Speaker Mike Madigan to step down and then campaigning to run against him as House speaker.
What it means for 2026: With Kifowit's entry into the Democratic primary, the comptroller contest will be among the most watched. Also running are fellow state Rep. Margaret Croke and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim, and state Sen. Karina Villa is expected to be in the mix, too.
If you are Karina Villa, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@
WHERE'S JB
At School District 21 Community Service Center in Wheeling at 1 p.m. to encourage back-to-school vaccinations
WHERE's BRANDON
No official public events
Where's Toni
No official public event
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— PRESSING PRITZKER. Gov. JB Pritzker was asked on 'Meet the Press' about whether he will run for president in 2028. 'I'm focused on running for reelection as governor ... and everything that I do really is focused on lifting up the people of my state,' he said. Kristen Welker pressed: 'But you don't rule it out, governor? Yes or no?' To which Pritzker responded, 'I can't rule anything out.' Here's more from the Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz's reelection campaign is out with a poll from top Dem pollster Impact Research showing the veteran lawmaker has a significant lead over challenger Nick Uniejewski among regular Democratic voters — 45 percent v. 5 percent — though 50 percent are still undecided. Feigenholtz also has reported a war chest of more than $1 million at the end of the second quarter. Here's the polling memo
— Senate race: Rep. Robin Kelly has been endorsed by Jotaka Eaddy, founder of Win with Black Women. Kelly is running for U.S. Senate. Video endorsement here
— In IL-07, Richard Boykin has announced a $10,000 radio ad buy on WVON-AM 1690. With the eight-week ad, Boykin is the first Democrat to get on air in the competitive congressional seat now held by Rep. Danny Davis, who isn't seeking reelection.
— State House race: Adam Braun has been endorsed by Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, according to a release. 'Adam Braun is exactly the kind of bold, principled leader we need in Springfield,' said Gabel, pointing to work Braun did to champion insurance companies to cover hearing devices for children. Braun is running for the 13th District seat now held by state Rep. Hoan Huynh, who's running for Congress.
— County race: José 'Che-Che' Wilson, a public health and LGBTQ+ rights advocate, is launching his campaign for Cook County Commissioner in the 12th District. 'I'm running to bring a fresh, independent voice to the county board — one shaped by decades of working alongside people to get the care, rights and resources they deserve,' he said in a statement.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Bud Billiken Parade is supposed to be about back-to-school pride and celebrating Chicago's Black cultural heritage, but anyone in politics knows it's the unofficial kick-off of the election session.
Will you sign? Saturday's parade brought out many of the 2026 candidates, some with clipboards looking for petition signatures.
We spotted Gov. JB Pritzker. Missing for his entourage was running mate Christian Mitchell, who's been called into active training with the Air Force.
Pritzker instead marched with Juliana Stratton, the current lieutenant governor, who's running for U.S. Senate.
Other Senate candidates were there, too. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly schmoozed at the pre-parade breakfast. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi shook hands with parade-watchers. And candidates Adal Regis and Robert Palmer worked the parade route to get face time for their campaigns.
There was intrigue. Before U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson embarked on the parade route, he was spotted being photographed with state Sen. Willie Preston, who's running for Congress in the 2nd District. Why it's interesting: Jackson's brother, Jesse Jackson Jr., is gathering signatures to run for the 2nd District, too. Jonathan Jackson told us not to read into the photo. 'No,' he said, he's not endorsing Preston.
There was side-stepping. With so many Democratic candidates running for Congress, they had to be strategic to avoid each other, especially in the race for U.S. Rep. Danny Davis' seat. Davis was at the pre-parade breakfast with state Rep. La Shawn Ford, whom Davis is endorsing. Close by were former Commissioner Richard Boykin and city Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, both of whom are running for the seat.
We talked to Mayor Brandon Johnson as he walked the parade route. He said this year's parade means more to education than ever. 'We have a teachers contract that lowers class sizes, that includes social workers and counselors. So this is an especially important school year because we're getting the type of school district that the people of Chicago have longed for.'
Worth noting: Democrats love this parade given its South Side origins, but that didn't stop DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, a Republican running for governor, from attending. He talked to parade participants and passed out 'Make Illinois Safe Again' medallions.
Check out my X feed for pics from the parade.
More stories from the Tribune and WBEZ.
THE STATEWIDES
— Judge denies ex-Speaker Madigan's request to remain out of prison during appeal, by Capitol News' Hannah Meisel
— What are Madigan's odds of walking free during appeal? 'It almost never happens': 'But Madigan has options,' by the Sun-Times' Jon Seidel.
— The Lake Michigan dive that made history, by Max Gene Nohl for Great Lakes Now
CHICAGO
— Chicago storefront sign restriction efforts are a 'quality of life' issue for some, but others worry about overreach: There's a move to rein in businesses' use of large signage on windows, by the Tribune's Jake Sheridan
— Weiss Hospital, a safety-net hospital, closed Friday after it lost the ability to bill Medicare and Medicaid: 'Owner Manoj Prasad, facing criticism over cost-cutting measures and facility conditions, said he is working to revive the hospital,' by Block Club's Charles Thrush.
Reader Digest
We asked how you'd redesign Congress.
Katherine Ashworth Brandt: 'Members of Congress should be encouraged to move to D.C. upon taking office (as was once common), which would facilitate more relationship building.'
Mimi Cowan: 'Campign finance reform, given studies show Congress votes according to donor influence not what people want.'
Peter Creticos: 'Expand and reapportion the House to 535 seats following the 2030 decennial census of all persons, and allow for further expansions as the U.S. population grows.'
Christopher Deutsch: 'No more gerrymandering. We keep pushing congressional districts further and further to the extremes and it's making our country unbearably divisive.'
Matthew Jones: 'Congress should be elected through mixed member proportional voting. It ends gerrymandering and the spoiler effect.'
Charles Keller: 'Pass a law that, based on state population, you get X amount of representatives. But NO Districts. Then do rank choice voting.'
David Melton: 'Give states with greater populations additional seats in the Senate. Perhaps one additional seat for every 5 million over a 10 million base?'
Marilynn Miller: 'Outlaw gerrymandering.'
Jeff Nathan: 'Term limits.'
Joan Pederson: 'Rearrange the desk assignments in each chamber so that no one sits beside more than one member of their own party: might temper the demonizing.'
Timothy Thomas: 'Eliminate the filibuster, which has now evolved into a potent weapon for legislative obstruction.'
NEXT QUESTION: What class should every political candidate take?
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— Another megabill? Senate Republicans have their doubts, by POLITICO's Mia McCarthy, Jordain Carney and Cassandra Dumay
— Appeals court rules Trump clamp-down on spending data defies Congress' authority, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein
— Big Tech's next major political battle already brewing, by POLITICO's Jordan Wolman and Lisa Kashinsky
IN MEMORIAM
— James Lovell, the Apollo 13 moon mission leader who would make his home in Lake Forest, has died: He is known for coining 'Houston, we've had a problem,' by the Associated Press
TRIVIA
FRIDAY's ANSWER: U.S. Naval Officer Charles Flint Putnam, born in Freeport in 1854, is the namesake of the destroyer USS Putnam commissioned in 1919.
TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the ordained rabbi who served on the Chicago City Council? Email to: skapos@
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Former state Rep. Rosemary Kurtz, mediator and former Judge Mathias Delort, State Treasurer Senior Adviser Richard Greenfield, Cor Strategies' Rich Carter, broadcaster and U. of I. Senior Director of Constituent Engagement Andrea Darlas, TV host and content creator Catie Keogh, 2Civility Digital and Social Media Manager Marin McCall and Burke Burns & Pinelli President Mary Pat Burns
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