Latest news with #JesseJacksonJr.
Politico
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Jesse Jackson Jr. explores a House comeback bid
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is quietly exploring a comeback in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District after more than a decade out of office — including a two-year prison term. Jackson — the son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and the brother of Rep. Jonathan Jackson — was a Democratic rising star who served in Congress 17 years before stepping down in 2012 due to health reasons. A federal conviction for campaign finance violations and prison time followed for him and his then-wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman. After working as a Chicago radio commentator, Jackson is now talking to residents and community leaders about another run, motivated by what allies describe as concern about the ripple effect of President Donald Trump's megabill that was signed into law July 4. He has caught the attention of some key Democrats, including retired Rep. Bobby Rush, who said Jackson would give voice to 'the marginalized and the forgotten American citizens of the Second Congressional District,' according to a statement he sent to Playbook. The district stretches through Chicago's South Side, once a stronghold for Jackson, and into the suburbs. The seat opened up when Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly, who has held the seat since 2013, announced she's running for Senate earlier this year. Several notable names have said they're entering the March Democratic primary, including state Sen. Robert Peters, management consultant Eric France and policy expert Adal Regis. Democratic Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller is also weighing a bid. But Jackson, Rush said, would be 'the most qualified and ready-made of all the candidates."
Politico
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Jesse Jackson Jr. eyes his old seat
Good Monday morning, Illinois. I hope your weekend had fireworks. TOP TALKER NEW, AGAIN: Jesse Jackson Jr. is weighing a return to Congress and the seat he once held, testing the politics of redemption in a Trump landscape. Listening phase: The former congressman has been quietly exploring a comeback in the 2nd Congressional District, talking to residents and community leaders and motivated by what allies describe as concern about the ripple effect of President Donald Trump's megabill that was signed into law July 4. Jackson was a Democratic rising star who served in Congress 17 years before stepping down in 2012 due to health reasons. A federal conviction for campaign finance violations and prison time followed for him and his then-wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman. Jackson is now a WVON commentator who has caught the attention of some key Democrats, including retired Congressman Bobby Rush, who says Jackson would give voice to 'the marginalized and the forgotten American citizens of the Second Congressional District,' according to a statement he sent to Playbook. And Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill said the former congressman would bring 'toughness, dedication [and] invaluable knowledge' to securing federal funding for the district. Family affair: Jackson is the son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and the brother of Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who represents the 1st Congressional District. Familiar territory: The 2nd District stretches through Chicago's South Side, once a stronghold for Jackson, and into the suburbs. The seat opened up when Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who's held the seat since 2013, announced she's running for the U.S. Senate. The open seat, which is drawn to favor a Democrat, is drawing notable names for the March Democratic primary, including state Sen. Robert Peters, management consultant Eric France and policy expert Adal Regis. Democratic Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller is also weighing a bid. Rush's take: Jackson would be 'the most qualified and ready-made of all the candidates.' ALSO IN IL-02: State Sen. Robert Peters' campaign for Congress announced it raised nearly $415,000 by the June 30 quarterly fundraising deadline from more than 10,000 individual donors with the average online contribution being $27, according to his campaign. Peters has more than $370,000 in cash on hand. THE BUZZ GAME PLAN: Former Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos thinks Democrats need to talk about issues voters care about, not national politics, if they want to win elections in 2026 and 2028. 'The lessons are solid, straightforward and not complicated. But it takes discipline to follow,' said Bustos, who co-authored just-released election research with Monmouth College political scientist Robin Johnson. They analyzed Democratic congressional seats won in working-class and Republican strongholds across the central part of the country to better understand how the Democratic Party might find success in future elections. Their report is published on Substack. The study is a sobering critique of how the Democratic Party communicates — and fails to connect — with working-class voters. Too often, the report finds, Democratic messaging is 'convoluted and disconnected' and reliant on 'poll-tested language that alienates working-class communities.' Candidates succeed when they are 'authentic, share values with voters and have deep roots in the communities they seek to represent,' according to the report by Bustos and Johnson. Who they surveyed: The report features 22 state and federal Democratic lawmakers talking about how they've succeeded in districts with large work-class and Republican voters. Bustos can relate to the findings having been the only Democrat in 2016 to post a 20-point landslide in a Trump-led district notable for its blue-collar roots in industry and agriculture in the Rock Island and Quad Cities areas as well as Rockford and Peoria. She exited politics after the 2020 election and has since become a partner at the nationally known Mercury Public Affairs, building up the firm's Chicago and Springfield offices. Congressman Eric Sorensen, a fellow Democrat who now holds Bustos' old seat, is part of the research and offered this advice to candidates: 'Focus on your communities and stay local.' Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, a Democrat who flipped Illinois' 13th Congressional District in 2022, echoed that adding, Democrats who use 'identity politics' can come across as tone-deaf or disconnected. The study is in the hands of leaders with the Democratic National Committee, Bustos said, and comes as party leaders are trying to reshape their messaging after losses in 2024. Here's the full report, via Medium. If you are Robin Johnson, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB No official public events WHERE's BRANDON No official public events Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — NEW: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is not accepting corporate PAC money for her U.S. Senate campaign, 'a clear difference between her and the other Democrats in the primary,' according to a statement from her campaign. The dig is aimed at Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi who accepted $835,753 in business PAC money in his 2024 congressional campaign, and Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who accepted about $1 million the same year, according to Open Secrets data. — IL-09 fundraising: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss raised more than $700,000 in the second quarter, after entering the race in May. He has $640,000 cash on hand. Kat Abughazaleh, a social media influencer who announced her campaign for the seat in March, says she has $900,000 cash on hand. We'll know more about other candidates, including state Sen. Laura Fine, on July 15, when fundraising numbers are due. — IL-08 fundraising: Dan Tully, a military veteran running for Congress, has raised $200,000 in the first three weeks of his campaign, according to an email sent to his supporters. — State House moves: Watch for Adam Braun, the former executive deputy attorney general, to jump into the Democratic primary for the seat that opened up in the Illinois House 13th District now that state Rep. Hoan Huynh is running for Congress. Braun says his interest is fueled by concerns about the president's mega bill. During Trump's first term, Braun worked with Democratic attorneys general across the country to push back against White House policies. — State Senate race: State Sen. Mike Halpin is running for re-election to his 36th District seat. 'We've made real progress, but there's still more to do,' the Rock Island-area Democrat said in a statement. 'I'm running for re-election to continue lifting up working families, expanding opportunity and making sure our communities have the resources they need to thrive.' — State House race: GOP State Rep. Jeff Keicher to seek reelection: 'Keicher, who's also a State Farm insurance agent, was first elected in 2018. His 70th District includes portions of DeKalb, Kane and McHenry counties,' by Shaw Local's Kelsey Rettke. THE STATEWIDES — Supreme Court ruling means 'harder work' for Illinois and others fighting Trump administration actions: 'It creates a greater reliance on your state to take action for you,' Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul told the Tribune's Olivia Olander. — One-year later: What's changed, what hasn't since fatal shooting of Sonya Massey: 'The Massey Commission, which has 13 members and four workgroups, has become 'a forum for analysis and inquiry into the systems and conditions' that serve as context for Massey's killing as well as others who have suffered at the hands of first responders in the county,' by the State Journal-Register's Steven Spearie. — Housing funding cut in Illinois budget as homelessness increases, by Capitol News' Ben Szalinski — Illinois lawmakers have mixed results in efforts to rein in AI, by the Tribune's Jeremy Gorner — REAL ID stampede cutting into access to other services, by the Daily Herald's Marni Pyke — Illinois nursing homes ranked among the worst in the nation; residents call for action, by the Tribune's Robert McCoppin CHICAGO — Fatal lifeguard shooting at Douglass Park was 'years in the making': 'Ald. Monique Scott (24th) and her brother, ex-Ald. Michael Scott, both of whom served as Douglass Park supervisors, feared a tragedy like the June 26 shooting death of a teen, allegedly by a lifeguard, would happen because they say the park district has too few lifeguards, too little staff training and inadequate park security,' by the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman and WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos. — Mayor steers around questions about NASCAR's future in Chicago, by Kyra Senese for the Sun-Times — Ald. Walter Burnett in the running to lead the Chicago Housing Authority, by Crain's Justin Laurence — CPS struggling to cobble together retroactive teacher raises promised in contract, by WBEZ's Sarah Karp — The busiest airline routes in the country are to O'Hare, via Aaron Spray for Simple Flying COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Schaumburg Town Square businesses seeking harmony with political protests: Better coordination and advance warning sought, by the Daily Herald's Eric Peterson. — More than $1M spent in Orland Park, Tinley Park mayoral campaigns, by the Daily Southtown's Mike Nolan SPOTTED — PAGE TURNER: Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer hosted a book talk with author and Chapin Hall fellow Antwan Turpeau at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center the other day. Turpeau spoke to the young people about his book 'Hope Not Seen,' which chronicles his journey from Cook County foster care to the University of Chicago. Also in the room: state Sen. Lakesia Collins, Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez, Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell, 46th Ward Committeeman Sean Tenner and leadership members from the detention center. Gainer is a regular host of programs at the center. Reader Digest We asked for your barbecue secrets. Alison Pure-Slovin, a Skokie board member: 'The friends and family I invite to share it with me!' Elena Maria Gottreich: 'Grilled Illinois sweet corn and locally sourced pork ribs smothered in Chicago-based Sweet Baby Ray's sauces.' Charles Keller: 'Chicagoan Gary Wiviott's book 'Low & Slow,' Peoria Packing for meat and learning how to properly use the Weber Smokey Mountain.' Chris Kolker: 'Ribs from Shooter's BBQ in O'Fallon.' Jim Lyons: 'Family and friends. Sometimes it's the people , not the food.' Ed Mazur: 'Lots of napkins and ribs that do not fall off the bones!' Timothy Powell: 'Deli steakhouse potato salad from da Jewel's.' NEXT QUESTION: If Congress were a reality show, what would it be called? THE NATIONAL TAKE — How the lone farmer running a state government is navigating Trump's turbulent policies, by your Playbook host — Texas officials face scrutiny over response to catastrophic and deadly flooding, by The Associated Press — Trump team moves goalposts on tariffs again, by POLITICO's Ari Hawkins — Musk launches the new 'America Party' after splitting with Trump, by POLITICO's Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing — Trump's effort to deport pro-Palestinian activists goes to trial, by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney — Blue state lawmakers' response to Medicaid cuts: Keep calm and bash Republicans, by POLITICO's Natalie Fertig et al — Food banks grapple with megabill's impact, by POLITICO's Marcia Brown Transitions — Han Nguyen and Justin Ángel Knighten are part of the team that launched Pinnacle Collective, a D.C. public affairs firm. Nguyen was at the Small Business Administration and earlier worked in Chicago's City Hall, and Knighten is a former University of Chicago fellow. — Jeanna Palmer Gunville is now a healthcare transactions and regulatory partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius' Chicago office. She was a shareholder partner at Polsinelli. TRIVIA THURSDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Kevin Morris for correctly answering that Navy Pier started its fireworks tradition in 1995. TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the former Chicago alderman who battled with Mayor Richard J. Daley, before moving to Evanston to run for Congress? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, New World Group Public Affairs CEO and former Congressman Jerry Weller, former Cook County Judge Travis Richardson, former Ald. Rey Colon and Chicago Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor Steven McKenzie. And belated greetings to Matt Hill, who handles communications in the governor's office, and celebreated Sunday. -30-
