Latest news with #JulianaStratton
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic Senate, comptroller candidates pitch for Cook County party's support
CHICAGO (WGN) — Democrats vying for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin's Senate seat made their pitch to Cook County Democratic leaders on Friday, as the party also backed a new candidate for state comptroller. It was an opportunity to shine before members of the Cook County Democratic Party Committee as several candidates declared their intent to run for state comptroller. The party leaders were all under one roof at Local 134 on the South Side, hearing from candidates running for elected state office and those vying for the highly sought-after U.S. Senate seat. Top runners in the U.S. Senate race are Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly, who, a source says, stayed in Washington, D.C., for an early morning vote and missed her flight home, missing Friday's meeting. Dick Durbin announces he will not seek another term in U.S. Senate Krisnamoorthi, who is currently leading in fundraising with about $21 million, says holding the Trump administration accountable and helping residents meet their economic needs would be his top priorities in the Senate. 'First of all, we have to hold accountable those that are actually voting for these cuts. Secondly, we Democrats have to run on a message and agenda of doing whatever we can to reverse, stall, throw sand in the gears, and delay these particular cuts,' Krisnamoorthi said. Lt. Governor Stratton, who has the support of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, says if she is elected to represent the state in Washington, she plans to help break up the status quo. 'I'm talking to voters all across the state, and they are looking me in the eye and saying, 'I am looking for someone to stand up and be a fighter for me.' They want to see the same kind of energy that they're bringing as they protest in the streets against the chaos that's coming out of Washington,' Stratton said. Following Wednesday's announcement that current Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza would not seek re-election, Several candidates, including Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim, former state Senator Ricky Hendon, Champaign County Auditor George Danos, 25th District State Senator Karina Villa, and 12th District Representative Margaret Croke, who received the committee's endorsement, want the spot. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza not running for reelection 'We are at a critical time for our state's future. You need someone in this role who can be fiscally responsible,' Croke said. During the meeting, long-time Congressman Danny Davis announced that while he's not retiring, it's on his mind. 'I'm not saying that I'm going to retire just yet,' Davis said. 'What I am saying is that I am thinking about it, and I will decide it in the next seven to eight days.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Politico
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Courting Cook County power
Happy Thursday, Illinois. Reader Digest gets saucy today, with contributors dishing on how political parties top their pizza. 🎤🌈 Playbook is live at the Hideout today at 6 p.m. with Brian Johnson, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer. Details here TOP TALKER ABOUT TO GET REAL: There's a reason the top Illinois U.S. Senate candidates have been hyping their endorsements. Some of their big-name backers are voting members of the Cook County Democratic Party — the same body meeting today and Friday to decide which candidate gets officially slated for Senate in 2026. The stakes are high: With three notable names running, it's possible that the nearly 80 party leaders won't be able to agree on endorsing any one candidate during Friday's session. But party rules require a simple majority — 50 percent plus one — to award the coveted endorsement, which comes with campaign advertising and field workers. If no single candidate clears that bar in the first round of voting, the process continues until a consensus is reached. If that can't be reached, no one will be endorsed. Hyping support ahead of the vote may help Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Juliana Stratton put party leaders on the record and nudge others to vote their way, too. It's the 'bandwagon' strategy — put enough party leaders on record, and others may follow. Congressman Krishnamoorthi just announced endorsements from Cook County Democratic Party leaders including Chicago Alds. Pat Dowell (3rd), David Moore (17th) and Chris Taliaferro (29th) and some suburban committeemen, including Frank Avino of Norwood Park and Larry Dominick of Cicero, among others. Lt. Gov. Stratton, meanwhile, has lined up support from House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch and state Reps. Kelly Cassidy and Tracy Katz Muhl — all with seats at the slating table. And Congresswoman Kelly has staked her claim, announcing support from Chicago Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th), committeemen Bob Rita of Calumet Township and Vernard Alsberry of Bremen Township. Money, of course, matters in a race like this, but early maneuvering could tip the balance for a big party endorsement. Today's slating schedule. Friday's slating schedule. MONEY MATTERS | Thanks to their congressional accounts, Krishnamoorthi and Kelly have the most cash in US Senate race: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton raised nearly $1.1 million, spent $417,286, and began July 1 with $666,416 in cash available, according to campaign reports. 'But a closer review of her fundraising shows that about $185,000 of that amount must be used for the Nov. 3 general election and is unavailable for her use in the March 17 primary,' by the Tribune's Rick Pearson. NEW: Krishnamoorthi is out with a second statewide TV ad pushing the 'underdog' theme and showing him as a teen in a football uniform. Watch here THE BUZZ TEARS, TRIBUTES: Wednesday was a big day for goodbyes in Illinois politics as two longtime fixtures in the political landscape took their curtain calls. First up: State Comptroller Susana Mendoza fought back tears to announce she won't seek re-election in 2026. After a decade keeping the state's checkbook balanced — and prior stints in the Illinois General Assembly and at Chicago City Hall — Mendoza is ready to turn the page. Mayoral musings: She'll finish her term but acknowledged she doesn't know what her next chapter will be, saying she'll be taking a listening tour. Mendoza side-stepped a reporter's question about whether she might run for mayor of Chicago in 2027, and then she slammed Mayor Brandon Johnson's leadership, as the Sun-Times' Mitchell Armentrout reports. Over at City Hall, Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. held back his emotions while giving his final report to the City Council — his last after a 30-year run. Council members then took turns heralding his work and camaraderie over the years. 'Statesman,' is how Ald. Pat Dowell described Burnett. 'A lion,' added Ald. Andre Vasquez. And Ald. Jessie Fuentes said Burnett has had the keen ability to 'simmer down the room' and guide aldermen to 'lighten up a little bit and have a few conversations' to find consensus. Don't be surprised if Burnett reappears in another strategic role. In the political world, when one door closes, a new seat at the table opens up. If you are Bob Rita, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB No official public events WHERE's BRANDON At Daley Plaza at 5:30 p.m. for the John Lewis Day of Action Where's Toni At IBEW local headquarters at 9 a.m. for slating Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ SPOTTED REUNION TIME: Nearly 200 former staffers from Rahm Emanuel's two terms as Chicago mayor gathered at Harry Caray's in River North earlier this week for what was billed as a reunion but felt, in some corners, like something more. It was the first time many had been in the same room since Emanuel left City Hall in 2019, and the mood — described by one attendee as 'happy and full of laughs' — also struck a balance between nostalgia and intrigue. Emanuel, never one to miss a mic or a moment, delivered the night's biggest laugh by quipping that the event was really a fundraiser for Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., who just announced his retirement. The gathering had the reunion-kind-of jabs about graying hair and thicker waistlines, but beneath the banter was a subtle hum of political intrigue. Emanuel, who also served as U.S. ambassador to Japan, is after all, mulling a 2028 presidential run. In the crowd were many of Emanuel's old guard: Michael Sacks, the GCM Grosvenor CEO and longtime confidant often dubbed the 'Rahm whisperer;' Lisa Schrader and Joe Deal, once Emanuel's top lieutenants and now, not coincidentally, on Sacks' payroll; former Deputy Mayor Andrea 'Andy' Zopp; Ald. Pat Dowell; former Ald. Will Burns; former Chicago Park District CEO Rosa Escareño; former city Budget Director Samantha 'Sam' Fields, who now works with Chicago CRED; former Department of Buildings Commissioner Mike Merchant, who's now executive director of the Illinois Commerce Commission; and White House Treasury alum Bill Doerrer and Hire360 CEO Jay Rowell, who worked on Emanuel's campaign side. And Brian Thompson, who headed Emanuel's security detail and is affectionately called the 'Mayor of Rush Street,' was there, too. BUSINESS OF POLITICS — Candidates file financial reports in crowded congressional races as Jesse Jackson Jr. lays groundwork for comeback effort, by the Tribune's Dan Petrella — IL-09: Nick Pyati has joined the crowded Democratic primary race for the open seat now held by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, who's not seeking re-election. 'It's time for a vision and a plan that expands our economy, inspires innovation, and rebuilds America — an America we are proud to leave to our kids,' Pyati said in a statement announcing his campaign. Pyati was a prosecutor in President Barack Obama's Justice Department and earlier a public school teacher. He most recently led innovation efforts in Microsoft's Windows division. Today, his campaign is reporting he's already raised $130,000. Watch his launch video here. — In IL-10: U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider outraises, outspends Democratic challenger Morgan Coghill, by the Daily Herald's Russell Lissau — SCOOP: Cook County assessor candidate Dana Pointer has received $100,000 from Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr. 'with more to come,' according to a spokesman for Rogers, who has a long-running feud with incumbent Assessor Fritz Kaegi. — In IL-08: Democratic candidate Junaid Ahmed raised nearly $350,000 in the second quarter, outpacing his competitors in the Democratic primary race for this open seat. — State House race: Republican Leslie Collazo announced she's running for the seat now held by Democratic state Rep. La Shawn Ford, who has announced he's running for Congress. Collazo was the lead plaintiff in the successful 2024 awsuit against the slating ban that made its way to the Illinois Supreme Court — when her campaign got cut short by rules at the time. Collazo, who has worked for Illinois Policy, now runs a small business. — State Rep. Jason Bunting, a Republican, announced he's running for reelection in the 106th District so he can 'continue to fight for the common-sense reforms Illinois desperately needs.' THE STATEWIDES — Gov. JB Pritzker pens letter urging President Trump's education secretary to unfreeze $6.8B in grants: 'The letter to Secretary Linda McMahon comes just days after 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration over the funding freeze in education grants for K-12 schools and adult education,' by the Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles. — Illinois bet on solar to meet its climate goals. Trump has the industry in his crosshairs, by Capitol News' Andrew Adams — ComEd's $10M relief fund running out after 60,000 customers apply in first week, by the Tribune's Robert Channick — Another 107 former detainees allege sexual abuse in Illinois and Cook County youth detention centers, by the Tribune's Sophie Levenson — Intoxicating hemp remains unregulated in Illinois following legislative inaction, by Capitol News' Isabella Schoonover and Simon Carr CHICAGO — City Council fails to override Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's snap curfew veto: 'The Council fell six votes shy of overriding Johnson's veto of an ordinance allowing the Chicago police superintendent to enact a curfew targeting gatherings of young people anywhere in the city with 30 minutes' notice,' by the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — As Burnett exits City Council, the mayor is in a bind to find a new Zoning chair: 'Unless the mayor lands on a nominee who can quickly muster support, the vacancy could overshadow the work of an important committee that considers both routine zoning changes and citywide land use policy,' by Crain's Justin Laurence. — Rush Medical Center halts gender-affirming care for new patients under 18, by the Sun-Times' Mary Norkol COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Naperville may increase local sales tax to offset grocery tax repeal, by the Daily Herald's Alicia Fabbre — 3 Chicago suburbs are some of the wealthiest nationwide, study finds, by NBC 5's Hannah Webster Reader Digest 🍕🍕🍕We asked if the two major political parties were pizza, what toppings would they have. Kirk Dillard: 'Lots of red sauce but skim mozzarella cheese.' Donna Gutman: 'Sausage because you never really know how they make it.' Ed Mazur: 'Everything but the kitchen sink — all promises and no substance.' Marilynn Miller: 'Dems would have tomato sauce, generous sausage, onions, sweet peppers and lots of cheese. GOPs would have scant tomato sauce and scant cheese, and that's all. They've got to hold down the cost!' Andy Shaw: 'Durian for the Republicans, white rice for the Dems.' Alison Pure-Slovin: 'Bologna and fake meat!' Tim Steil: 'Democrats would have extra pork and the concoction from Alinea that smells like food but is really overpriced air. And Republicans would serve Velveeta with a side of corruption as dipping sauce.' James Straus: 'Pork and pork.' Alex Sutton: 'Republican Pizza has extra cheese, is topped with copious amounts of bacon and slices of hot dog, and has a stuffed crust. Democrat Pizza uses gluten-free cauliflower dough, substitutes cheese for a tofu-based alternative and is covered in spinach, mushrooms and artichokes.' NEXT QUESTION: Which politicians' comments would you like to see in a group chat text chain? THE NATIONAL TAKE — Mamdani turns on the charm, meets his critics head on, by POLITICO's Emily Ngo — Maurene Comey, daughter of James Comey and prosecutor of Jeffrey Epstein, is fired, by POLITICO's Erica Orden — Loomer delivers searing warning: Epstein could 'consume' Trump presidency, by POLITICO's Adam Wren, Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing and Gregory Svirnovskiy IN MEMORIAM — Donald Cameron Findlay III, an Illinois attorney who was deputy assistant to President George H.W. Bush, has died. Details here — Kristine Farra, a Chicago real estate entrepreneur active on the civic scene, has died. Details here TRIVIA WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that former Michigan Gov. Harry Kelly, who was born in Ottawa, was the LaSalle County state's attorney before his Michigan stints. TODAY's QUESTION: What Chicago government agency was created as the result of a war? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Former Ald. Leslie Hairston, PsiQuantum head of marketing and government affairs Maurice Green, political consultant Art Turner, campaign consultant Alaina Hampton, JPMorgan Chase's Melanie Beatus Ettleson and Tribune Political Editor John Chase -30-
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly have the most cash available in Illinois US Senate race
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton may have the endorsement of the state's wealthiest politician, billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker, but she finds herself at the bottom of the major Democratic U.S. Senate contenders when it comes to how much available cash she has to campaign with as the candidates approach nine months before the primary. Stratton's two congressional rivals, U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Matteson, benefited from their existing federal campaign accounts and ended June with multimillions of dollars available in their bank accounts, campaign finance reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission showed. Stratton, Pritzker's two-time running mate, on April 24 became the first candidate to announce she wanted to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Campaign reports covering the April-through-June second quarter of the year showed Stratton raised nearly $1.1 million, spent $417,286, and began July 1 with $666,416 in cash available. But a closer review of her fundraising shows that about $185,000 of that amount must be used for the Nov. 3 general election and is unavailable for her use in the March 17 primary. For this election cycle, individuals can contribute a maximum of $3,500 to a candidate for each of the primary and general elections. The records show Pritzker contributed the maximum $7,000, and her candidacy also was backed with $7,000 donations by several Chicago sports team owners: Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts, Blackhawks owner Danny Wirtz and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Krishnamoorthi, in his fifth term in the House, announced his bid for Durbin's seat on May 7, the last of the three major Democratic contenders to declare. But the northwest suburban congressman, long a prodigious fundraiser, this week became the first of the contenders to launch TV ads in the race, a statewide buy of a half-million dollars and part of a sustained TV presence. Krishnamoorthi began April with nearly $19.5 million in his campaign account and raised more than $3.1 million from April through June. That left him with $21.1 million in cash available at the start of July. About $1.1 million of that total is reserved for general election spending. Kelly, a seven-term congresswoman representing the South Side and south suburbs in a district that stretches to Danville, announced her Senate candidacy on May 6. She started the second quarter with $2 million in the bank and ended June with $2.2 million, according to her campaign report. There was no immediate estimate on how much of Kelly's money was limited to spending for the general election. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Juliana Stratton's US Senate bid endorsed by House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris' Welch
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Monday added more endorsements in her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin, with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch and a number of other state lawmakers announcing their support. Backing for Stratton from the Democratic Party of Proviso, a political operation headed by Welch, comes as no surprise. Welch, of Hillside, and Stratton served together as rank-and-file lawmakers in the Illinois House, and Welch said he knocked on doors for Stratton ahead of her election to the House in 2016 when she defeated longtime state Rep. Ken Dunkin of Chicago. In declaring his support for Stratton's U.S. Senate run Monday morning, Welch described the lieutenant governor as a proven leader who, as a House member from January 2017 to December 2018, stood up to former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner during a two-year budget impasse that decimated state services and brought hardship to Illinois' economy. 'She's already proven to us who she is. She's already proven to us what she stands for. And she did something about it. She ran. She won,' Welch, flanked by several state and municipal elected officials, told the crowd at the Ironworkers Local 63 offices in suburban Broadview. 'And I was proud to stand with her on the House floor in the end of the Republican budget crisis.' Stratton, who is from Chicago's South Side, served in the legislature at a time when the 'tide turned in Illinois' for Democrats, Welch noted. The state House went from a 65-51 Democratic majority during the 2017-2018 legislative term to a 74-44 Democratic majority in the 2019-2020 term. Rauner ended up losing by a landslide in his 2018 reelection bid to JB Pritzker, who chose Stratton as his running mate. Welch also appeared to draw a parallel between Rauner, a wealthy hedge fund executive, and Republican President Donald Trump — a frequent target of criticism for Pritzker and other Democrats over policies that include the sweeping tax breaks and spending cuts under a bill the president signed July 4 that could negatively impact Illinois residents who rely on Medicaid and other public assistance. 'We faced a billionaire Republican who wanted to cut this state to the bone. We faced a billionaire Republican who tried to cut health care for seniors, for veterans and for families in need. We faced a billionaire Republican whose only agenda was to give special deals to his ultra-wealthy friends. Does that sound familiar at all to you all?' Welch said, drawing a few groans of agreement in the room without having to mention Trump's name. 'She knows how to fight.' In her remarks, Stratton took a more direct swipe at Trump and his 'big beautiful bill.' 'What we're living through now is truly unprecedented. Donald Trump has ignited a five-alarm fire and the chaos has reached a fever pitch. Attacks on the rule of law. Attacks on the Constitution. Attacks on our neighbors,' Stratton said. 'Just look at what he did (earlier this month). Cutting health care for millions of Americans, ripping food out of the mouths of hungry children, raising costs for middle-class families. And he had the audacity to call it 'beautiful.' Well, I call it despicable. And it's also dangerous.' Stratton's remarks come as Pritzker, who threw his support behind her Senate campaign shortly after she announced in late April, issued an executive order directing state agencies to evaluate the scope and impact of Trump's tariffs on how they would affect key economic sectors in Illinois. The governor is asking state agencies to look into the industries and economic development regions most affected by trade-related disruption and to check on supply chain disruptions of medical supplies and disruptions that could adversely affect food assistance programs. Among those at the event to endorse Stratton were Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford of Maywood; Assistant House Majority Leader Bob Morgan of Deerfield; Assistant House Majority Leader Camille Lilly of Chicago; state Rep. Norma Hernandez of Melrose Park; and state Reps. Mary Beth Canty and Nicolle Grasse, both of Arlington Heights. Previously announced support came from the state's other sitting U.S. senator, Democrat Tammy Duckworth. While a larger field is expected, Stratton's major announced Democratic opponents so far are U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, whose campaign on Monday announced a slew of endorsements from local officials for his candidacy. With backing from Pritzker, a billionaire and heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, Stratton has the potential to raise big money before the March primary. But Krishnamoorthi has also proven to be an able fundraiser. Through March, his campaign raised about $19 million, federal elections records show. Asked about Krishnamoorthi's fundraising ability, Stratton said she instead sees more 'momentum of my campaign.' While the latest true accounting of Krishnamoorthi and Stratton's campaign coffers won't be available until later in the week, Stratton said she was able to raise more than $1 million 'through grassroots support.' 'I started from scratch when I ran for this federal race, and the fact that we were able to set a goal of a seven-figure dollar amount and exceeded that, I think it shows the strength of my campaign,' she said. 'And remember, I also made the commitment to not accept any corporate PAC (political action committee) money.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. JB Pritzker's running mate is a fellow Chicagoan, but says he will ‘represent all of Illinois'
During an appearance at a Bronzeville restaurant on Wednesday with his new running mate, Gov. JB Pritzker dismissed any suggestion that he was ignoring other areas of the state when he chose a fellow Chicagoan for his 2026 reelection bid. The governor a day earlier announced he had selected Christian Mitchell, a former state representative for parts of the South Side and a former deputy governor, to run as lieutenant governor, and their visit to Peach's restaurant on 47th Street was their first public joint appearance. 'When you're a state rep, you don't just represent the people in your district. You are also are voting on things that are good for people all across the state,' Pritzker said, standing next to Mitchell by a case of sweet drinks and cake in the crowded restaurant. 'We have passed bills that have been highly beneficial to job creation, expansion of health care, funding of education for people who live in — whether it's Anna, Carbondale or Quincy or Champaign.' Pritzker's partner in his first two terms, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, is running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, which left the position open. Stratton and Mitchell are both Black and live on the South Side, bringing a different perspective to the ticket than the governor. The Chicago versus downstate dynamic in has been an source of friction in state politics for years, and Pritzker's choice figures to play into that issue going forward. For his part, Mitchell, 38, said he is ready to meet people from all over Illinois. 'In a tavern, at a bar, at a coffee shop, I'm willing to go anywhere, because my goal is to represent all of Illinois,' he said, after he and Pritzker spent about a half hour greeting a crowd of supporters and early lunch customers at Peach's, whose website features a photo of former President Barack Obama at the restaurant's counter. Mitchell's agenda as a legislator meshed closely with Pritzker's initiatives during the governor's two terms. Mitchell was among a group of legislators who called for a task force to study the possible legalization of recreational marijuana, and he introduced a proposal to eliminate cash bail — both ideas that eventually became reality after Pritzker became governor. During the 2018 election cycle, Mitchell also served as executive director of the Illinois Democratic Party, becoming the first African American to hold the position. He was a deputy governor in the Pritzker administration from 2019 to 2023 and a lead strategist on energy issues, including the landmark 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Since 2023, he's overseen government relations and other offices at the University of Chicago, his alma mater. Pritzker has repeatedly said the next lieutenant governor will have to fill the legacy being left by Stratton. Stratton raised more than $1 million in her first quarter as a Senate candidate, according to her campaign, trailing fellow Democratic candidate and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, whose campaign reported it raised more than $3.1 million. Krishnamoorthi, one of the top fundraisers in the House, ended the quarter with $21 million on hand, according to his campaign. Stratton has only had a few months to build up her operation, Pritzker noted when asked about the fundraising numbers Wednesday. The extent to which Pritzker, a billionaire who spent $350 million on his first two campaigns for governor, ends up supporting Stratton financially remains to be seen. 'You have to remember that Juliana has not had to raise money as lieutenant governor for me, and so she's going against people who have raised money for the last number of years,' Pritzker, who quickly endorsed Stratton this spring, said. 'She doesn't need to have as much as anyone else in the race. She is somebody that people all across the state know and admire.'
