* Darren Bailey spoke to his Facebook followers this morning about Richard Irvin’s press conference…

The man has been hiding in his basement for over two months. And just like they were doing with Biden, they’re trying to prep him, they’re trying to make him and help him say the right things. It was an absolute disaster. And what made it even better is he had his RINO club with him. He had his head his tax hiking, tax hiking club with him. Avery Bourne was with him and a senator and another representative were with him. It was supposed to be a LaSalle Veterans Home press conference, like I did, actually very timely, last Thursday, when the news broke. But unfortunately, you know, he doesn’t know anything about this stuff. So he’s got to be prepped, and it took him almost a week to try to memorize a statement. And, wow, four minutes into it and the press started asking him where he stood at on life. He would not answer the question. They asked him where he stood at on Trump. He would not answer the question. Please watch this video, the man began to break out in a sweat he stuttered, he tried to get it back to why he was supposedly there. Anyway, we’ve got some interesting days on our hands ahead of us and only if we unite and activate and get this message out. That’s how we win. So that’s why I need your help.

* But here’s what Bailey told Mary Ann Ahern when asked whether he thinks about a federal law banning abortion…

I believe that it is the life within the womb that must be protected. That is a life. However, with that being said, just an all outright ban on abortion, that’s not gonna solve anything, because people are still going to go you know, JB Pritzker is wanting to open the floodgates.

Um, a federal ban would override a state law.

Bailey also pointed his followers to a favorable opinion piece written by this guy…

I will not comply w/ any organization’s attempt to enforce Biden’s capricious & unscientific Medical Apartheid mandate.

I will not be forced into the injection, nor will I disclose my vaccination status.

No one should be pressured to choose between medical privacy & their job.

— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) November 6, 2021

* I think Krishnamoorthi does a good job, but he put too much emphasis on raising money and that can lead to trouble…

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) has been investigating the Washington Commanders from his perch as chair of a House oversight subcommittee. He’s also raising money for his reelection.

Those two facts collided on Monday.

Krishnamoorthi abruptly canceled a fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday night after POLITICO approached his office with questions about the event. The issue: whether it was inappropriate for a pair of lobbyists, Mike Manatos and Tom Manatos, to explicitly invite donors to the event to discuss with the congressman the probe of the football team and its owner, Dan Snyder.

Linking pleas for campaign dollars to specific legislative actions is a no-no, and Krishnamoorthi’s camp quickly acknowledged as much.

“The Congressman is grateful that his efforts to stand up to some of the most powerful interests in Washington, from Big Tobacco to organizations like the Commanders, has generated enthusiasm from the public and some of his supporters,” a spokesperson for his campaign said in a statement. “However, we did not authorize any correspondence or outreach conducted for this general meet and greet event for Raja’s re-election campaign.”

“Out of an abundance of caution,” the statement added, “this event has been canceled.”

* Press release…

In a recent event hosted by former State Representative Roger Eddy in Robinson, Illinois, Paul Schimpf, GOP Candidate for Illinois Governor focused his remarks around the need for the Illinois Republican Party to offer solutions in order to unify the people of Illinois and defeat JB Pritzker. Schimpf expressed concern regarding the destructive nature of primary elections and stated there must be an end to the internal party bickering that divides the party and keeps voters at bay. Schimpf went on to highlight his campaign focus on parents’ rights, safe families, and restoring trust in government, all of which he described as American values.

Schimpf concluded his remarks by stating, “Illinois needs a Governor who will listen, learn, and lead us in a way that unites and recognizes that the strength of Illinois is its people, not its government.”

* Tina Sfondeles…

Rep. Mike Quigley is opting out of the Chicago mayor’s race, but that’s not stopping him from weighing in on the heated contest to succeed retiring Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

The Northwest Side congressman is endorsing former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, campaign officials told the Chicago Sun-Times. In a video announcement, Quigley said Giannoulias, like himself, “is committed to restoring the public’s trust in government.”

“That’s why when he was state treasurer, he put in tough ethics laws and ended pay-to-play right out of the gate,” Quigley said. “I know Alexi will be a great secretary of state, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting him.”

Quigley’s endorsement is the ninth that Giannoulias has received from a current or former Democratic member of the U.S. House or Senate, including Representatives Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bobby Rush, Jan Schakowsky and Brad Schneider.Former House members Luis Gutierrez and Jerry Costello Sr. and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun are also backing his candidacy.

* All but three are Black legislators…

Today 16 members of the Illinois State Legislature endorsed Kari K. Steele for Cook County Assessor on the heels of endorsements from organized labor.

Majority Caucus Whip Omar Aquino, D-Chicago
Majority Caucus Chair Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago
Deputy Majority Leader Emil Jones, Jr., D-Chicago
Senator Tony Munoz, D-Chicago
Senator Patricia Van Pelt, D-Chicago
Representative Kam Buckner, Chair of the Illinois House Black Caucus, D-Chicago
Representative Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago
Assistant Majority Leader Marcus Evans, D-Chicago
Deputy Majority Leader/Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria
Representative Sonya Harper, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Chair, D-Chicago
Representative Cyril Nichols, D-Chicago
Representative Bob Rita, D-Blue Island
Representative Lamont J. Robinson, D-Chicago
Representative Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago
Representative Nick Smith, D-Chicago
Representative Jawaharial Williams, D-Chicago

“After four disastrous years of Kaegi’s mismanagement, we need a competent manager in the Assessor’s office,” said State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr. “Kari Steele has been a dedicated Commissioner at the Water Reclamation District for over 10 years and President for over three years, managing a billion-dollar budget and a AAA bond rating. Unlike Kaegi, Kari understands how late property tax bills will hurt seniors in my district and others on a limited income. Kari is the person we need right now to lift the Assessor’s office out of chaos.”

“Small businesses across the County are struggling under high assessments,” said State Representative Lamont J. Robinson. “Our communities need more economic development, not less, and when small businesses are forced to close, we lose jobs, our economic anchors and communities become less safe. We need an Assessor who understands the needs of our communities.”

“I’m proud of the support I have from our legislators,” said Kari Steele. “As Assessor, I will work with state and local governments to find real solutions to problems that require all of us to come together and solve. Problems like delayed tax bills due to mismanagement, ineffective incentives for economic development and mounting tax pressure on communities that are already struggling.”

* ABC is generally thought of as the non-union contractors group…

The Irvin for Illinois campaign announced the endorsement from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois, a national construction industry trade association that represents more than 21,000 members and prides itself on their merit shop philosophy of helping members develop people, win work, and deliver work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of communities.

In their endorsement, ABC Illinois President Alicia Martin noted that Richard Irvin is the best candidate to take back the state of Illinois from crime, corruption, taxes and burdensome regulation that have crippled businesses and communities under J.B. Pritzker’s leadership. Irvin’s running mate, State Representative Avery Bourne, has also been a longtime advocate of ABC, supporting ABC’s Illinois issues in the legislature throughout her tenure.

* Tribune…

Enough Chicago aldermen are in agreement on a new map of the city’s 50 wards that they will avoid a ballot referendum next month that would have let voters choose from between competing maps, sources said Monday.

The proposed map will create 16 wards with Black majorities and 14 with Latino majorities, sources said. That’s one fewer Latino ward than the City Council Latino Caucus spent months fighting to secure.

The reformers are bitter.

* Press release…

This evening at 5 pm, Winnebago County Republican Chairman and candidate for the 35th Illinois Senate District, Eli Nicolosi, will be holding a press conference in response to the increasing calls for him to step down.

Nicolosi has been under scrutiny since it was revealed that there was an emergency order of protection filed against him by his wife of 15 years. The order of protection has since been dropped by Nicolosi’s wife, however, some local Republicans have questioned whether or not Mr. Nicolosi is fit to serve as chairman of the party. Nicolosi has stated that he plans on addressing these concerns during tonight’s press conference.

“It’s despicable that someone would put out private information for political gain in what should be a private family matter,” Nicolosi said. “The allegations are 100% untrue, and because I am running against a 30-year establishment incumbent, Springfield sadly drags my wife and 4 children into the public eye. My family is going through a tough time, and while we as adults can handle this, my children simply cannot defend themselves.”

Nicolosi is running against 30-year incumbent Dave Syverson in the Republican Primary election on June 28th. The press and the public are welcome to attend, and Chairman Nicolosi will be available for questions.

I’m guessing he won’t be withdrawing.

…Adding… I thought I posted this, but apparently I didn’t, so my apologies to Leader Brady…

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge, representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired law enforcement officers, has endorsed Dan Brady, a Bloomington Republican, in his bid for Illinois Secretary of State in the June 28 primary election.

“We back Dan Brady because of his unwavering lifetime support for law enforcement,” said FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “This support spans from the time he was a county official working closely with local police agencies, through his current tenure in the Illinois General Assembly where he stood by the men and women of law enforcement regardless of the way the political winds were blowing.”

“In addition, Brady passed legislation that has helped to make Illinois’ roads safer and to save lives,” Southwood said. “This is exactly the kind of philosophy-in-action that we need in our next Secretary of State.”

Brady has been a member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2001.

“I am very honored to have the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge. I have always supported the men and women of law enforcement and will continue to do so as Illinois Secretary of State,” Brady said. “I thank the FOP for their vote of confidence in me.”