* We’ve been over this topic several times before, but this is a good read from Emily Hoerner at the Tribune…

The state’s wealthiest man, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, is again exerting influence in a race for an Illinois Supreme Court seat during an election cycle that could give Republicans a high court edge.

Griffin has funneled $6.25 million to an independent expenditure committee that two years ago spent millions in a successful effort to unseat a Democratic high court justice by linking him unfavorably to former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

The committee this time around already has spent more than $200,000 in the Republican primary, and Griffin said in a statement that Illinois residents “deserve fair and objective judges rather than the hand-picked candidates of Mike Madigan.”

I didn’t realize Madigan was still picking candidates. Who knew?

* Daily Herald…

As the primary races for Illinois’ 6th Congressional District seat approach the finish line, incumbent U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove has been raising and spending far more than either of the other Democratic challengers for his job, federal documents show.

The latest finance reports were filed before Casten’s 17-year-old daughter, Gwen, died unexpectedly last week.

After that tragedy, Casten temporarily put his TV advertising on hold and withdrew from the public eye to mourn with his family. Casten’s campaign advertising has since resumed, spokesman Jacob Vurpillat said Monday, but he’s not yet making public appearances.

“(We’re) just taking it one day at a time right now,” Vurpillat said.

* Same district…

LCV Victory Fund and NRDC Action Votes announced a new digital ad buy backing Rep. Sean Casten in the IL-06 primary. Two new ads highlight NRDC Action Fund and LCV Action Fund’s endorsements of Rep. Casten in the closely watched primary and the Congressman’s support for clean energy solutions.

WATCH: “Real Solutions”
WATCH: “Front Lines”

“Representative Casten is the definition of a Congressional climate champion,” said Joann Saridakis, LCV Victory Fund Campaigns Director. “The last year has made it clearer than ever that we need proven pro-environment leadership in Congress in order to pass the cost saving climate and clean energy legislation our country needs – and it’s imperative that Rep. Casten wins his primary and heads back to Washington for another term to do just that.”

“Representative Sean Casten understands the climate crisis – and understands what it will take to address it,” said Jocelyn Steinberg, director of NRDC Action Votes. “We need Representative Casten’s proven leadership in Congress to address this crucial issue and build a clean-energy future.”

The new ads will run on digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, pre-roll video, and connected TV, in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District through the June 28 primary.

* I mean, if state legislator endorsements of statewide candidates worked really well, Richard Irvin would be cruising to victory right now. This appears to be an attempt to try and slow down Darren Bailey’s momentum…

Jesse Sullivan, the venture capitalist who’s come in third in most polls behind Darren Bailey and Richard Irvin, is seeing a surge in endorsements — including from a lawmaker who has outright switched from Irvin’s campaign to Sullivan.

The thinking is that Republicans who don’t see a path for Irvin also don’t see Bailey being able to defeat Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in the general election. So they’re working their way down the list. […]

Does Sullivan, who also sits far right on the political spectrum, have enough time to surpass frontrunners Bailey and Irvin among primary voters? Or, does the surge in his support only take away from Bailey and give Irvin a boost? We’ll see in a week.

As I told subscribers this morning, there is zero hard evidence of a “surge” outside of a handful of new endorsements from legislators. But, hey, maybe they can move the needle a bit. We’ll see. There are people in the party who would like to hold Bailey under 50 percent.

* Getting really mean in the 43rd…

Rachel Ventura, State Senate candidate for the 43rd District has been actively and unapologetically campaigning with multiple known abusers. Counted among her campaign staff and endorsers, are admitted groper Joel Brown; DuPage Township Supervisor Gary Marschke, who resigned from the Illinois State Treasurer’s office after allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct; and Joliet Township Supervisor Angel Contreras, who was arrested this past weekend for an aggravated DUI and faced a criminal trial for domestic battery.

“Rachel Ventura only says what she thinks the person in front of her wants to hear,” said Eric Mattson. “But her real morals and values have never been more clear than when you see who she surrounds herself with: a cadre of abusers. The 43rd district doesn’t need a panderer, and we certainly don’t need someone who will lift up and support multiple men who have been accused and in some cases admitted to violating women.”

“Eric’s opponent started out her election aggressively attacking and then makes excuses for her actions when the facts are pointed out,” said Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County Executive. “Eric Mattson is the firefighter who spent his days off providing vaccines for seniors, he’s a community leader who volunteers with local service organizations to make his community better, and he’s the neighbor and friend who is always there when you need a helping hand. If voters truly want change in Springfield, the choice is crystal clear. Eric Mattson has chosen a career in which he puts others people first, that is leadership.”

“I am disturbed and offended that a fellow woman seeking office in Springfield would publicly and unapologetically stand by men who have abused women in the workplace and who’ve been accused of domestic battery,” said Meg Loughran Cappel. “There is a new generation of leaders in Springfield that are passing ethics reforms and rehabilitating a longstanding culture of inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. Rachel Ventura has clearly demonstrated that women can’t count on her to be that kind of leader.”

Rachel Ventura has posted several photos (see attached) campaigning alongside Joel Brown on her Facebook page. He was also the lead petitioner on her failed attempt to challenge Eric Mattson’s petition signatures in the State Senate race.

Both Marschke and Contreras have endorsed Ventura.

* Press release…

Today, Kendall County Board Chairman, Scott R. Gryder, frontrunner for nomination of the Republican Party to challenge Lauren Underwood for Illinois’ 14th Congressional District released his closing message to voters as they prepare to head to the polls on June 28.

Gryder’s ad, titled, “We’ve Paid Enough,” is an encapsulation of the hardships working families face daily while in the grip of the Biden-Underwood economy.

The ad is here.

* WBEZ…

As Cook County GOP chairman and one of only two Republicans on the 17-member county board, Sean Morrison is a frequent and vocal critic of the ruling Democrats.

He often points to violent crime in Chicago and has questioned the costs of providing security details to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and county board President Toni Preckwinkle.

But Morrison also has benefited for years -– starting soon after he became a county commissioner — from “special attention” given to his home by police in south suburban Palos Park.

Records obtained by WBEZ show police in Morrison’s hometown have patrolled his house 415 times since he took office less than seven years ago.

* Lynn Sweet…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot pitched top Democratic National Committee officials on Friday about Chicago’s bid to host the 2024 Democratic convention, bringing boxes of Chicago goodies and - in a show of how serious this bid is - themselves.

In separate presentations, the DNC officials - including DNC Chair Jamie Harrison, who attended via video, and new DNC senior adviser Cedric Richmond, a former top official in the Biden White House - Chicago, New York, Houston and Atlanta representatives made their cases to host the 2024 convention.

* More…

* Secretary of state hopefuls on jaywalking, rolling stops for cyclists and driver exams: “Provided there is no other traffic present, I support the ability of cyclists to roll stop signs,” Giannoulias said. “However, when traffic is present, that practice can result in more accidents, and I would only support the rule when no other traffic is present.” And because “enforcement often falls on the backs of the people that can least afford to be penalized for violating these ordinances … I would support changes to this law to significantly reduce or eliminate the fines.”

* After Pritzker endorsement, Edly-Allen surges past Yingling in campaign money

* Democratic candidates focusing on health care in race for 77th state House seat

* Irvin visits manufacturing business in Central Illinois

* Darren Bailey stops through Tazewell County on campaign tour

* Calumet City elected officials face off in Democratic primary in 29th House District: In early April, the Chicago Tribune reported that Jones is under federal criminal investigation for tax issues involving his campaign funds.

* Hackler says he’s always opposed mask and vaccine mandates; Korte says as a mom she fought Pritzker lockdowns, mandates

* State Rep candidate campaign signs vandalized in Normal: “Probably the motive would have been somebody saying they view me as a threat, so they go out there and put an X on my name on all my signs, trying to tell people in a way don’t for Jim, don’t vote for Mr. Fisher,” Fisher said.