* I think the last time Pritzker was at a Chicago Tribune editorial board meeting was during the 2018 Democratic primary. He’s met with several other newspaper editorial boards, but he hasn’t been back to the Tribune since then…

JB’s once again hiding from his failed record of high taxes and skyrocketing crime. He’s “unable to participate” in the @chicagotribune Editorial Board Meeting. He’s an out-of-touch billionaire who fears accountability. I’ll be here when you’re done hiding, @JBPritzker. #twill

— Darren Bailey for Governor (@DarrenBaileyIL) September 28, 2022

* A new ballot initiative committee has been formed to oppose the Workers’ Rights Amendment. It’s called Say No to the Proposed Amendment 1 Tax Hike, has no money yet, but is chaired by former Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger.

* Oppo dump!…

Candidate for Congress Chris Dargis has held numerous leadership roles for companies sued for deceptive advertising, marketing unsafe products, and selling consumer’s data without their consent. Thread:

— Defend The Vote (@DTVPAC) September 28, 2022

* Must watch…

I’m Lovin It! I stand with @McDonalds in their fight to keep our communities safe & their restaurants open. Sadly, @TammyDuckworth sides with Mayor Lightfoot. McDonald’s is my go-to comfort food on the campaign trail. We need to support our great Chicago business. #imlovinit pic.twitter.com/p1h53zcpwh

— Kathy Salvi (@salviforsenate) September 28, 2022

* Also must-watch, with the background that Rep. Kelly was once the lone “Present” vote on Speaker Welch’s election and with a forewarning that Welch is an absolutely horrible singer…

Harmon clearly has Welch beat when it comes to musical talent.

* There aren’t too many statewide Republican candidates that Jim Edgar can endorse, and Dan Brady is definitely one of them…

Former Illinois Governor and Secretary of State Jim Edgar, plus major labor, business, public safety and advocacy organizations have endorsed Dan Brady, a Bloomington Republican, for Illinois Secretary of State.

“As former Secretary of State, I know Dan Brady possesses the skills, experience, and work ethic to improve the office and provide efficiency to the public,” former Gov. Jim Edgar said. “As former Governor, I know Dan has the experience and talent to work with the General Assembly and the executive branch to provide service for the people.”

“It is truly an honor to receive Gov. Edgar’s endorsement,” Brady said. “He continues to be the standard by which honest and responsible governing is judged, and I will be proud to carry that legacy of public service as your next Secretary of State.”

Brady has also received the endorsements of the Illinois Education Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, the Sheriffs’ of Illinois PAC, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, and ABATE of Illinois.

Kathi Griffin, Illinois Education Association President: “The Illinois Education Association is the largest union in Illinois. On behalf of our board and more than 135,000 members, I’m glad to recommend Dan Brady for Secretary of State. He is recommended because of his commitment to public education. Dan Brady’s vision for continuing drivers’ education, improving library development and helping ease the school bus driver shortage makes him the most qualified candidate for Secretary of State.”

* Center Square…

The Republican candidate for Illinois treasurer is speaking out against Democratic lawmakers and warns tax increases are coming after the November election.

Tom Demmer, a state representative from Dixon, hosted a news conference Wednesday and said the Democrats are being secretive with the public about their post-election plans.

“The concerning item I want to talk about today is how Illinois Democrats seem to be hiding many of their pending tax increases until right after the election,” Demmer said.

Demmer, who faces off against incumbent Democratic Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs in the November election, said some of the increases are already going into effect.

“On Jan. 1, this temporary gas tax freeze expires, and the gas tax will increase again. That was timed to cover just half a year and push us right past the election,” Demmer said. “Cook County residents have not seen what they will be required to pay this year and will not see until the end of the year. Again conveniently timed until after the election.”

Um, Rep. Demmer voted Yes on that bill after he proposed his own set of temporary tax cuts earlier this year.

* Speaking of that race, here’s a new digital ad…

* ILGOP…

100 of 102 Illinois State’s Attorneys have come out against the [un] SAFE-T act - including multiple Democratic States Attorneys who have filed lawsuits to stop its most dangerous provisions that go into effect on January 1st 2023. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Chris Welch is doubling down on House Democrats’ support with open arms.

From the Chicago Tribune yesterday:

“Despite continuing criticism about the law that will do away with cash bail next year, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch doubled down in his support for the SAFE-T Act, addressing critics head on during a City Club speech.”

As reported by NBC5 Chicago:

“The debate over the SAFE-T Act is pitting Democrats against members of their own party. Today Speaker of the house Chris Welch defended the wide-ranging bill but several States Attorneys are suing the Governor and the Attorney General saying the changes are unconstitutional.

In his speech, Welch defended the Act despite its extreme unpopularity with the general public, saying “We know the SAFE-T Act will help people, it will help people.”

Violent crime in Chicago is up 37% over this time last year. Meanwhile, since similarly eliminating cash bail for most nonviolent offenses in 2019, New York City has seen a massive spike in crime citywide. It has also increased recidivism - 20.1% of “felony arraignments” are rearrested, with 16.1% failing to appear at arraignment.

“It’s unclear who the ‘people’ are that Speaker Welch feels that the un-SAFE-T Act will help, because the Act will lead to the release of more dangerous criminals and more crime in our communities,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “The question remains, does Democratic leadership in the General Assembly even care about law-abiding citizens of Illinois including crime victims? With so many Illinois Democrat legislators recently indicted for criminal misconduct, it may be that protecting career criminals is more of a priority for Democrat legislators than public safety.”

Seven members of the Illinois General Assembly and nine Chicago Democrat Aldermen and women have been indicted, convicted or plead guilty since 2019. Also, the [un] SAFE-T Act’s chief sponsor, Senator Elgie Sims, is now under federal criminal investigation, and another Democrat - Senator Michael Hastings - has faced accusations of domestic violence and workplace harassment.

* Block Club Chicago…

Residents of a Far North Side tent city were given fake eviction notices this week as part of an apparent stunt from a college student linked to a political gadfly challenging the incumbent aldermen.

The one-page notices titled “Maria Hadden’s Five Day Notice To Vacate” were stuffed into belongings and posted on signs in and around Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., residents said. They were dated Sept. 27 and listed the name of Hadden, the 49th Ward alderperson, in bold blue type over a line reading “landlord/agent.” […]

It also says residents will be relocated for free to the Four Seasons Hotel in Gold Coast. Their stay at the hotel, 120 E. Delaware Place, would be open-ended “for as long as it takes for Maria Hadden to find you appropriate housing,” the notice states.

The worst part is this reasoning from the person who admitted handing out the “eviction notices”…

“I do have a plan for the homeless problem there, and this was a publicity stunt to drive traffic to my site where I am going to discuss it,” [Sarah Lim, a DePaul University freshman who is considering a run for mayor] said.

* Yes, this is normal, Center Square…

With the bulk coming from Cook County and Chicago, more than 463,000 vote-by-mail ballots could be in the mix for Illinois’ Nov. 8 election, delaying election outcomes by up to two weeks.

Along with early voting beginning Thursday in Illinois, local elections officials are sending out requested vote-by-mail ballots. Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich said those mail-in ballots will take up to two weeks to count after the polls close Nov. 8.

“It really depends on how many vote-by-mail ballots are still out on election night,” Dietrich told The Center Square. “We do want to be clear to people that this is normal.” […]

Dietrich remembers that as recently as the 2014 Illinois Treasurer’s race, projections changed drastically.

The article goes on to warn about “election integrity.”

* More…

* The national wave of unfounded election-fraud accusations does not spare Illinois: Votebeat, a nonpartisan website covering voting and elections, reported earlier this month that many of the letters were sent to practically every state in response to calls from conspiracy theorists, including Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow and Trump supporter who continues to state without proof that the 2020 election was stolen. Lindell and others have called on sympathizers to request these records, providing them with a template that many are using in their own states. The requesters are then directed to provide whatever they get back to a central repository for analysis. Jessica Huseman, Votebeat’s editorial director, said the requesters are seeking something known in elections parlance as “cast vote record.” That cannot be used to show fraud anyway, she said.

* Chicago Teachers Union endorses Brandon Johnson for mayor, but he’s not in the race yet: In 2015 and 2019, CTU and SEIU threw their support to Cook County commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Board President Toni Preckwinkle, respectively, in their unsuccessful campaigns. Garcia, now a congressman, is considering a run for mayor in 2023 but those efforts are potentially complicated by the teachers union supporting another candidate.

* Former asbestos attorney seeking Madison County judgeship has fundraising advantage: To date, Julian has established a more than a 6-1 campaign cash lead with receipts of approximately $171,000 to $24,450.