* More adventures in embargoes…

Hi Rich,

I wanted to introduce you to Morgan Coghill. He’s a small business owner from Mundelein who grew up poor, knows what third shift looks like, and represents the kind of everyday working-class experience voters have been asking for and establishment Democratic leadership keeps ignoring.

Now, he’s stepping up to challenge Rep. Brad Schneider in IL-10. His campaign officially launches next Wednesday, May 21, and it’s landing at a moment when debates over safe-seat primaries and party leadership are dominating headlines.

Morgan is not taking a dime from corporate PACs or special interests, and he’s demanding that the Democratic Party fight harder for the people it claims to represent.

Would you be interested in an embargoed interview with Morgan before his launch on the 21st? He’s available:

• Monday afternoon (May 19)

• All day Tuesday (May 20)

Interviews can be by phone or in person in Mundelein. He’s ready to talk about why he’s running, what the party needs to hear, and how he plans to shake up IL-10.

Let me know if you’d like to set up a time.

I’ll pass, thanks.

* Friday email…

Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison is wrapping up the first week of his historic campaign with strong support from a wide range of community leaders and advocates, and growing momentum across the district.

The Windy City Times said this about Kevin Morrison: “Kevin Morrison, the first openly gay person elected to the Cook County Board, has spent the past six years as commissioner focused on mental health, civil rights policy, and bipartisan collaboration. Now, with the country at what he calls a ‘crucial’ turning point, Morrison is launching a run for Congress in Illinois’ Eighth Congressional District.”

CBS reported on Kevin Morrison’s campaign launch, saying: “[Morrison] touted his record as a Cook County commissioner as having fought to expand voting rights and mental health care funding, and to fight discrimination.”

In the first week of his campaign, Kevin Morrison has already secured endorsements from across the district and state, including Congressman Eric Sorensen and State Representative Kelly Cassidy. The momentum shows that people want Kevin Morrison fighting for them in Congress.

The full list of almost 50 local leaders putting their name behind Kevin Morrison’s campaign includes:

• Adriane Johnson – State Senator
• Rob Martwick – State Senator
• Nicolle Grasse – State Representative
• Bill McLeod – Hoffman Estates Mayor
• Maria Vesey – Addison Township Clerk-Elect
• Phil Dukes – Trustee, Elk Grove Township
• Daniel Hebreard – President of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
• Paula McCombie – South Barrington Mayor
• Barrett Pederson – Mayor of Franklin Park and Committeeman
• Alex Arroyo – DuPage County Board Member
• Ted Mason – Elk Grove Township Committeeman
• Harish Kolasani – National India Hub Founder
• Ron Onesti – President, JCCIA
• Patrick Kinnane – Trustee, Hoffman Estates
• Bill Manganaro – Trustee, Arlington Heights
• Frank Avino – Village of Norridge Trustee and Norwood Park Township Committeeman

The full list of LGBTQ+ endorsements today are:

• Eric Sorensen – Member of Congress
• Kelly Cassidy – State Representative
• Maggie Trevor – Cook County Commissioner
• Marcelino Garcia – Cook County MWRD
• Alex Arroyo – Member, DuPage County Board
• Robert Lugiai – Trustee, Elk Grove Township
• Monika Stajniak – Trustee, Elk Grove Township
• Austin Mejdrich – Trustee, Wheeling Township
• Bennett Lawson – Alderman
• Lamont Robinson – Alderman
• Greg Harris – IL State House Majority Leader (retired)
• Maria Hadden – Alderwoman, Chicago
• Travis Haley – Round Lake Library Board Trustee
• Kristal Larson – Avon Democratic Township Democratic Chair

Kevin also welcomes the support of many of his colleagues on the Cook County Commission, and other leaders across Cook and the collar counties:

• Nicole Lee – Alderwoman, Chicago
• Bridget Gainer – Cook County Commissioner
• Frank Aguilar – Cook County Commissioner
• John Daley – Cook County Commissioner
• Josina Morita – Cook County Commissioner
• Scott Britton – Cook County Commissioner
• Stanley Moore – Cook County Commissioner
• Dr. Kisha McCaskill – Cook County Commissioner
• Michael Scott Jr. – Former Alderman and Cook County Commissioner
• Laddi Singh – Former Candidate, House District 54
• Chuck Bernardini – Former Commissioner and Alderman
• Doug House – ILDCAA Chair (retired)
• Holly Kim – Lake County Treasurer
• Steve Rosenblum – School Board President, District 211
• Anne Lopez – School Board Member, District 211
• Jane Russell – School Board Member, District 211
• Joe Sagerer – School Board Member, District 214

Alex Arroyo is not a DuPage County Board member. He’s on the Kane County Board.

* Politico today…

— SCOOP: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss raised $350,000 in the first 24 hours of announcing his bid to run for Congress in the seat now held by retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. “We’re building a movement to not only take on Donald Trump and MAGA extremists, but to deliver real change to lower costs, defend the environment, and protect our fundamental rights. This amazing early support makes it clear that people are ready to fight for a future that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected,” Biss said in a statement announcing the fundraising numbers.

Is it really a SCOOOOOOOOP when the press release went out Friday and I posted it on the blog then and the Sun-Times had it online hours before Politco did this morning?

lol

* And speaking of that Sun-Times article, here’s more from the 9th Congressional District…

Justin Ford is an environmental health and safety professional who also worked in disability care and helped organize graduate student unions.

“This campaign is about working families — the ones juggling two jobs, caring for kids or elders, and trying to build a future in a system that too often ignores them,” Ford said on his campaign website.

State Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago; Bushra Amiwala, a Skokie school district board member; and Chicagoan David Abrevaya are also exploring runs.

It’s a good piece, you should go read the whole thing.