* Politico…
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is quietly exploring a comeback in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District after more than a decade out of office — including a two-year prison term.
Jackson — the son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and the brother of Rep. Jonathan Jackson — was a Democratic rising star who served in Congress 17 years before stepping down in 2012 due to health reasons. A federal conviction for campaign finance violations and prison time followed for him and his then-wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman.
After working as a Chicago radio commentator, Jackson is now talking to residents and community leaders about another run, motivated by what allies describe as concern about the ripple effect of President Donald Trump’s megabill that was signed into law July 4.
He has caught the attention of some key Democrats, including retired Rep. Bobby Rush, who said Jackson would give voice to “the marginalized and the forgotten American citizens of the Second Congressional District,” according to a statement he sent to Playbook. The district stretches through Chicago’s South Side, once a stronghold for Jackson, and into the suburbs.
* Sen. Robert Peters…
Robert Peters’ campaign for Congress in Illinois’ 2nd District announced it raised $415,000 by the June 30 quarterly fundraising deadline from more than 10,000 individual donors. The average online donation amount is just $27. Peters has more than $370,000 in cash on hand.
“To see this kind of enthusiasm fueling our campaign in just the first 6 weeks is humbling,” said Peters, whose campaign launched in mid-May. “This is grassroots energy we will need as we build a big, broad coalition to take on Donald Trump and his wrecking crew in Congress. We are fired up and feeling the momentum.”
Peters kicked off his campaign after incumbent Congresswoman Robin Kelly announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate. A South Side native, Peters was a community organizer before becoming a state senator, where he has led efforts for criminal justice reform and workers’ rights.
He has been endorsed by the Amalgamated Transitworkers Union, Local 881 UFCW, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Leaders We Deserve PAC, College Democrats of America, Chicago City Council Black Caucus members Ald. Lamont Robinson (4), Ald. Demon Yancy (5), Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20). Ald. Matt Martin (47), Illinois House Black Caucus member State Rep. Maurice West, Illinois Senate Black Caucus members State Sen. Adriane Johnson, State Sen. Christopher Belt, State Sen. Doris Turner, and former State Sen. Donne Trotter, Pastors Dr. Byron Brazier and Stephen Thurston II, and Rev. Cierra Bates-Chamberlain.
The full fundraising picture won’t be clear until the FEC’s July 15 deadline.
* Daniel Biss…
The Daniel Biss for Congress campaign announced it raised more than $700,000 in the second quarter of 2025, the highest quarterly fundraising total to date for any candidate running in the Illinois 9th Congressional District primary. The campaign ended the quarter with more than $640,000 in cash on hand, putting Biss in a strong financial position as the race unfolds.
“The amazing outpouring of grassroots support we’ve seen so far has been truly humbling,” said Daniel Biss. “I’ve heard from people across the district who know we need a fighter not only to take on Donald Trump, but to challenge the status quo within our own party. I’ve never backed down from fighting for what I believe in, and I’m honored by the faith that so many people have put into this campaign.”
* More from the 9th Congressional District…
* Politico…
IL-08 fundraising: Dan Tully, a military veteran running for Congress, has raised $200,000 in the first three weeks of his campaign, according to an email sent to his supporters.
* Daily Northwestern…
For many attendees of Evanston’s annual Fourth of July Parade on Friday, the celebration served as a mid-afternoon stop on a leisurely day of family, fun and barbecues.
But for candidates vying for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s (D-Evanston) soon-to-be-open Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat, the Evanston parade was just one piece of a hectic scheduling puzzle as candidates sought to visit as many Independence Day events as possible. […]
With more than 10 candidates vying for attention in that crowded primary field, and many more fighting for other seats in the area, many campaigners seized on the opportunity to connect with prospective voters — thousands of residents lining Central Street in folding chairs and waving miniature American flags. As campaign floats rolled along, volunteers peeled off, darting to the sidewalk to hand out pamphlets before rejoining the procession.
One candidate, content creator Kat Abughazaleh, began her day in the district’s northwest corner. When the Hawthorn Woods parade got rained out, she still had three more stops to make on her tour: Evanston, Glenview and Skokie.
* Evanston Now…
Skokie school board member Bushra Amiwala and State Rep. Hoan Huynh marched along the streets in Skokie’s parade, just as rain passed through the area Friday afternoon.
So too did Kat Abughazaleh, State Sen. Laura Fine, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Howard Rosenblum. The four candidates turned right around and headed to Evanston’s parade, which kicked off just a short time later. Chicago’s Miracle Jenkins also rode along Central Street in Evanston. […]
Biss, who marched in the front of Evanston’s parade as mayor before biking back to the tail end to march as a candidate, was literally running up and down the street all afternoon in both Skokie and Evanston, dashing back and forth, side to side, handing out stickers, taking photos and shaking hands. […]
While some candidates occasionally ran into awkward interactions with voters, like one man who seemed uninterested in shaking Biss’ hand and instead simply wished him “good luck,” and another man who refused to accept a campaign postcard from Abughazaleh despite her efforts to coax him into taking it, one politician seemed to garner almost universal support from the crowd.
As she rode along in a bike-pulled carriage in both Skokie and Evanston, Schakowsky was, for the first time in a long time, the only politician in sight who didn’t need any voters.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 12:09 pm:
“one politician seemed to garner almost universal support from the crowd…Schakowsky was, for the first time in a long time, the only politician in sight who didn’t need any voters.”
A lesson that too many Democratic Party politicians learn way too late (including a very recent example at the top of the ticket): Voters respect when you know it’s time to hang it up and leave on your own terms.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 12:20 pm:
I was at the Evanston parade. The most striking feature to me was the dead silence when Laura Fine went by.
Robyn Gabel had a large sign and folks were applauding her as she rode by. Lt. Gov. Stratton was riding next to Gabel, carrying a small sign. I didn’t even realize Stratton was there. (There’s a picture in the Evanston Now story.) Unimpressive advance work by Stratton’s staff.
- levivotedforjudy - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 12:20 pm:
Being an elected official is very addictive. People rushing to take a photo with you, the media seeking your opinions and crowds paying money to hear you speak. It must be hard on J. Jackson Jr. to not have that anymore, but I hope the voters in the South Suburbs take a pass on this experiment. Just because someone says they have atoned and changed doesn’t mean they have. Demons have been known to escape boxes before.
- Randomly Here - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 12:53 pm:
is Jesse Jr. eligible to run?
- Demoralized - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 12:56 pm:
==is Jesse Jr. eligible to run?==
For federal office he is.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 1:19 pm:
Nine out of ten Kat donors live out of state? Thirty out of thirty-one Kat donors live out of district?
She’ll be a presence through the primary but numbers like that suggest we can forget about her come April.
- Scott - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 1:42 pm:
The Skokie 4 of July parade was full of the same canidates as Evanston
- Incandenza - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 1:55 pm:
== She’ll be a presence through the primary but numbers like that suggest we can forget about her come April. ==
I’m not professional political analyst, but it could be too early to count out a young person who is very literate in the online space and has proven herself to be capable of fundraising. It’s a new world, don’t count you chickens before they’ve hatched.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 2:31 pm:
I was also at Skokie… Kat seemed at least where I was sitting to get a tepid response and there was a lack of response for Jan Schakowsky.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 2:32 pm:
“Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is quietly exploring a comeback”
Gag me with a spoon. An idea that poses no benefit to anyone.
- Norseman - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 2:54 pm:
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. wants to take advantage of the MAGA makes corruption great again era.
- ArchPundit - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 3:10 pm:
=== An idea that poses no benefit to anyone.
I’m sure it will enlarge JJJ’s fandom collection.
- I was there. I saw it. - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 3:20 pm:
The Laura Fine for IL CD-9 campaign appears to be suffering from a full-blown failure to launch. Maybe there is plenty of time for her to try to reset? Or she could still change her mind and run for reelection to the GA again instead?
- Alton Sinkhole - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 4:28 pm:
@ Arch Pundit
And don’t forget JJJ’s fur coat collection as well
- Responsa - Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 5:25 pm:
Love the Keeping up with the Kardashians headline riff.
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jul 8, 25 @ 7:43 am:
Given the revelations at Jesse Jackson Jr.’s trial about the role his bipolar disorder played in the crimes he committed, his opponents would commit political malpractice if they did not raise the issue of his mental health.
- Endated - Tuesday, Jul 8, 25 @ 8:55 am:
The Laura Fine campaign has been very embarrassing. I can only assume based on their silence they had a bad Q2 on top of it all.
The larger this clown car of a primary gets, the more assured a Biss victory is on name recognition + Evanston alone.
- Polibug - Tuesday, Jul 8, 25 @ 2:46 pm:
==The Laura Fine campaign has been very embarrassing.==
Embarrassing how, Endated? Just because of not releasing the Q2 numbers? I was in Evanston as well and, from where I was sitting, she got a lot of great cheers and good responses from the crowd.