* Press release…

Don Tracy, a community leader from Central Illinois, announced today he will run for US Senate to defend the American Dream for working families in Illinois.

“Illinois working families need someone who will fight for them in Washington,” said Tracy. “I’ve spent my career fighting for small businesses and working families, and I’m ready to take that fight to the US Senate.”

Public service is important to Don, with a lifetime spent in community service, most often in volunteer positions. He has served as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, Secretary of the Illinois Bar Foundation, President of the Sangamon County Bar Association, Chairman of the Illinois Corporate Acts Advisory Committee, and President of the Abraham Lincoln Association, among other community leadership positions.

Tracy’s top priority in Washington will be to lower the cost-of-living for working families. “With the sky-high cost-of-living, life is unaffordable for many working families—especially in Illinois, where we suffer under the highest tax burden in the nation and an economy that lags the rest of the Midwest because of tax-and-spend Democrats. The American Dream seems out of reach for many everyday Illinoisans. That is unacceptable.”

Tracy learned the value of hard work from an early age, having started working for his family’s business when he was 10 years old. Now an attorney for nearly 50 years, Tracy is Senior Counsel at Brown, Hay & Stephens, the oldest law firm in Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln famously practiced law for four years.

“I see what career politicians with extreme progressive agendas are doing to our country, and I have to step up to defend common sense,” explained Tracy as his motivation for running. “Here in Illinois, we know the value of a hard day’s work and we’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves and fight for what we believe in. I will champion our Midwestern values in Washington and take on the special interests.”

With Dick Durbin retiring, Illinois is losing its only statewide officeholder not from Chicago or Cook County. Born and raised in Mount Sterling in Western Illinois and having raised his own family in Springfield in Central Illinois, Don has deep ties to “downstate Illinois.” As the oldest of 12 children, family has always been important to Don. He and his wife, Wanda, have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

Tracy concluded: “I will represent all of Illinois, not just Chicago. Too many of our politicians seem to forget Illinois has 102 counties, and the working families in every county deserve to have their voices heard. It’s the everyday Illinoisans who make up this state, and I will be proud to bring their voices to the halls of Congress.”

Don Tracy is available for phone and video interviews throughout the day on Wednesday. He will also be in attendance at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair on Thursday and will hold a press gaggle from the Director’s Lawn at 11:45am.

* Subscribers know a lot more, but here’s a bit from Politico…

The AFL-CIO summer barbecue on Tuesday doubled as a campaign kickoff for four Democratic candidates running for state comptroller in 2026.

Spotted: State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit worked the crowd with a clipboard in hand, collecting the signatures she’ll need to get on the ballot. Nearby, fellow state Rep. Margaret Croke talked to county party chairs holding plates of barbecue chicken. Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim’s team fanned out with campaign stickers. And state Sen. Karina Villa, who hasn’t officially joined the race, roamed the event to gather petition signatures.

* Media advisory…

TODAY: Governor JB Pritzker to Host Governor’s Day on the Director’s Lawn at the Illinois State Fair

WHAT: Governor JB Pritzker and fellow constitutional officers to bring Democrats together for Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair.

WHEN: Today, Wednesday, August 13 — Doors open at 11:30 AM, speaking program to follow around 12:30 PM

WHERE: Illinois State Fair Director’s Lawn, 801 Sangamon Avenue, Springfield, IL 62706

NOTE: Media availability to follow the speaking program.

* Moylan’s last dance, from the Journal & Topics…

Longtime State Rep. Marty Moylan (D-55th) will seek a seventh term in the Illinois House of Representatives and if he’s victorious, it will be his last.

Moylan, 74, was first elected state representative in 2013. Prior to that, he served as mayor of Des Plaines and 2nd ward alderman. He was also a business agent for the Chicagoland electrical union. His son, Colt, is currently 2nd ward alderman and works for the same union as his father did. Moylan has been involved in numerous local political campaigns for decades. Once he’s retired, Moylan vowed to continue his involvement in local elections and politics.

One of the primary reasons he wants to serve for another two years is to work on completion of the Chicago area’s mass transit funding bill. Moylan explained that he has been working on that legislation for the last year. While a proposed bill could be approved in the November General Assembly Veto Session, it’s unlikely because it would require a larger than usual number of votes in favor. After January, the number of votes required for passage is 60, said Moylan.

* More…

* Hanley officially kicks off bid for state senate: Winnetka’s Patrick Hanley officially launched his campaign to replace State Sen. Laura Fine in Springfield Tuesday evening with a large crowd of supporters at Sketchbook Brewing Co. in Skokie. Hanley, an environmental activist, business owner and political organizer who co-founded Operation Swing State last year, announced Tuesday night his name will officially be on next March’s ballot after receiving enough signatures exactly one week after petitioning kicked off. The biggest name backing Hanely is U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who is retiring from Congress at the end of her term. Over a dozen Democrats, including Fine, are vying to replace her in Washington. […] Hanley’s only competitor in the Democratic primary is Rachel Ruttenberg of Evanston, who kicked off her campaign at an event in early June, with endorsements from Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel and Reps. Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl and Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz.

* GOP candidate for 17th Congressional District is active early this election cycle: Vancil expressed skepticism of official sources like the Fed and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “The jobs report numbers and everything, it’s one number one month, and then they retract it a couple weeks later. And who knows what the right answer is or what the real answer is anymore. I’d love to see interest rates come back down. Let’s get this housing going. The housing market nationwide is just stagnant. Nobody’s selling,” he said. Vancil also backs President Trump’s tariffs, though cautiously.