* Click here for some background. 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Sen. Willie Preston…

At a Second Congressional District forum at Kennedy King College hosted by Citizen Action Illinois on Thursday, state Sen. Willie Preston - chair of the Illinois Senate Black Legislative Caucus - called on the rest of the field to join his call to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to release Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover Sr.

“I see I stand alone” Preston said, after having asked the six other candidates by a show of hands to support Hoover’s release from a Colorado prison - where Hoover has been held after being released from the federal Supermax prison after more than three decades there.

After referencing his own youth, growing up amid crime and violence, Preston stressed the importance of redemption for his campaign and public career - where he has been an advocate for the rights of prisoners reentering society.

Preston, who was a union janitor at a hospital just blocks away and worked as a union carpenter, also criticized Jesse Jackson Jr. for skipping the forum.

Click here to watch the full forum.

* Former Secretary of State Jesse White endorses La Shawn Ford for the 7th CD…

“I have witnessed firsthand La Shawn Ford’s unwavering dedication to the people of our community. He is an outstanding and effective legislator who has consistently delivered results for those he serves. La Shawn leads with compassion, integrity, and courage. He always puts people first and works tirelessly to uplift every neighborhood he represents. I am proud to endorse La Shawn Ford for Congress. Now more than ever, we need a leader who will bring people together, fight for what’s right, and stand up to those who try to divide our country.”

Jesse White, former Illinois Secretary of State

* Politico…

In IL-08: Democratic candidate Neil Khot has built up his campaign team for his 8th District congressional race. It includes Chief Strategist Bill Hyers, a veteran campaigner who helped elect Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others; Senior Strategist Parthiban Shanmugam; Comms Director Stephanie Adames and Field Director Patrick Morales.

* River Bender…

Yesterday, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) testified at a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee hearing about the local impact of the Republican healthcare crisis. She warned that if Republicans allow the ACA’s Enhanced Premium Tax Credits to expire at the end of the year, families across the country will face steep premium increases.

Budzinski highlighted the story of two constituents whose premiums are projected to increase by more than $500, totaling around $810 per month. This means nearly $10,000 a year just for coverage, forcing tough decisions in their household finances.

“A middle class family in the 13th District shouldn’t be terrified of what a single medical emergency would do to them. In Laura and Rick’s words from Alton, ‘it would bankrupt us,’” Budzinski said. “Losing these tax credits would not only threaten their healthcare, it would also put at risk their financial stability, their retirement, and their daughter’s college aspirations. We cannot allow families like Laura’s to lose their healthcare and force them to choose between their retirement and their daughter’s education.”

Budzinski and her Democratic colleagues are demanding that any deal to fund the government includes the extension of these tax credits that make health insurance affordable for millions of Americans.

* More…

* 25News Now | Illinois lawmakers divided on solutions to ending federal government shutdown: Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) said Democrats want to have conversations about healthcare spending now, adding $1.5 trillion onto a four-week funding bill. He claimed they aim to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants. “They’ve talked about the Obama healthcare premiums that run out at the end of the year. I think that’s a perfect conversation to have on legislation and public policy on what we can do to fix healthcare, but don’t do it while the government is shut down,” LaHood said. “Don’t try to hold us hostage by these unrealistic demands.”