* Evanston Now…
Despite denying having support from the American Israel Political Action Committee in her run for Congress, the president of AIPAC’s board of directors is set to host a private fundraiser in Los Angeles next month in support of State Sen. Laura Fine, according to hidden webpages reviewed by Evanston Now.
Fine’s campaign told the Loyola University Chicago student newspaper, the Loyola Phoenix, late last month that the Glenview state senator “has not received and is not seeking endorsement from JStreet, AIPAC or any Jewish organization,” after Evanston Now’s reporting in October revealing AIPAC encouraging support for her campaign.
But two separate fundraising emails sent in August and September, obtained by Evanston Now, name Fine as the organization’s choice for Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s congressional seat, explicitly urging email recipients to donate to her campaign, while criticizing her top two opponents and providing links for donors to a hidden webpage where they can donate.
The links included in both emails direct donors to a site called proisraelnetwork.org, operated through an LLC called Democracy Engine, an organization founded by former ActBlue executive director Jeffrey Zucker. In 2023, Zucker told Bloomberg that the company is a workaround for business interests strained by maximum political contribution limits.
The site, which is hidden from standard internet searches, appears to be a legal loophole for lobbying groups to avoid having to disclose their involvement in soliciting donations.
* Daily Herald…
A Democratic congressional candidate who’s under federal indictment for her actions during a protest against the immigration crackdown was given an unwelcome, prison-themed gift bag by a Republican rival at a campaign event Sunday night.
Ninth District hopeful Kat Abughazaleh was confronted by fellow candidate Rocio Cleveland at a meet-and-greet featuring many candidates at the Tikvah Center for Jewish Recovery and Healing in Northbrook. Cleveland handed Abughazaleh a small, red bag.
Cleveland went on to remove and describe the items in the bag one by one. They included a toothbrush Cleveland said Abughazaleh would need “once you are in prison … to protect yourself.” Inmates have been known to use sharpened toothbrushes as weapons.
The bag also contained food and other objects, including a bottle containing what Cleveland said was holy water. Cleveland said she thought Abughazaleh, who is Palestinian American, “(needs) to be baptized.”
Cleveland posted a Facebook video of her trying to give Abughazaleh the “gift.”
More from the Daily Northwestern…
The clash punctuated the end of an otherwise calm forum meant to bring together candidates from three Illinois races — contests for the Illinois 9th Congressional District seat, the 9th District state Senate seat, and the Illinois 17th Congressional District seat — for informal conversations with voters.
Hosted at the Tikvah Center for Jewish Recovery and Healing, by the Chicago Jewish Alliance, the North Shore Forum for Education and the Jewish & Assyrian Heritage Club in Northbrook, the forum emphasized “discussion, not debate,” as contenders mingled with the crowd and introduced their platforms at various tables around the room, according to the Chicago Jewish Alliance’s website. […]
Among the Democratic 9th Congressional District candidates present were State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss (D), Gen Z politician Bushra Amiwala, Bruce Leon, State Rep. Hoan Huynh (D-Chicago), Howard Rosenblum, Jeff Cohen, Justin Ford, Sam Polan, Abughazaleh, State Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) and Phil Andrew.
Republicans Mark Su, Cleveland and Paul Friedman were also in attendance. […]
Many of the 17 Democratic candidates in the race mentioned constituent concerns about affordability and the current presidential administration.
* Politico…
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, now running for Congress in the 2nd District, rolled out a splashy list of endorsements last week — including one that quickly unraveled. Her campaign touted the backing of Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, who makes a point not to wade into electoral politics.
He didn’t this time either. A Miller staffer apparently mistook Snelling’s cordial remarks for a political nod. Snelling told your Playbook host he isn’t endorsing Miller — or anyone else — in IL-02 or in any race, period. And that goes for other police chiefs on Miller’s list, too. A spokesperson for Miller’s campaign acknowledged “Some names were included in last week’s endorsement list in error. We apologize for the miscommunication.”
We told you last week about another endorsement flub by Commissioner Miller, who announced support from Dolton Mayor Jason House, except he had already endorsed her opponent, Willie Preston.
* Sen. Lakesia Collins has endorsed 7th Congressional District candidate Anthony Driver Jr. in the race to replace retiring US Rep. Danny Davis…
* US Senate candidate Juliana Stratton’s father has passed away…
- Save Ferris - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 1:18 pm:
1) AIPAC encouraging people to give money to Fine doesn’t mean Fine has welched on her pledge not to seek their endorsement or PAC money. But the article sure tries to imply it.
2) Would love to know if any of the local R committees have a comment on Rocio Cleveland. Bet they wouldn’t suggest baptism for a Jewish candidate.
- City Zen - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 1:29 pm:
Lakesia Collins endorses executive of one of her largest union benefactors. What a shock.
- 9th Ward Voter - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 1:59 pm:
The “gift” thing is disappointing. To quote a wise man, “Do better.”
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 2:06 pm:
“Cleveland went on to remove and describe the items in the bag one by one. They included a toothbrush Cleveland said Abughazaleh would need “once you are in prison … to protect yourself.” Inmates have been known to use sharpened toothbrushes as weapons.”
Sounds like someone deeply committed to their Christian faith!
Rocio is the kind of person who will fill out demented questionnaires for IL Family Council that you can read on the first page of her google results but she apparently doesn’t believe in those positions deeply enough to put any of them on her own candidate webpage.
- New Day - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 2:11 pm:
Save Ferris is exactly right. Why is it a problem for pro-Israel and even pro-AIPAC individuals to support a legislator with a tremendously progressive voting record. Anyone trying to turn Laura Fine into some Trumpy Bibi acolyte are engaging in a MAGA-level disinformation campaign.
- Google is Your Friend - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 3:05 pm:
==- Save Ferris - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 1:18 pm:==
To be clear, since you aren’t, her campaign’s statement is this, “has not received and is not seeking endorsement….” That is false, as she has received the endorsement of AIPAC even if she didn’t seek it. Candidates then rely on the AIPAC two-step that was explained well by the New Yorker over 10 years ago: they aren’t a PAC, so they don’t endorse, but the people who run the organization and donate to the organization endorse and organize as individuals, but do so as individuals expressly through the network of donors and activists they know and developed through AIPAC.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/01/friends-israel
- Trinity - Monday, Nov 17, 25 @ 3:11 pm:
If you are wondering what triggered Lakeshia’s endorsement.
I heard Jason & Melissa Ervin showed up at Lakeshia’s Birthday fundraiser last Friday … (Insert Young & the Restless piano music)…