* Yesterday, we saw a guy who has dedicated his congressional career to raising as much money as humanly possible attacking a rival US Senate candidate over contributions that her national lt. governor’s association received. Then, we talked about the response, which blasted said congresscritter for some money he has raised, even though the candidate in question is being funded primarily by our billionaire governor.

* But it can’t get too weird, I suppose. For instance, a cash-rich super PAC funded by crypto titans that’s helping former felon Jesse Jackson, Jr. slams lefty Robert Peters for selling out to corporate overlords…

My brain. It hurts.

Peters campaign…

“These attacks–paid for by literal corrupt corporate interests, against a candidate who has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and End Citizens United–would be laughable if they weren’t so sinister,” said Peters. “What we have here is a super PAC funded by Trump-aligned billionaires who are intentionally lying to Black voters to try to steal this congressional seat. It won’t work. Our grassroots-powered campaign is surging, and these right-wing special interests know it.

* Sen. Laura Fine was most definitely not interested in standing up to Mike Madigan during the #MeToo era or when he was being openly investigated by the feds. Yet, here’s her congressional campaign redboxing page…

It’s not that Daniel is too conservative or too liberal; it’s that he’ll be whatever he needs to be to win his next election. And there’s always a next election. He’s run for state legislature, Governor, Comptroller, Mayor, and now Congress … for Daniel, it’s all about Daniel.
Proof Points:

• Biss cozied up to Mike Madigan to help build his political profile and even ran his Super PAC, “working hand-in-glove” with the disgraced former Speaker … then tried to run for Governor as an anti-Madigan reformer just months later, when he thought it would help his campaign;

That led to this AIPAC-funded TV ad…

NEW - Dark money super PAC Elect Chicago Women goes negative on Daniel Biss in a new ad #IL09 pic.twitter.com/aqDtScISNl

— Matthew Eadie (@mattheweadie22) February 21, 2026

* Excerpt from the Biss campaign’s response…

Whistleblower Alaina Hampton and State Rep. Kelly Cassidy reacted on Tuesday to State Sen. Laura Fine’s recent attacks on Mayor Daniel Biss in the race to fill the open seat in the 9th Congressional District. Fine and her right-wing super PAC backers have attempted to falsely paint Biss as having “cozied up to Mike Madigan.”

In a joint statement, Hampton and Cassidy responded: […]

Amid the firestorm surrounding these allegations, multiple current candidates in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District had the opportunity to speak up in support of us.

Only one did: Daniel Biss. Senator Fine remained silent.

Daniel was the first legislative Democrat in Illinois to call for Madigan’s resignation as Illinois Democratic Party chair as sexual harassment allegations emerged. In 2020, Daniel was one of 53 Illinois Democratic leaders to call for Madigan’s resignation in an open letter. Laura Fine did not sign. And when we were on the receiving end of the full force of the Madigan machine’s pressure, Daniel spoke out privately and publicly and made it clear that he believed us. He was not afraid. He was not willing to let us take the brunt of the attacks alone.

Laura Fine, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found.

When she finally did tepidly find her voice, it was years later, once it was “safe.” She never spoke out in support of “The 19” members of the House who courageously pledged to vote against Madigan for Speaker in 2020.

For these reasons and more, we have found Senator Fine’s attempt to smear Daniel as a Madigan ally through her dark money, MAGA-aligned super PAC not only preposterous, but personally offensive.

Senator Fine had many opportunities to speak up in support of those impacted by sexual harassment and violence in the Madigan organization, and she did nothing of the sort. The brazenness with which she now wields that moment as a political weapon is disgusting. She should be ashamed, but given the tens of thousands of dollars she has taken from Trump donors, she does not appear capable of that.

* Back to the crypto bros. Keep in mind the reports that cryptocurrency has been used by all sorts of nefarious types. NBC Chicago…

It isn’t uncommon for political candidate to decry “dark money” in elections, but the situation has reopened old wounds for [7th CD candidate] State Rep. La Shawn Ford.

Recent advertisements have turned back the clock to a situation more than a dozen years ago in which he was facing 17 felony counts of federal bank fraud.

Two years later, all were dropped by federal prosecutors in exchange for his pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor income tax charge. […]

“I am not a felon,” Ford told reporters Monday. “When I look at the ads on TV that darkens me up and try to make me fearful and scary looking to voters and people. It’s heartbreaking.” […]

“It’s especially dangerous and I would say, in all fairness, this is right wing billionaire driven.” said Robert Peters, who is running for the 2nd district seat being vacated by Rep. Robin Kelly, who is running for U.S. Senate. “We are talking about millions of dollars.”

Click here for the crypto-backed ad attacking Rep. Ford.

* More from Isabel…

* Evanston Now | Dueling attack ads hit the airwaves: After this story was first published, the super PAC backing State Sen. Laura Fine’s campaign filed a report with the FEC disclosing its spending on the negative advertisements, totaling about $683,000. The super PAC had already spent over $1.9 million in pro-Fine ads to date.

* WGN | Negative ads dominate Illinois primary races in final weeks: With just three weeks left before Primary Election Day in Illinois, the knives are out. Candidates and financial backers are on the airwaves with a slew of negative ads in several key races. Candidates running for Dick Durbin’s Senate seat are taking aim at each other in the homestretch, with accusations about where their funding comes from. There are also new attacks in the Republican race for Governor and the Cook County Assessor race. Political Editor Tahman Bradley sits down with multimedia journalist Brandon Pope and former State Representative Mike Zalewski to break down all the latest developments.

* Sun-Times | Progressives pack Democratic primary race to replace U.S. Rep. Danny Davis: While all 13 Democratic primary candidates praised Davis’ legacy, they each told the Sun-Times their diverse district, winding from Englewood up the Loop and west to Austin and several suburbs, is due for a fresh voice in Washington to counter Trump administration policies and address the rising cost of living. Davis himself suggested that voice should come from another familiar West Side face, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, whom the congressman endorsed while announcing his retirement last summer.

* Tribune | Lead prosecutor in ‘Broadview Six’ immigration protest case leaving for DC ahead of high-profile trial: The lead prosecutor in the politically charged ‘Broadview Six’ case accusing a group of Democrats and other protesters of conspiring to impede immigration agents at the Broadview ICE facility is leaving the office for a temporary detail in Washington D.C. […] In a motion filed Monday, the defendants said body-worn camera footage from Broadview police officers on the scene that day shows Abughazaleh move away from the agents’ vehicle she was allegedly impeding, grab a megaphone and tell the crowd “that’s private property back there — come back.”

* Hyde Park Herald | Key candidates skip forum in crowded 2nd District race: While Ransby-Sporn said Miller was absent due to a scheduling conflict, state Sen. Willie Preston (D-16th) wasted little time offering his own explanation during his opening remarks. “Commissioner Miller is at a fundraiser right now, showing up for AIPAC and not for people in this room,” he said. “That’s the type of Congresswoman that she’s going to be if elected.” Miller’s campaign denied attending an AIPAC fundraiser, saying she was at two events “talking to Democratic primary voters,” one of which was at the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce in Hazel Crest. Preston did not provide evidence for this claim when asked by the Herald.

* Daily Herald | Who’s going to the State of the Union and who’s boycotting it? Illinois lawmakers are split: A Dreamer who inspired legislation, the founder of a health care clinic that helps uninsured patients, and a suburban executive who successfully sued the Trump administration over tariffs are among the guests Democratic Illinois lawmakers will bring to the State of the Union address. Meanwhile, several legislators are boycotting the Tuesday speech, including U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who said her office “has been flooded with calls asking me to skip this speech and take a stand.”