Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Spotted in Hinsdale by a canvasser earlier this week…

* From the ADL…

The phrase “It’s Okay To Be White” is a slogan popularized in late 2017 as a trolling campaign by members of the controversial discussion forum 4chan. The original idea behind the campaign was to choose an ostensibly innocuous and inoffensive slogan, put that slogan on fliers bereft of any other words or imagery, then place the fliers in public locations. Originators assumed that “liberals” would react negatively to such fliers and condemn them or take them down, thus “proving” that liberals did not even think it was “okay” to be white.

Whether the original trollers were white supremacist or not, actual white supremacists quickly began to promote the campaign—often adding Internet links to white supremacist websites to the fliers or combining the phrase with white supremacist language or imagery. This was not a surprise, as white supremacists had themselves used the phrase in the past—including on fliers—long before the 4chan campaign originated.

* And…

In other words, it is the far-right attempting to create a larger, normalized presence; an in-real-life viral meme that will try to coax moderates toward the false narrative that “reverse racism” is real and progressives are hypocrites when it comes to the discussion of race, systemic racism and prejudice.

Rice is commonly used in these racist baggies to weigh them down.

37 Comments

Campaign notebook

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Heh…

pic.twitter.com/oNFh8sXWNj

— Best of Nextdoor (@bestofnextdoor) November 3, 2022

* Illinois early vote totals…

The @illinoissbe has updated early vote totals (11/03/22):
Total VBM requested: 866,786
Total VBM returned: 489,730
Total VBM outstanding: 377,056
Return Rate: 57%
Total Early Vote: 471,451
Total Grace Period: 7,705
Total Already Voted: 968,886https://t.co/44ga6AxRbY

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) November 3, 2022

* Chicago early vote totals…

The most up-to-date Early Vote and Vote By Mail totals in Chicago, night of Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

The Early Vote total stands at 81,421 ballots cast.

Additionally, 83,142 Vote By Mail ballots have been returned to the Board – total VBM applications stands at 208,933.

The grand total is 164,563 ballots cast so far in Chicago for the November 8th General Election.

The city is now at 17 percent of the statewide total, up a point from before, but still short of its 21 percent of the total state population.

* First it was property taxes and now it’s DCFS…

…Adding… IPI has a video, too. Commenter “Union Thug” found it. Click here.

* Local sheriff who opposes SAFE-T Act because it will increase crime has several deputies who say they may resign en masse if local sheriff loses his reelection to an independent candidate…

…Adding… The above was a newspaper ad, by the way.

* While we’re talking about sheriffs, this is from the official government Facebook page of the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office…

Bold.

* Back to the SAFE-T Act. The Tribune gets it right…

[Republican Rich Janor] has repeatedly accused [Rep. Janet Yang Rohr’s, D-Naperville] of being soft on crime. He inaccurately claimed in a League of Women Voters forum in October that under the SAFE-T Act a police officer couldn’t remove a trespasser sitting in someone’s living room watching TV.

While the law mandates tickets instead of arrests for misdemeanors such as trespassing, an Illinois Supreme Court task force has said police retain the ability to remove a person before issuing a citation.

…Adding… Since we’re talking about the SAFE-T Act, this is from a text message today…

* DPI media advisory…

Vice President Kamala Harris will rally with Illinois Democrats at 2:00pm on Sunday, November 6th.

WHEN: 12:00pm doors, 2:00pm event start, Sunday, November 6, 2022

WHERE: XS Tennis and Education Foundation, 5336 S State St, Chicago

* Greg Hinz…

The race for Congress in the west suburban 6th District, where incumbent Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, faces GOP nominee and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, has taken a turn toward the competitive after appearing to be solidly favorable for Casten. […]

The first sign that the contest had tightened occurred in late October when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid a visit for an event with Casten. And one of Pelosi’s big funding vehicles, the House Majority PAC, poured $630,000 into pro-Casten ads.

Since then, three different major national handicappers—Real Clear Politics, Politico and the Cook Political Report—have moved their forecasts in the GOP direction, though two of the three say Casten still has a real, if reduced, edge. […]

Casten’s folks say they always expected the race to narrow at the end, given that most of the newly remapped district was previously represented by someone else. Casten will continue to attack Pekau on issues like abortion while Pekau says he supports abortion in cases of rape, incest and risks to the mother’s life. But Pekau also praised the U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed states to ban all abortions.

* Kevin McCarthy to stump for Pekau…

* ILGOP Statement on President Biden’s visit to Illinois…

Today, President Joe Biden visits Illinois for a series of rallies to bail out sputtering Congressional Democrats in the Chicago suburbs. ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy issued the following statement:

“As the Biden economy sputters, races for suburban Congressional Democrats once thought safe are trending in the wrong direction. Now President Biden is making a last-ditch effort to dig them out of the hole they dug together. Senator Duckworth, Congressmen Sean Casten, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bill Foster, and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood have all spent two years supporting the inflation-fueling Biden-Pelosi spending binge every step of the way. Now with historic inflation fueling skyrocketing gas and grocery prices, they can follow their spending binge to its final destination - out of office on the morning of November 9th.”

A recent New York Times poll indicated that 44% of likely voters cite the economy and inflation as their most important issues. The U.S. economy is facing its highest inflation rate in 40 years as a direct result of runaway spending by President Biden and Congressional Democrats that even respected Democrat economists warned could fuel the historic inflation we are now experiencing. Reps. Casten, Krishnamoorthi, Foster, and Underwood supported this spending agenda at every turn.

RealClearPolitics recently moved Casten (IL-6) and Underwood’s (IL-14) races from Lean D to toss-up as the Congressional Leadership Fund announced a massive seven-figure investment in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District race.

* Tom DeVore is on a panel at the Midwest Freedom Summit 2022 this Saturday in Itasca …

America is facing challenging times. Inflation is skyrocketing, as the cost of everything from gas to groceries continues to rise. Everyday Americans are struggling to keep their heads above water with a shaky stock market and economic uncertainty. On the world stage, America’s stature continues to shrink, after a hasty and bloody exit from Afghanistan and a seemingly never-ending stalemate in Ukraine. As the nation finally exits the COVID pandemic and looks ahead to the 2022 mid-term elections and beyond, issues like abortion, gun control, and education remain top of mind for voters. In Illinois, voters face the opportunity to replace Gov. JB Pritzker after nearly four years of disastrous COVID policies that have left the state struggling to recover.

Amid these many challenges, conservatives from across the Midwest will come together for Freedom Summit 2022 on Saturday, November 5, 2022 — just a few short days before the critical mid-term elections. Attendees will have the chance to consider these important issues, as they are discussed and debated by some of the country’s most prominent conservative voices. This one-day event will feature speakers, break-out sessions, and book signings. As we prepare to head to the polls for thes critical mid-term elections, this event should not be missed.

Hear from keynote speakers Alex Berenson, Brandon Tatum, and Larry Elder, as well as break-out panels on the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, election integrity, and much more.

Dan Proft is also a featured speaker. Dennis Reboletti, who is running for the Senate this year, will be on a panel with DeVore, Stephanie Trussell and Tyrone Muhammad (whose group got into that tussle with police the other day). It’ll be moderated by John Anthony, who was fired from IDOC for sexual harassment.

* Isabel’s roundup…

* Chicago Tribune | President Joe Biden implores voters to save democracy from lies ahead of midterms: The president’s speech — focused squarely on the rite of voting and the counting of that vote — amounted to a plea for Americans to step back from the inflamed rhetoric that has heightened fears of political violence and challenges to the integrity of the elections. Biden was straddling two roles, speaking as both a president defending the pillars of democracy and a Democrat trying to boost his party’s prospects against Republicans. He called out the hundreds of candidates who have denied the 2020 election result and now refuse to commit to accepting the results of the upcoming midterms. “This driving force is trying to succeed where they failed in 2020 to suppress the rights of voters and subvert the electoral system itself,” Biden said. “That is the path to chaos in America. It’s unprecedented. It’s unlawful. And it is un-American.”

* Chicago Tribune | Getting out the vote in 2022: Text messages, social media posts, rallies, door knocking and a drag show : As voting continues through Tuesday along with the TV ads, the campaigns for governor, their local party organizations and their allies are relying on traditional strategies such as sending teams to canvass door-to-door and phone banking. They are also using more recent techniques such as digital ads, social media and text messaging. “There are several thousand people knocking on doors across Illinois and making phone calls,” Bailey said in one of his near daily Facebook Live posts on Tuesday.

* NBC | What Changes if the Illinois Workers Rights Amendment Passes, and When Would it Take Effect?: For all intents and purposes, the amendment will codify the right of workers to unionize into the state’s constitution. It would also prohibit state government from passing “right-to-work” laws, which are currently in effect in at least 27 U.S. states.

* Quad-City Times | IL Comptroller, local officials call on state to timely pay families of fallen first responders : Surrounded by local police, firefighters, EMS personnel and elected state and local officials in Moline Wednesday, Mendoza detailed House Bill 5785, which aims to ensure timely compensation is given to the next of kin of those who perish in the line of duty. The bill would ensure a continuing line of funding is available without disruption, so there is no delay to the families.

* Belleville News-Democrat | It’s the last day to request a mail-in ballot for the November election in Illinois: If you’re hoping to vote by mail in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, midterm in Illinois, Thursday is the final day to request your ballot electronically or by post. The deadline for ballot requests across the state is Nov. 3. You do not need an excuse to vote by mail in Illinois, and all registered voters are eligible.

* Register-Mail | Halpin spends more than twice as much as Thoms in District 36 Senate race: A look at third quarter (July 1 to Sept. 30) contributions and spending of the two candidates shows Halpin with a clear financial advantage. Halpin spent nearly $1.9 million for his campaign during the third quarter, more than doubling the campaign spending for Thoms, $767,979.

* Belleville News-Democrat | Here’s what happened when Madison County sent incorrect ballots to voters in this precinct: Madison County mistakenly sent ballots that included six judicial candidates for the Nov. 8 election to residents in one Edwardsville precinct, but County Clerk Debbie Ming Mendoza said efforts are underway to correct the mistake. Some residents of Precinct 3 received ballots that incorrectly listed judicial candidates in the newly created Subcircuit 1 of the 3rd Judicial Circuit. However, this precinct is not located in Subcircuit 1.

* WAND | African-American voters in Champaign receiving false texts about voting locations: “These messages are not affiliated with the Champaign County Clerk’s office. They were sent by a third-party vendor of an organization called Black Voters Matter. Black Voters Matter contracted with a third-party vendor to send push notifications to voters,” said Ammons. The messages stated that the residents would now have to drive to Gifford, Illinois to cast their vote. “I have not had an opportunity to speak to anyone from Black Voters Matter or Movement Labs. We wanted to immediately jump on this to make sure that our voters here in Champaign County got the accurate information that they need to make sure they know that it did not come from the election authority here locally and what they can do to resolve the issue,” stated Ammons.

38 Comments

Big hugs to Sen. Bryant

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has written an open letter to the women in Sen. Michael Hastings’ district…

November 3, 2022

Dear voters of the 19th Senate District,

  You deserve better.   You deserve better than State Senator Michael Hastings.  You deserve better than to be represented by a man who has a dangerous track record of abusing, harassing, and bullying women.

You deserve better than to have someone who battered his wife, choked her, slammed her into a door, and elbowed her in the face in front of their small children serve you in the State Senate.

You deserve better than to be stuck with an elected official who is so arrogant that he refuses to step down from office even after Governor Pritzker, a man of his same party, came out publicly calling for his resignation.

You deserve better than a state senator, who despite his unbecoming behavior, has been enabled and tolerated by his protectors in Springfield, in which they spent $150,000 of your taxpayer money to keep one of his accusers quiet.

But beyond what you deserve, the women he has abused and harassed deserve something even greater from you this election. They deserve to be heard, understood, and supported. And you have the power to give them that on November 8.

You have the power to side with the staffer who was discriminated against. You have the power to stand with the woman who works in Springfield and who now refuses to have meetings with Sen. Hastings after an experience that left her shaken and intimidated.

But most importantly, you have the power to show support to a brave mother and survivor of domestic violence. The hell that this “husband” has put his former wife and children through and continues to put them through must come to an end.

You don’t know me, and you’ve likely never heard of me. And you may be wondering why I am writing this letter. I’m State Senator Terri Bryant. I represent one of the most southern senate districts in Illinois. So why am I reaching out to you—residents of a south suburban district? It’s because I, too, am a survivor. I know firsthand the kind of men who conduct this sort of disgusting behavior and believe me, these men have no place in such a prestigious office.

As a survivor of childhood domestic abuse, I grew up in a house where my mother and us children were the subjects of daily beatings from my stepfather, including one in particular that caused my mother to have a miscarriage. There wasn’t a moment of those five years that I remember my mother not having a busted lip or a black eye.

Since then, there’s not a day that goes by that the abuse and trauma doesn’t impact me. It doesn’t leave you and it never will. The triggers will come out of nowhere, just like they did a couple of days ago when I read the news about the violence Sen. Hastings committed on his then-wife and in front of his children. But over the years, I’ve had the wonderful support of many who have stood by my side.

And now, another woman, going through similar experiences, is in need of your support. You know what you need to do. Your choice this election has never been easier because in your heart you know.

WE ALL DESERVE BETTER.  

Sincerely, 

  Terri Bryant, 58th District State Senator

The first time I read that letter I kinda dismissed it as not exactly “news-worthy.” But then I read it more closely and the heart of the letter that I’ve highlighted, when Sen. Bryant related her own experiences and the triggers that “come out of nowhere,” well, that really got to me.

Try to put the politics and partisanship and individuals aside. It’s a strong message. We do, indeed, all deserve better, and I thought you’d like to read it.

19 Comments

Jesse White calls new Proft ad “highly offensive,” Ald. Beale slams Bailey and Proft “and their racist, fear-mongering propaganda machine”

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I saw this Proft ad last night…

People Who Play By The Rules PAC has launched a new :30 TV spot, “Last Dance.” It will run on Illinois TV stations this week and can be seen on YouTube and on the PBR PAC Facebook page.

:30 TV Script:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4V6R5H3i84

What’s more painful than watching this?

*Unmodified footage of Pritzker ineptly dancing on stage

Hearing what Pritzker says about Black elected officials when he thinks no one is listening.

ABC7 broadcaster, 2018: “Newly released FBI recording of Democratic gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker is causing a deep split in the African-American community.”

“Of all the African Americans I can think that are sort of like qualified as least offensive, it’s Jesse White. Emil [Jones] is a little more crass.” -Pritzker from Blagojevich FBI tapes

Alderman Anthony Beale, 9th Ward, 2018: “This is a slap in our face, taking our community for granted. This is not the kind of leadership that we need at this time.”

PUNISH PRITZKER FOR HIS RACISM.

Paid for by People Who Play By The Rules PAC

* React from Secretary of State Jesse White…

I have known JB Pritzker for more than 30 years and I consider him a very good friend. I also consider him the best governor that Illinois has had in my lifetime.

As governor and as a private citizen, JB has supported not only the African-American community, but all communities throughout the state. I know where his heart is and he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.

To manipulate a taped phone conversation and to use it in a political commercial, as it reflects the Governor’s views, is highly offensive.

I strongly encourage the people of Illinois to ignore this desperate political ad.

* Ald. Anthony Beale…

Last night I discovered that Dan Profit, on behalf of the Republican Party, has created a commercial that uses my image and words to disparage Governor JB Pritzker.

Profit did not gain my permission or consent to ues my image or words. Rather, he took a sentence said years ago out of context in a crass attempt to diminish the vote for Governor Pritzker by implying that I am critical of the governor.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Over the last four years, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Governor Pritzker on a variety of issues––and I’ve seen firsthand the impact his administration’s investments have made in our communities. Darren Bailey, Dan Proft, and their racist, fear-mongering propaganda machine have never once stood up for Black and brown families, and their attempts to use us as political pawns in the final days of this election is sickening.

Dan Profit did not ask my permission to appear in this ad––and had he asked I would have unequivocally refused. I demand that he take this ad off the air immediately, and will be pursuing all legal remedies available.

Not sure if he has a legal leg to stand on, but what do you think of the ad?

…Adding… Natalie Edelstein at the Pritzker campaign…

“If your strategy five days from Election Day is attempting to suppress the Black vote, you’re losing.”

* Related…

* How anti-Pritzker PAC is trying to suppress the Black vote in Chicago: One interpretation could be that it’s just an attempt to persuade Black voters to support Bailey. However, since the fear-mongering flyers and signs do not push Bailey’s candidacy, the strategy appears to be to depress Black voter turnout for Pritzker, political operatives said. Democratic political consultant Ron Holmes, a veteran of many campaigns in Illinois where turning out the Black vote has been critical, said these Proft PAC appeals are “directly aimed at ensuring Black voters stay at home rather than vote for candidates who have been working in their best interests.”

22 Comments

Question of the day

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Fox 32…

A 21-year-old Chicago man is facing charges after police say he left a death threat on a voicemail for Gubernatorial GOP hopeful Darren Bailey.

State Senator Darren Bailey says it is the political rhetoric from Governor JB Pritzker that has helped create this kind of hatred. […]

“The divisiveness that JB Pritzker has created in our state over the last four years — the hatred that exists,” said Bailey. […]

Bailey also pointed to the controversial SAFE-T Act and what will happen, if this happens again.

“After Jan. 1, public officials can be threatened and not a lot can be done about it,” said Bailey.

* The Question: Your thoughts on this?

55 Comments

Thanks, @Gannett!

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Election day is in five days and early and mail-in voting has been underway for a while now. So, let’s look at a few front pages of Gannett websites in this state, starting with the State Journal-Register…

* Rockford Register Star…

* Peoria Journal Star…

Except for that what not to wear headline and the generic election day info “guide,” you’d barely know there was an election going on. And forget about news stories which help inform voters about who is running, what they stand for and why readers should care.

Gannett, you will recall, took over the printing of Dan Proft’s newspapers when the Daily Herald was embarrassed into dropping its contract with him.

* So, let’s take a look at one of Proft’s papers that Gannett is printing…

While basically blacking out local, state and national political coverage in their own actual newspapers, the company is printing all that political propaganda for cash. And it’s not just today. I visit those papers looking for content every day.

Such a responsible “news” company.

53 Comments

Tribune looks at turnout

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rick Pearson…

Of the 677,000 early votes cast in Illinois through Monday, more than twice as many Democrats as Republicans have filled out ballots — 404,374 to 193,177, according to L2, a national firm that has spent more than 50 years researching voter data and demographics. The other roughly 80,000 voters had no previous partisan voting history. Since Illinois does not have true party registration, the figures are based on personal voting history in party primaries, including on June 28.

More than 80% of the early votes were cast by older voters, age 50 and above, with voters 65 and older, a reliable voting demographic, casting 56% of the early ballots. Female voters accounted for 55% of the early vote, and men made up 45%, the L2 analysis showed.

Geographically, 65% of the early votes were cast in the six-county Chicago metropolitan area, with 35% coming from Chicago and suburban Cook County, 10% from DuPage, 8% from Will and 5% apiece from Lake and Kane. McHenry County has cast 2% of the state’s early votes.

Of the early votes already cast, 35% of Democrats also voted in the June 28 primary compared with only 17% of Republicans who cast a primary ballot. That leaves the potential for a final flurry of balloting on both sides, with Republicans counting on a heavy in-person Election Day vote as races in the one-party blue state show signs of tightening.

I early voted yesterday for the first time.

32 Comments

Rate the new Pritzker ad

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Here you go…

* Script…

Donald Trump wants you to vote for Darren Bailey.

Trump: “Darren has my complete and total endorsement.”

Why? Because Darren Bailey spread Trump’s lies about the 2020 election.

Like Trump, Bailey stands with the NRA against banning assault weapons.

And Bailey wants to outlaw abortion even in cases of rape or incest.

Bailey: “I’ve made a promise to President Trump that in 2024, Illinois will roll out the red carpet out for him, because Illinois will be ready for President Trump.”

42 Comments

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Morning briefing

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* A roundup to start your day…

* Republican candidate Darren Bailey to vote Thursday after death threat: Bailey is expected to be voting in downstate Clay County, but a Chicago man is behind bars after he was charged with making a violent threat toward the GOP candidate. Prosecutors said that the suspect was angry after seeing TV ads about the gubernatorial candidate and then bragged on social media that he was a “political terrorist.” Bailey told ABC7 Chicago in an exclusive interview that the suspect mentioned Pritzker’s ads in the voicemail, and for that reason, Bailey says this threat falls at the feet of Gov. JB Pritzker.

* “There will be more security”: “There will be more security. I am concerned, because it’s happening too frequently,” Durbin said in Decatur this week, giving another example: “Rodney Davis, Republican congressman. At baseball practice several years ago, (he) was assaulted by a gunman from the other side of the political spectrum. It’s unacceptable. Violence is unacceptable, whatever the political motivation. Period.”

* Man who threatened to kill GOP candidate for governor Darren Bailey had been angered by political ad he saw at a bar, prosecutors say: Scott M. Lennox, 21, of the 3300 block of North Lake Shore Drive, was charged with threatening a public official, a felony, and two harassment offenses following his arrest earlier this week by Illinois State Police. A judge Wednesday afternoon ordered Lennox held on $75,000 bail.

* Focusing on crime and economy, GOP seeks to chip away at Democratic dominance of General Assembly: While Democrats are almost sure to keep a majority in both chambers, Republicans are hoping to gain a greater voice in Springfield by cutting into the Democratic supermajority, which would require net gains of three seats in the House and six in the Senate. Second-term Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park and rookie House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside each backed at least one incumbent who was defeated by a challenger in the June primary, and the general election will be an early indication of whether the party can maintain its overwhelming edge without indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan at the helm.

* CVS and Walgreens announce opioid settlements totaling $10 billion: The deals call for most of the funds from Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS and Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens to be used to fight the opioid crisis through such efforts as expanding treatment and support programs for people with addiction, along with providing overdose antidotes and launching prevention efforts. In a conference call with analysts Wednesday, CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch said the deal sprang from mediation discussions that started last month.

* Lynn Sweet: Avalanche of mail hitting Illinois voters, but funding behind partisan ‘newspapers’ not disclosed: In 2016, the Illinois State Board of Elections admonished Proft for not disclosing that his PAC was paying for the papers. On Aug. 15, 2016, according to state records, Local Government Information Services Inc., was incorporated in Illinois. The president of LGIS is Brian Timpone; the secretary is John Tillman, whose IPI received millions of dollars from Uihlein’s foundation. Timpone’s been connected to Metric Media LLC, a network of companies, including Local Government Information Services and Pipeline Media, where he is listed as a manager on state records.

* State senator whose district includes Arlington Park opposes possible Bears TIF: Gillespie, an Arlington Heights Democrat who is sponsor of legislation to reform the controversial TIF process, questioned the need for the local property tax help during conversations about the NFL franchise’s possible move to the shuttered racetrack, where the team has proposed a $5 billion mixed-use redevelopment.

* Senate candidates explain their ads: Hamilton said her campaign’s ads are responding to Turner’s distortion of Hamilton’s voting record. “I didn’t want to go negative,” Hamilton said. “I’m not going to just sit there and take it.” Hamilton said she stands by the content of her ads.

* Election Day forecast: Illinois statehouse reporter Brenden Moore’s predictions: Pritzker, I think, will win relatively comfortably, though perhaps not by as much as some polls suggest given the electoral climate. Illinois leans Democratic and, with a legislative record that includes a minimum wage increase, recreational marijuana legalization and a plan to achieve 100% clean energy production by 2050, Democratic base voters have little to complain about with Pritzker. His stewardship of the state’s finances should appeal to moderate voters.

* State 24th District Senate candidates differ on how to improve the business climate in Illinois: Lewis, currently a state representative in the 45th House District, says promoting business growth in Illinois is one of his top issues. The 54-year-old Bartlett resident says Illinois must make better use of its strengths, including the quality of its labor force and universities. He also wants to see fewer restrictions on business.

* Biden in Illinois Friday to rally Democrats ahead of Tuesday vote; Harris in city Sunday: Biden will lead a get-out-the-vote event for Democrats with a focus on boosting suburban Chicago congressional incumbents — Reps. Sean Casten, Lauren Underwood and Bill Foster — who are in races that may be tightening.

* Illinois Proud Boys Member Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Officer During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach: An Illinois man, a member of the Proud Boys, pleaded guilty today to assaulting a law enforcement officer during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election. James Robert Elliott, 25, of Aurora, Illinois, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers.

* Rep. La Shawn Ford weighs in on Illinois’ SAFE-T Act debuting next year: State Rep. La Shawn Ford joins Good Day Chicago to share his thoughts on the SAFE-T Act and detail what tweaks he would make to the new system beginning next year.

* Editorial: For Illinois House: Pettorini, Dias, Reick, Weber, Robertson, Ness, West, Sosnowski, Swanson, Henry, Haskell, Hernandez, Haas, DeLuca, Stava-Murray, Wheeler: This is the fifth installment of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for Illinois House races in the Nov. 8 general election.

* Pritzker, Durbin speak on ISU’s campus to endorse Chung, Koehler, encourage voting: Pritzker then endorsed Chung for state representative and emphasized her dedication to education. “She’s a mom, she’s a musician, she’s a member of the county board, she’s a teacher and someone who cares deeply about advancing this state,” Pritzker said.

* Cristian Javier, Astros bullpen combine for second no-hitter in World Series history, beat Phillies 5-0: Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on just the second no-hitter in World Series history, silencing a booming lineup and boisterous fans as the Astros blanked the Phillies 5-0 Wednesday night to even the matchup at two games each. The only previous no-hitter in the World Series was a perfect game by Don Larsen of the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956.

* More to come!

18 Comments

Open thread

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Good morning! As the race to Election Day enters its final stretch, how is Nov 8th affecting your part of Illinois?