* The Democratic Party of Illinois, backed by the state’s top leaders, wants to move the 2028 primary up to sometime before the first Tuesday in March of that year. Press release…
The Democratic Party of Illinois is proud to announce its proposal to hold a pre-window primary contest in Illinois has been submitted today to the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee.
“Illinois is a cross-section of urban, suburban, and rural America, a national beacon for labor rights, equality, and reproductive justice, and the heart of the Democratic Party in the Midwest,” said DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez. “From Cairo to Champaign, up from the Quad Cities to Chicago, and everywhere in between, Illinois offers candidates ample opportunities to reach voters of all backgrounds. We are a microcosm of America and the perfect analog to test a potential nominee’s capabilities on the national stage.”
Chair Hernandez continued: “Illinois has been the target of the Trump administration’s worst abuses. To win, candidates will have to meet Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native voters where they are and speak to the concerns of women, LGBTQ+ communities, and disabled Americans who have been targeted by this White House. Undoubtedly, Illinois voters will take seriously the task to help select a nominee who will work to push far-right extremists out of power. A competitive primary in Illinois will lay out an agenda that lowers costs for Americans across economic status. Whoever emerges from the primary will do so by building a coalition across race, class, gender and geography with the momentum needed to win back the White House.”
Today’s submission is with the support of Illinois’ Democratic governor, House Speaker, Senate President, and a strong coalition of support from advocacy groups and labor. The application touts the state’s electoral infrastructure–well-run elections and timely ballot tabulation with early voting, vote by mail, same-day voter registration, and automatic voter registration–as reasons why Illinois makes it easy for every eligible voter to cast their ballot, and why Illinois is ready and able to support an early primary.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Good one in comments…
They did the same thing for Obama. Nothing new here. Could have saved a lot of ink and just admitted the real motivation.
In what he hopes will be a “wake-up call” to state leadership about the team’s exploration of potential stadium sites in northwest Indiana, Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia today issued an open letter imploring Illinois legislators to approve a so-called megaproject bill that would bring long-term predictability to property taxes on large developments.
The measure, which would allow the Bears to negotiate future property tax payments for a stadium with local taxing bodies, is one of the team’s chief demands before it would forge ahead with a new venue and entertainment district at the 326-acre former Arlington International Racecourse property. It’s also an entirely reasonable ask, Tinaglia said, from a franchise proposing the largest private development in the state’s history.
“The team has been clear that at this point their choices are either the Arlington Heights site, or Indiana,” Tinaglia wrote in the letter. “We must stand together as Illinoisans to prevent our state from being out of the NFL business altogether, and support the Mega Projects Bill.” […]
“People need to realize that this (Indiana pursuit) is real,” Tinaglia said, lamenting what he deems widespread misinformation and misunderstanding about what the Bears want from Springfield.
…Adding… The governor was asked about the half a billion dollars or so still owed on the Soldier Field stadium remodel and if it was the Bears’ debt to pay off…
You know, the Bears don’t owe that. That is a decision that government leaders made years ago to borrow that money to create the Bears stadium. I mean, the Bears, of course, as a result of them playing at Soldier Field and paying rent, essentially at Soldier Field, are helping to pay the bills on that but I just want to be clear that the actual fiscal responsibility, the financial responsibility for that debt, does not fall on the Bears.
Having said that, we do not want them to leave the city of Chicago or the state of Illinois with enormous debt that goes unpaid. And so we have to figure out how that happens that does not fall entirely on the Bears. So just wanted to disabuse people of that notion in terms of the dynamics.
You know, we’ve been really clear about what we’ve been willing to do as a state, and there have been lots of discussions over time and recently with the Bears to make sure that they know what those options are. And I believe it’s best for the Bears to stay in the state of Illinois. I’ve always said that. I do not think the fans want the Chicago Bears to be based anywhere else except in the state of Illinois.
And frankly, at this moment, I think we all ought to be thinking about crushing the Rams and not talking about a stadium.
The Bears hailed Indiana politicians taking the first step to create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority as a “significant milestone” in the team’s discussions to build a home stadium across state lines rather than the 326 acres the team owns in Arlington Heights.
The Indiana Legislature’s Senate Bill 27, amended Thursday, would authorize the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to acquire land, finance improvements and enter into leases with a private business such as the Bears.
“The legislation presented by the State of Indiana is a significant milestone in our discussions around a potential stadium development in Chicagoland’s Northwest Indiana region,” a Bears spokesperson said in a statement. “We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Governor [Mike] Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
Language in the proposed legislation would create the stadium authority as a stand-in for the state; the authority would function as the owner of a new stadium.
The authority’s three-member board would be made up of the director of the Indiana Office of Management and Budget, a budget office designee and the director of the Public Finance Authority.
SB 27 doesn’t mention the Bears by name, but it specifically allows the new stadium authority to enter into agreements with an NFL franchise. Under the current language, that NFL team would have to commit to a 35-year lease. […]
The bill stipulates the authority would own the stadium, but the team would pay for repairs and operational costs. During the lease term, the NFL team would have the option to buy the stadium for the cost of the outstanding debt — or for $1 once the project is fully paid off.
Creates the ICE and CBP Tracker Act. Requires the Attorney General to create and maintain a statewide incident reporting system related to unlawful activity in Illinois by personnel employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and U.S. Border Protection. Makes legislative findings. Authorizes the Attorney General to adopt rules to implement the Act.
State Senator Rachel Ventura introduced a new measure to establish the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board to investigate and advise on best practices for psilocybin treatments to help tackle treatment-resistant conditions, like PTSD. […]
For the past several years, Ventura has championed Senate Bill 2184, also known as the CURE Act, which would establish a framework for the legal manufacture, delivery, use, and possession of entheogens, namely psilocybin, and make conforming changes to the State’s criminal laws. The measure would require a referral from a health care professional in order to begin the therapy. Prior to first exposure of psilocybin, an individual would undergo a prep session to gauge their conditions and previous treatments and methods they have tried. Post session integration meeting would ensure the individual has the resources and tools they need to work through the psilocybin experience.
The measure led by Ventura this year – Senate Bill 2772 – would implement a part of the CURE Act, establishing the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which would create a training program, ethical standards and licensing requirements. During a two-year program development period, the board would issue recommendations for health and safety regulations to agencies tasked with regulating psilocybin production and use under the CURE Act. Ventura remains committed to passing the CURE Act in its entirety at a later date. […]
Senate Bill 2772 currently awaits committee assignment.
Members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus joined together to outline a series of legislative proposals aimed at addressing the state’s growing energy affordability crisis and reversing policies that have driven electric bills higher for families and businesses.
Senate Republicans warned that the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) weakens consumer protections, removes long-standing rate caps, shifts billions of dollars in new costs onto ratepayers, and reduces local control. Meanwhile, the bill does nothing to deliver lower prices or improved grid reliability.
“Illinois families are already struggling with record-high electric bills, and CRGA makes the problem worse,” said Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), Republican Minority Spokesperson for the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. “It removes rate caps, weakens consumer protections, and shifts massive new costs onto ratepayers without offering real relief.”
In response, Senate Republicans are filing several energy proposals focused on affordability, reliability, and accountability. The measures include restoring consumer rate caps, expanding reliable energy generation, streamlining permitting for new power projects, and repealing policies that reduce supply and drive up costs.
“Nuclear energy provides around-the-clock reliability and price stability,” said Senate Deputy Republican Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris). “Instead of prioritizing proven solutions, CRGA shifts costly and risky policies onto ratepayers. Senate Republicans are advancing legislation to speed up permitting for new generation, including nuclear, so Illinois can compete and keep costs down.”
Senator Rezin has filed legislation to modernize and streamline the permitting process for new power generation projects by requiring agencies and local governments to act within clear timelines, with permits automatically approved if deadlines are missed.
Senator Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) highlighted Senate Bill 1234 and Senate Bill 1235, two additional measures previously filed aimed at improving and increasing reliability and transparency. […]
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1235 would repeal the 2030 and 2045 forced shutdown dates for coal and natural gas plants and allow for the construction of new natural gas peaker plants to ensure reliability during extreme weather. […]
“Pritzker’s new law removed the rate caps that protect families from unlimited utility increases,” said Senator Rose (R-Mahomet). “I’m filing legislation to put those rate caps back where they belong, repeal the costly battery storage program, and restore local control so communities have a real voice.”
Senate Republicans said their legislative agenda is designed to lower costs, strengthen grid reliability, and restore accountability in Illinois’ energy policy.
Creates the Gender Pricing Equity Act. Provides that a person, firm, partnership, company, corporation, or business shall not charge a different price for any goods that are substantially similar if those goods are priced differently based on the gender of the individuals for whom the goods are marketed and intended. Provides that a violation of any of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change.
* Sen. Lakesia Collins introduced SB2832 earlier this week…
Developmental etiquette education under this Section shall be offered in the following grades:
(1) Prekindergarten and kindergarten.
Instruction in these grades shall include sharing basic manners and greeting others.
(2) Grades one through 3.
Instruction in these grades shall include listening, apologizing, taking turns, and cooperation.
(3) Grade 6.
Instruction in this grade shall include 9 peer communication, empathy, and personal responsibility.
(4) Grade 8.
Instruction in this grade shall include cyber etiquette, resolving disputes, and bystander skills.
(5) Grade 9.
Instruction in this grade shall include first impressions, posture, and polite conversation.
(6) Grade 12.
Instruction in this grade shall include interviewing, networking, and workplace etiquette and a capstone project to showcase the etiquette skills acquired.
In this ad, Illinois Future PAC must display the federally required disclaimer noting that it is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, which it has failed to do, in addition to a failure to display a street address, phone number, or website for Illinois Future PAC. (See 1 CFR 110.11(b)(3)) Failing to meet this disclosure requirement, the Illinois Future PAC ad additionally misleads the public in superimposing a logo (beginning at the 26-second mark) bearing a high degree of similarity to the logo (see below) used by Juliana for Illinois, a federal candidate’s committee. In conjunction, these two facts produce an advertisement designed to intentionally mislead the public into a believed official relationship between Juliana for Illinois and the Illinois Future PAC ad.
Unlike candidate committees, independent political organizations such as Illinois Future PAC do not have a “right to command the use of broadcast facilities” (CBS v. DNC, 1973). As you are not required to air this ad, your station bears responsibility for its content (Felix v. Westinghouse Radio Stations, 1950).
You additionally have a responsibility to “protect the public from false, misleading or deceptive advertising” (Licensee Responsibility With Respect to the Broadcast of False, Misleading, or Deceptive Advertising, 1961). A failure in this area to prevent the airing of “false and misleading advertising” may be “probative of an underlying abdication of licensee responsibility” that could put your station’s license in jeopardy (Cosmopolitan Broadcasting Corporation v FCC, 1978).
As this ad is unquestionably and intentionally misleading, with the intention of deceiving your viewers, we ask that you immediately cease airing it on your station. An FEC complaint is being filed imminently on this issue.
…Adding… As you can see above, the ad is no longer available. But you can still watch it here.
…Adding… The disclaimer has been updated. From a Spokesperson for IL Future PAC…
It is no surprise that Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi would prefer voters not hear about Juliana’s proven record of delivering results for the people of Illinois. Nothing in the advertisement misrepresents that record.
What is misleading is the Congressman’s public criticism of ICE while accepting nearly $100,000 from ICE contractors and MAGA aligned Trump donors, once again putting his own interests ahead of Illinoisans. Rather than attempting to distract, his campaign should probably explain why he has taken this money and used it to be on television for five months with no movement in the polls. The disclaimer in the ad has been updated, and the advertisement will continue to run without interruption.
The new ad is here. Some really fast talking at the end to fit that disclaimer in.
…Adding… Raja for Illinois…
Juliana Stratton’s dark money super PAC — which hasn’t disclosed a single donor — was forced to take its ad off TV because it broke the law, misled Illinois voters, and they got caught. Team Stratton’s abject failure today comes just 60 days before Illinois voters go to the polls. WGN News said it best last week: ‘To see the Lieutenant Governor… struggling with minority groups, struggling with females, almost any demographic group that you would think would be a core Democratic constituency raised a lot of eyebrows about what her campaign has been doing for the last 6 months.’
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi continues to dominate the field in the Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate, moving above 40 percent in a recent survey1 of likely voters. Raja’s lead is wide and expanding, as we rapidly move towards early voting in the coming weeks. Raja currently wins 41 percent of the vote, far ahead of Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton (16 percent) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (15 percent), who are statistically tied for second place. Since August, Raja has increased his margin over Stratton by 5 points.
In addition to his overall strength, Raja’s coalition is quite broad and he currently leads in every region of the state and among White, Black, and Latino voters. He is winning particularly large shares of the vote among critical high turnout blocs of voters, including seniors (58 percent), voters in suburban Chicago (50 percent), and voters who have voted in all three of the most recent Democratic primaries (46 percent).
Results are taken from a survey of 900 likely voters in the March 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Illinois. Interviews were conducted by live dialers via telephone and through text-to-web responses between January 8-12, 2026. Results carry a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence interval.
* As you likely know, Bruce Leon has officially dropped out of the 9th CD race. Evanston Now…
Democratic Committeeman Bruce Leon, less than a week after saying he’d stay in the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary, is dropping out and endorsing Phil Andrew, a former FBI agent and hostage negotiator from Wilmette.
The decision, which comes in response to pressure from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee urging Leon to drop his bid, has been in the air for several weeks, according to people with knowledge of the endorsement, but was made official with Leon visiting Andrew’s campaign office in Skokie Tuesday afternoon.
The news was first reported Tuesday by the Chicago Tribune and confirmed by Andrew’s campaign manager, Dave Seman, who told Evanston Now that the campaign is “excited to accept support” from Leon, who brings with him significant connections in Chicago’s Orthodox Jewish community.
Leon said he filed paperwork Tuesday to officially remove his name from the March 17 primary ballot, something he’s technically still able to do despite last Thursday’s state-deadline to solidify the ballot at 17 Democratic candidates.
“We really see this as, like, a force multiplier,” Andrew said. “I’m new to politics, but I understand that it is a process of addition.” […]
Andrew, for his part, criticized the “outsized” influence of AIPAC in the race but said his campaign would “welcome support from all the different places that resources could come from, as long as they recognize we are moving forward on a shared vision for the future.”
Leon had dreamed of representing the Orthodox Jewish community in Congress, he said, but felt some relief at giving up the campaign this week.
“I feel better for the city of Chicago, the 9th District and the country if we can pull this off,” he said.
After U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) announced last year she would not run for reelection in 2026, and 16 Democrats joined one already running in the upcoming primary, the money from outsiders looking to get their candidate in office started pouring in. One quiet but major player in the race appears to be the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. […]
“We are not aware of, or interested in, any between outside groups and other campaigns,” [Sen. Laura Fine’s] spokesman Owen Kilmer said. “Sen. Fine’s sole focus is talking to voters about what’s keeping them up at night and her record standing up to special interests and the insurance companies that won’t hesitate to bankrupt families to pad their bottom line.”
A letter released by [9th CD candidate Kat Abughazaleh], reportedly authored by AIPAC, said, “She’s not just loud, she’s well-funded — Abughazaleh has already raised nearly $1,000,000, positioning her as the financial frontrunner in the early stages of this race. If we don’t act now, she could win,” it continued. “She poses a direct threat to our mission and the future of Israel’s security. Fortunately, we have a fighter of our own: Illinois State Senator Laura Fine.” […]
Abughazaleh’s video, along with other reports, also claim AIPAC hosted fundraising events for Fine in California. When asked if AIPAC held such fundraisers for Fine, Kilmer acknowledged that fundraisers in California took place. He said some people at those fundraisers were also affiliated with AIPAC, but said those events were not AIPAC fundraisers.
Abughazaleh's campaign is also taking a swipe at Fine's campaign this morning, calling Fine's Q4 haul "AIPAC network money." pic.twitter.com/S1tB51zo3O
* The Servant-Leader Fund, which says on its website that it “helps elect principled, Democratic next-generation veterans and national security professionals,” has spent $27,000 on mail backing Democrat Dan Tully, who is running for Raja Krishnamoorthi’s 8th Congressional District seat. The mailer…
* In the 2nd CD, Sen. Willie Preston has been endorsed by Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon…
Alleging violations of the U.S. Constitution and federal law during the chaotic and at times violent immigration crackdowns in Chicago and Minneapolis, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and roughly 70 Democratic colleagues on Wednesday moved to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, a largely symbolic move as Republicans maintain a narrow House majority.
Kelly, speaking at a Washington news conference, acknowledged the long odds of moving the articles of impeachment against Noem through the GOP-controlled House. But the seven-term congresswoman from south suburban Lynwood, who is running in Illinois’ March 17 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, said growing support for the effort and a groundswell of public opposition to the tactics of federal immigration agents, most recently the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis a week ago, will put pressure on Noem. […]
The first step toward removing Noem from office would be for the Republican-controlled House to approve the charges in the impeachment resolution, an unlikely scenario even after some GOP lawmakers have broken with party leadership and President Donald Trump recently on issues including the release of files on disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the extension of Affordable Care Act tax subsidies. The Republican-controlled Senate would then have to vote to convict Noem and remove her from office by a two-thirds majority vote. […]
Even among Kelly’s 13 fellow Democrats in Illinois’ 17-member congressional delegation, only eight had signed on as co-sponsors of the impeachment resolution as of Wednesday afternoon. Those who didn’t co-sponsor included the state’s two Latino members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Jesús “Chuy” García and Delia Ramirez, both of Chicago.
Among those co-sponsoring the resolution is Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, who is running against Kelly in the Democratic Senate primary.
* Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has been endorsed by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local Union No. 1. Press Release…
“BCTGM Local 1 is proud to endorse Juliana because she understands the challenges working families face every day. As union members, we know the value of fair wages, safe workplaces, and dignity on the job. Juliana shares our commitment to economic and social justice, and we’re confident she’ll be a strong voice for workers in our community.”
- President Don Woods
…Adding… US Rep. Eric Sorensen’s race has been upgraded…
* Press Release | Moms Fed Up PAC Endorses Mayra Macías for Congress in Illinois’s 4th District: Moms Fed Up PAC, a national organization empowering mothers to seek and hold political office and advocating for policies that enhance the lives of families across the nation, endorsed Mayra Macías for Illinois’s 4th Congressional District. Macías, a lifelong Democrat and Back of the Yards native, is running as an independent candidate to ensure residents have a choice at the ballot box this November. “We’re excited to endorse Mayra Macías for the U.S. House in IL04,” said Moms Fed Up PAC. “Mayra has dedicated her life to addressing the needs of families — from protecting immigrant communities to expanding economic opportunity. She’s the kind of leader we need in Congress.”
* Daily Herald | Biss takes on ICE in new congressional campaign commercial: In Illinois’ most-crowded congressional race, Democrat Daniel Biss has become the latest candidate to bring his message to TV sets across the 9th District. The 30-second spot, released Tuesday, is running on cable stations, streaming services and digital platforms. It also can be found on YouTube. The ad, dubbed “Biss vs. ICE,” focuses on Biss’ active resistance to federal immigration enforcement efforts in Evanston, where he’s mayor, and across the Chicago area. It mixes news footage with video of Biss speaking directly to viewers.
* USTL | Don Tracy Pledges To Support Congressional Term Limits: U.S. Term Limits (USTL), the leader in the non-partisan national movement to limit terms for elected officials, praises 2026 U.S. Senate candidate for Illinois, Don Tracy, for signing the pledge for an amendment to term limit Congress. Previously, candidate R. Cary Capparelli signed the pledge. U.S. Term Limits has the support of more than 150 pledge signers in Congress. USTL President Philip Blumel commented on Tracy’s and Capparelli’s pledges saying, “Don’s and R. Cary’s strong support of term limits shows that there are individuals who are willing to put self-interest aside to follow the will of the people. America needs a Congress that will be served by citizen legislators, not career politicians.”
* Press Release | Congressman Sorensen Joins Impeachment Effort Against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem: “As a Member of Congress, I take seriously my job to hold presidential administrations accountable,” said Congressman Sorensen. “Now is the time Congress must rein in the Trump Administration’s cruel attacks on immigrants and U.S. citizens. Secretary Noem is failing the American people by threatening, intimidating, and harassing my neighbors and I believe she must be removed from office.”
* NBC Chicago | Rep. Robin Kelly files articles of impeachment against Sec. Kristi Noem: She also accused Noem of violating public trust by “violating due process of American citizens,” and of self-dealing, alleging she had “abused her office for personal benefit and steered federal dollars to associates.” According to reporting by Pro Publica, Noem’s DHS steered ad dollars toward a consulting firm “with long-standing personal and business ties to Noem and her senior aides at DHS.”
* Daily Herald | Congressional candidates to meet in four forums: Finally, the 11th District GOP candidates will gather for a forum in Crystal Lake on Thursday, Jan. 22. The discussion is set for 6 p.m. at McHenry County College’s Luecht Auditorium, 8900 Northwest Highway. A meet-and-greet with the candidates is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by McHenry County GOPAC and the McHenry County Republican Party.
