* Click here for some background. Comptroller Susana Mendoza held a press conference this morning to “announce her plans for the 2026 election.” WTTW…
Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Wednesday she will not run for reelection as Illinois comptroller as she weighs 2027 bid for Chicago mayor.
Mendoza’s decision not to seek a fourth term as the state’s chief fiscal control officer is likely to set off an intense race for a coveted statewide office and signals the start of the 2027 mayoral election cycle, even though the election is 587 days away.
* In her remarks, Mendoza kept her plans for the future vague…
Mendoza: Well, moving forward, I’m going to figure out what the right move is for our family, for our city, for our state. To find out where I’m needed most, that next biggest challenge that I need to take on. Because no challenge is too big as far as I’m concerned. And when I decide what that is, then you better believe I’ll be all in. Because I’ll be the best person, the right person for the job.
So stay tuned.
* Mendoza was pressed on whether she’ll run for Mayor of Chicago…
Mendoza: I’m definitely leaving the door open. But I am definitely going to take some time to figure out what that next big, huge challenge is for me. I want to go on—I think I’m going to do, like, a thank you tour. A thank you tour and a listening tour, [to] hear directly from people, meet with them—taxpayers, everywhere—whether it’s to their homes or in some cafes or with business leaders. But really pick their brains on what they think they need, and how I, in my role and the experience that I’ve had over 24 years now in public service… where am I gonna have the biggest impact? And once I figure that out, like I said, you know, I’ll be all in for that. I’ll be the person to get the job done.
Still, Mendoza did not shy away from criticizing Johnson’s administration of the city.
“Chicago is in dire need of competency, of someone who understands the needs of the city, and who understands how critical it is to the functioning of the whole state. We’ve had two unsuccessful mayors in a row. Chicago deserves better,” she said.
She described Chicago as the “state’s economic engine,” and that the state of Illinois “can’t be successful when the city of Chicago is failing.”
* NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern has the latest fundraising numbers for potential mayoral candidates…
NEW $$ for several potential Chicago ‘27 Mayor candidates:
If Mendoza were to opt out of running, two other possible Comptroller candidates are ready to seek that job. Party leaders tell NBC 5’s Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern that Illinois State Rep. Margaret Croke and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim are interested in running for comptroller, and will attend the Friday slate making event.
…Adding… Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim…
With Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza not seeking re-election, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim is actively exploring a campaign to succeed her—bringing both executive experience and a bold vision for statewide fiscal leadership.
“Susana Mendoza raised the bar for transparency and accountability, and I intend to build on that legacy,” Kim said. “Illinois needs a Comptroller who knows how to manage public dollars responsibly and who is not afraid to challenge the status quo to get results.”
Holly Kim is currently serving her second term as Lake County Treasurer and is the only prospective candidate with hands-on executive experience managing public funds. Under her leadership, the Treasurer’s office has modernized systems, strengthened transparency, and implemented innovative, community-focused investment strategies.
Kim also serves as Chair of the Asian American Caucus and is a leading voice for equity and inclusion in Illinois politics. Should Kim enter and win the race, she would make history as the first Asian American to hold a constitutional office in the state’s history.
“Representation matters—especially in statewide leadership,” said Kim. “But this is about more than breaking barriers. It’s about putting proven executive experience and a people-first approach at the heart of our state’s financial decisions. I’m ready to do the work.”
Kim will be presenting in front of the Cook County Democratic Party on Friday, July 18th during the Statewide Committee at 9AM at IBEW Hall, 2722 S. King Drive. Kim is expected to announce her decision in the coming weeks.
…Adding… Representative Margaret Croke…
“I want to thank Comptroller Mendoza for her years of service to the state of Illinois, shepherding us through tough fiscal times as an extreme Republican governor held our state budget hostage. As Governor Pritzker and Illinois Democrats worked to shore up our Rainy Day Fund and pay off our bill backlog, Comptroller Mendoza set an example for responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I’m grateful for her leadership and the strong path she has charted in the Comptroller’s Office. With chaos unfolding at the national level, Illinoisans need steady state leadership and deserve a Comptroller who is prepared to lead with transparency, efficiency, and integrity.”
I’ve been told Croke plans to attend slating and will make a more formal announcement next week.
* WTTW | State Comptroller Susana Mendoza Says She Won’t Run for Reelection, Setting Up 2027 Chicago Mayoral Bid: Mendoza had already launched a bid for a third term as comptroller when Emanuel announced he would not run for reelection in 2019, setting off a massive scramble. Mendoza finished fifth, winning just 9% of the vote, trailing former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley and businessman Willie Wilson in the first round of voting. Mendoza’s campaign was hobbled by her connection to now-convicted former Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward). Burke supported Mendoza’s election as city clerk, and she often referred to his wife, former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, as her “mentor.”
* Fox Chicago | Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she won’t seek re-election: Mendoza, 53, made the announcement Wednesday at Los Comales restaurant in Little Village. Mendoza has served as state comptroller since 2016. “I know I leave the comptroller’s office in our state in a much, much better spot and I’m definitely not done serving moving forward,” Mendoza said.
* Add one more to the 9th Congressional District’s growing roster. The Daily Northwestern…
After three different careers in public education, the U.S. Department of Justice and Microsoft, Evanston resident Nick Pyati launched his bid for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District on Wednesday morning, marking him as the latest candidate in a rapidly-expanding primary of more than a dozen Democrats.
The 42-year-old launched his campaign with a YouTube video just over a minute long, in which he called for a “stronger, fairer and freer America,” and said he is “done waiting” for establishment Democrats to “create a plan to win” in the wake of President Donald Trump’s second presidential victory in November 2024.
Pyati’s campaign launch and his filing with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday night follow campaign announcements from State Sen. Mike Simmons (7th District) and former FBI agent Phil Andrew last week. […]
Though Pyati said the top concern for Democrats in the district is to “end the Trump era,” he added that he hopes to support progressive initiatives like expanding health care and an energy transition through economic innovation and growth — a topic he says has “totally fallen off the radar” for the party.
In an early weigh-in for those running to represent Evanston and other Illinois communities in Congress, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss recorded the highest fundraising figures among Democratic candidates while falling just shy of having the most cash on hand to outside challenger Kat Abughazaleh. […]
Evanston’s mayor broke away in fundraising this quarter, recording just shy of $703,000 in contributions over the 47 days after he announced his bid on May 15. In a preliminary news release sent July 7, Biss wrote that the “outpouring of grassroots support we’ve seen so far has been truly humbling.”
Out of the $672,539.95 Biss received from itemized contributions, $196,000 came from donors who maxed out at $7,000 across one or more donations, the combined individual limit for a single election cycle between the primary and general.
Evanston residents pitched in $264,505, and another $346,014.95 came from donors elsewhere in Illinois. Several large-dollar supporters carried over from the mayor’s reelection campaign, during which he spent nearly three times as much as challenger Jeff Boarini in the final three months before Election Day on April 1.
As for spending, Biss recorded $57,500.58 in expenses, concentrated in salaries for campaign staff and processing fees for donations received through fundraising platform ActBlue. The low spending leaves him with about $645,474.41 on-hand entering the back half of 2025 — just shy of the race’s continuing leader.
* Kat Abughazaleh raised nearly $526,000 in the second quarter. But she’s lagging behind Biss in in-state support…
Despite being one of the first candidates to announce her bid for Congress in early May, just one day after Schakowsky’s retirement announcement, State Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview appears to have gotten a slower start to fundraising than her top competitors.
Records show the 58-year-old state senator raised about $262,000 in the two months since announcing, far less than Abughazaleh and Biss in the same period, including $14,000 of which came from her and her husband, Michael Fine.
Fine’s slow fundraising start leaves her with about $237,000 in cash, a full $100,000 less than what remains in her own campaign account for state senate. […]
Bushra Amiwala, the Skokie School District 73.5 board member, raised just under $200,000, records show, placing her not far behind Fine in early fundraising.
* Biss also picked up an endorsement from Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Tribune…
Evanston Mayor and former state legislator Daniel Biss’ progressive credentials got a boost Wednesday with an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in Illinois’ increasingly crowded 9th Congressional District Democratic primary race.
Warren, a three-term senator from Massachusetts and briefly a front-runner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, announced she was backing Biss in a statement shared with the Tribune in which she praised the two-term mayor as “a relentless fighter for working people who can help deliver the structural change our country needs right now.” […]
Biss, who campaigned for Warren in Iowa ahead of the 2020 caucuses alongside Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs and then-Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, in a statement called her “an inspiration to me and so many others as one of the most effective, boldest progressive leaders in our nation.” He said he was “honored to have her backing in this race.” […]
Biss, who just won a second term as mayor in Evanston in April, also has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove and several current and former state lawmakers, including Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago and Rep. Marty Beth Canty and Sen. Mark Walker, both of Arlington Heights, all of whom represent portions of the 9th District.
* Moving on to the 2nd Congressional District. Sun-Times…
Former Illinois U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is exploring a comeback bid to congress in his old south suburban district, as U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly sets her sights on outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat.
The Friends of Jesse Jackson Jr. for Congress 2026 Exploratory Committee filed a statement of organization on Sunday with the Federal Election Commission. Jackson’s bid is another product of a game of political musical chairs that was put in motion when Durbin in April announced he wouldn’t seek reelection.
“As part of the Jesse Jackson Jr. for Congress 2026 Exploratory effort, it is my intention to secure a place on the ballot by authorizing the circulation and collection of 10,000 signatures for nominating petitions, commencing on August 5th, and to register 5,000 new voters in the Second Congressional District,” Jackson said in a statement. […]
Six Democrats are already vying for the 2nd Congressional District, including State Sen. Robert Peters, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Yumeka Brown, businessman Eric France, policy strategist Adal Regis and youth pastor and advocate Jeremy Young. The district stretches from the South Side to the south suburbs and also extends south into portions of central Illinois.
* A quick look at fundraising in the race for Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat, via the Pantagraph’s Brenden Moore…
* Juliana Stratton’s US Senate campaign announced more endorsements this morning…
26 State Representatives from across Illinois are endorsing Juliana Stratton for United States Senate. Following endorsements earlier this week by House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and 10 State Senators from across Illinois, these representatives join a growing coalition of Illinoisans who know Juliana’s voice is needed in Washington. […]
The full list of State Representatives endorsing Juliana is below:
Speaker Pro Tempore Kam Buckner, State Representative, 26th District
Representative Mary Beth Canty, State Representative, 54th District
Representative Kelly M. Cassidy, State Representative, 14th District
Representative Terra Costa Howard, State Representative, 42nd District
Representative Michael Crawford, State Representative, 31st District
Representative Margaret Croke, State Representative, 12th District
Representative Daniel Didech, State Representative, 59th District
Representative Kimberly du Buclet, State Representative, 5th District
Assistant Majority Leader Marcus C. Evans, Jr., State Representative, 33rd District
Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, State Representative, 18th District
Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, State Representative, 17th District
Representative Nicolle Grasse, State Representative, 53rd District
Representative Sonya M. Harper, State Representative, 6th District
Representative Barbara Hernandez, State Representative, 50th District
Representative Norma Hernandez, State Representative, 77th District
Representative Tracy Katz Muhl, State Representative, 57th District
Assistant Majority Leader Camille Y. Lilly, State Representative, 78th District
Representative Joyce Mason, State Representative, 61st District
Representative Rita Mayfield, State Representative, 60th District
Representative Anna Moeller, State Representative, 43rd District
Assistant Majority Leader Bob Morgan, State Representative, 58th District
Representative Yolonda Morris, State Representative, 9th District
Representative Justin Slaughter, State Representative, 27th District
Majority Officer and Sergeant at Arms Nicholas K. Smith, State Representative, 34th District
Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, State Representative, 7th District
Assistant Majority Leader Maurice A. West, II, State Representative, 67th District
…Adding… From the Junaid Ahmed campaign…
With the filing deadline now passed, I wanted to update you on Junaid Ahmed’s status in the race for the Democratic nomination for the 8th Congressional District.
In less than a month, Junaid raised nearly $350,000.
Junaid’s campaign is people-powered, with donations coming from the community, not corporate PACs or self-funding.
He’s raised the most money from individual donors this quarter.
Just to recap:
Junaid has already secured the endorsement of progressive powerhouse Congressman Ro Khanna.
He enters the race with considerable name ID thanks to his previous run against a well-funded incumbent, where he secured 30% of the vote.
Had the highest individual donor fundraising this quarter.
* More…
* Evanston Now | Former prosecutor joins congressional race: Pyati called his now-opponents “great progressives” with “very inspiring life stories,” but said he didn’t “see the leadership we need … to actually get us out of this era [of Trump].”
* Evanston Roundtable | Evanstonian Nick Pyati jumps in race to succeed Schakowsky: “Since November, I’ve been extremely disappointed and dismayed by what’s happening in the country as the Trump administration blazes a path through all of our democratic norms and basic freedoms,” Pyati said in an interview with the RoundTable. “I’ve been disappointed in the Democratic Party’s inability to find a vision or a plan forward for ending this mess.”
After 17 years as a state representative for Illinois’ 8th district, La Shawn Ford said on July 15 that he won’t be running for reelection come November 2026.
The announcement comes nearly two months after Ford filed with the Federal Elections Commission on May 21 to run for United States Congress in Illinois’ 7th district, a position held by Danny Davis since 1997. Ford said that, if Davis runs next November, he won’t run against him and instead plans to retire from politics.
“Once I filed those papers that I was considering running for Congress, I knew at that time I would not run for reelection as state representative,” Ford told Growing Community Media. […]
“It’s only fair that I am able to give full notice before the process starts of circulating petitions so that, if there are people who are interested in running, they have that information,” Ford said. He added that those interested in running for state representative of the 8th district should contact his office for an opportunity to receive some mentorship from Ford.
Attorneys for former House Speaker Michael Madigan have formally asked that he remain free on bond pending appeal of his conviction on sweeping corruption charges, arguing in a filing Monday night he’s not a flight risk and that there are complex legal issues which, if resolved in his favor, will require a new trial.
Madigan, 83, was sentenced last month to 7 1/2 years in prison and ordered to report by Oct. 13. But in their 21-page motion, Madigan’s attorneys signaled they will file a vigorous appeal, and argued he should not spend time behind bars until after it is resolved — which could take a year or more.
Such requests are fairly common in white collar cases where there were significant legal issues, which Madigan’s case certainly contained. But convincing a judge who sentenced a defendant to prison that they should remain free can be challenging, particularly when the same judge already ruled before or during the trial on the issues being raised.
Madigan’s defense team acknowledged that U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey already “resolved the issues discussed” in their motion, but said “few areas of criminal law are more complex, and more rapidly evolving, than federal bribery law.”
* Patrick Daley Thompson makes an appearance at City Hall…
The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Illinois Supreme Court shows Daley Thompson is licensed to practice law, having served a 3-year suspension starting in March 2022. He was convicted of 5 counts of income tax fraud and 2 counts of lying to federal agents https://t.co/5xeU9LfQ4i
* Former state Senator Richard Guidice has passed away…
Richard J. Guidice, 85, passed away peacefully at home on July 12, 2025, surrounded by his family. Born on April 29, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Richard was the son of the late Roger and the late Susan (nee Comiano) Guidice. […]
Born, raised, and lived in Chicago (most recently resided in Arlington Heights) he attended Chopin Grammar School, Austin High School, DePaul University and DePaul University College of Law. He was a Member of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity, Beta Mu Chapter.
In his early career as an attorney, he established a general law practice and was appointed to fulfill a term as a Senator in the State of Illinois Legislature. It was there that Senator Guidice discovered his passion for governmental law. He became a lobbyist for the Chicago Board of Education Governmental Relations Department and in subsequent years, he was a founding partner of Capitol Consulting Group Illinois LLC, representing associations, agencies and businesses with varied interests in the State of Illinois. He retired at the age of 80. […]
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 18, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL.
Family and friends will meet on Saturday, July 19, at Queen of All Saints Basilica, 6280 N Sauganash Ave, Chicago, IL, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in River Grove, IL.
*** Statewide ***
* Daily Herald | Why the races to succeed Krishnamoorthi, Schakowsky in Congress are packed: Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, said the departure of an incumbent almost always increases the number of primary candidates. But in addition to that, Illinois is experiencing a weakening of party organizations that historically have limited competition by slating candidates and enforcing party loyalty. “This encourages individuals to try to take advantage of opportunities to run in races where incumbency is not a factor,” Redfield said. “Social media also facilitates both communication and fundraising outside of the traditional political party network.”
*** Statehouse News ***
* Advantage News | Measure raising minimum detainment age in Illinois remains in committee: Juvenile Justice Initiative Founder Elizabeth Clarke says minimum detainment age legislation in Illinois could prove to be a critical early step in the fight to steer more minors on the right course. But the bill remains in committee. Billing it as a measure that gives young people a fairer chance by working to prevent early criminalization, the Illinois House advanced Senate Bill 2418 by a 73-41 vote before legislators adjourned spring session. The Senate didn’t take the bill up on concurrence, and it remains in a Senate committee.
* South Side Weekly | June 4 Calls Show CPD Knew Federal Immigration Agents Were Asking for Help: “I am calling from a program that is contracted through ICE, and we are seeing people here for visits, but I have a crowd of protesters that are on private property,” the caller said. She told the dispatcher that twenty to thirty protesters were outside the facility, blocking its entrances. “It’s a program called ISAP; we are contracted with ICE,” the caller said. The dispatcher asked if any in the crowd had weapons. “No, no, it looks like they’re peaceful, just screaming and yelling, but they’re blocking—we can’t get in, we can’t get out. I need to be able to have all my participants coming into the [ISAP] program and not feel, not feel intimidated.”
* Block Club | Traffic Spillover From Kennedy Construction Has Been A ‘Nightmare’ This Year. Can Anything Be Done?: Officials with the Illinois Department of Transportation — which is overseeing the construction project — and the Chicago Department of Transportation said they are working together to improve signal timings, add signs and assess traffic-calming measures to alleviate neighborhood congestion. That includes adding “No Thru Traffic” signs in certain residential areas, with more to be installed this week to prohibit truck drivers from using the Keeler Avenue/Irving Park Road exit ramp. But the problems persist, and neighbors have been left wondering if there’s any possible solution or even partial fix — or if they’ll just have to accept the traffic snarls until construction wraps up.
* Block Club | Rush Medical Center Rolls Back Gender-Affirming Care For Minors: Rush has ended its puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy treatments for new patients under 18, making it the latest local hospital to curb gender-affirming care for minors amid ongoing threats from the Trump administration.
* Crain’s | Granny flats plan moves forward — but aldermanic control is the real sticking point: The Zoning Committee advanced the amended ordinance in a 13 to 7 vote, but approval in the full City Council is far from certain. A vote is likely to be delayed further if opponents use a parliamentary maneuver to block consideration of the measure when it comes up for a vote tomorrow. Supporters argue the new housing, which would come in the form of coach houses and conversions of basements or attics, is needed to chip away at an estimated 120,000-unit shortage of affordable housing in the city. […] But opponents say the policy is a direct attack on the City Council’s long-standing tradition of deferring to local aldermen on zoning policy in their wards.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Oak Park Journal | Nurses escorted out of West Sub amid Family Birthplace closure : The afternoon of July 3, six staff members in the middle of their shifts at West Suburban Medical Center’s Family Birthplace were escorted out of the hospital by security, according to multiple sources who work on the floor that consists of the labor and delivery, postpartum and nursery units. West Suburban staff said they were told the three units would be closed indefinitely, and they would be suspended without pay, because of a shortage of nurses. But timesheets shared with Wednesday Journal show nurses were fully staffed on Thursday, July 3 and through that weekend.
* Daily Herald | Mount Prospect mulling ban on unregulated THC products, Kratom and Tianeptine: The proposed measure, which will be discussed at Tuesday’s village board meeting, comes in response to what village officials describe as a “rapid increase” in the sale of such products in local stores. If approved, the ordinance would prohibit the sale and possession of “illicit THC products,” including Delta-8, as well as such psychoactive substances as Kratom and Tianeptine. There would be a 90-day grace period for retailers to sell or safely dispose of their current inventory to those aged 21 and above.
* Daily Southtown | Lifelong resident Bart Holzhauser sworn in as Homer Glen village trustee: Holzhauser said there are a lot of issues to tackle, including preserving the village’s motto of community and nature in harmony, fighting against the expansion of 143rd Street and standing up for residents who have long complained about high water bills and customer service from Illinois American Water. He said ensuring residents are not victims of price gouging on their water bills is one of the top challenges, adding some residents have bills that are unaffordable.
* Crain’s | Downtown Wheaton apartment development lands $124M in financing: Chicago-based Banner Real Estate Group has secured an $84 million construction loan from PNC Bank and about $40 million in joint venture equity from a blue-chip insurance company to develop The Faywell, a seven-story, 334-unit rental building, according to brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle, which worked with Banner to secure the debt and equity. Banner’s project will capitalize on strong demand for apartments in the Chicago suburbs, which is boosted by people staying in the renter pool for longer as they put off home ownership due to high borrowing costs and economic uncertainty. The median net rent in the suburbs was $2.14 per square foot in the first quarter of 2025, up 4% from the same time frame in 2024, according to data from Integra Realty Resources.
* Daily Herald | Chaperone policy to be reinstated at Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor Chicago: A chaperone policy is being reactivated beginning Thursday at Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor in Gurnee. Visitors 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or adult chaperone who is at least 21 years old to enter or remain in the park, the company announced on its Instagram account. The policy will be in effect all day Thursday through Sunday. On all days following, it will begin at 5 p.m. until the park closes. It applies to all park guests including single-day ticket and season pass holders and members.
* BND | How will Trump administration’s $6B school funding freeze impact Belleville?: This $219 million, which were allocated for the coming school year, are composed of five core programs, Illinois State Board of Education spokesperson Jackie Matthews explained. […] Instead, the U.S. Department of Education notified states on June 30 that it is “reviewing” this previously promised funding.
* WSIL | New Era for SIU Housing: Old Dorms Out, Saluki Village In: The demolition will make room for “Saluki Village,” a multi-million dollar project in partnership with the SIU Foundation. The future village draft plans to offer 898 new beds, a community building, and four to five houses designated for special interest housing, particularly fraternities and sororities.
* WCIA | Mattoon’s Lytle Pool reopens after closing for toxic water: “Amazing. I mean, this pool is really just a gem for Mattoon, and the fact that we’ve had hiccup after hiccup last year with a whole motor breaking, as well as this year following into now this pool being shut down for a few days,” said head lifeguard Ethan Schmohe. “Our biggest goal is just to make sure that we don’t have to close any more this season. And the fact that we’re back and we’re up and running — I’m ecstatic to see it.”
* WCIA | Iroquois County Fair kicks off: Other headlining activities throughout the week include a tractor pull on Wednesday, demolition derby on Thursday, a rodeo on Friday and a country music concert on Saturday, featuring Chris Cagle and Craig Campbell. Many more activities will take place each day.
* WCIA | U of I getting $3M from state for tech incubator project: In Central Illinois, $3 million is going to EnterpriseWorks 2.0 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Their project is a new construction building in Research Park for startup companies with an emphasis on laboratory and manufacturing commercial spaces for scaling companies. This would grow the capacity and capabilities of the existing EnterpriseWorks incubator.
*** National ***
* The Hollywood Reporter | Broadcast Falls Below 20 Percent of TV Use for the First Time: TV use across all platforms grew by 3 percent in June compared to a month earlier, with increases among kids and teenagers driving most of that increase as summer breaks from school kicked in. People ages 6-17 spent 27 percent more time on TV screens in June than they did in May, with streaming accounting for two thirds of their viewing. Accordingly, streaming set another monthly high with 46 percent of all use and beat the combined total for broadcast (18.5 percent) and cable (23.4 percent) for a second straight month.
* AP | A lockout is looming over MLB in December 2026, with a salary cap fight possibly at the center: “No one’s talking about it, but we all know that they’re going to lock us out for it, and then we’re going to miss time,” New York Mets All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso said Monday at the All-Star Game. “We’re definitely going to fight to not have a salary cap and the league’s obviously not going to like that.” Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and some owners have cited payroll disparity as a problem, while at the same time MLB is working to address a revenue decline from regional sports networks. Unlike the NFL, NBA and NHL, baseball has never had a salary cap because its players staunchly oppose one.
* The Guardian | Irish tourist jailed by Ice for months after overstaying US visit by three days: ‘Nobody is safe’: He had planned to return to Ireland in December, but was briefly unable to fly due to a health issue, his medical records show. He was only three days overdue to leave the US when an encounter with police landed him in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) custody. From there, what should have been a minor incident became a nightmarish ordeal: he was detained by Ice in three different facilities, ultimately spending roughly 100 days behind bars with little understanding of why he was being held – or when he’d get out.
* BBC | WeTransfer says files not used to train AI after backlash: The file sharing company had received lots of criticism from customers on social media after changing its terms of service, which some interpreted as allowing it the right to use files for AI training. A WeTransfer spokeswoman told BBC News: “We don’t use machine learning or any form of AI to process content shared via WeTransfer, nor do we sell content or data to any third parties.” The firm has now updated its terms, saying it has “made the language easier to understand” to avoid confusion.
State Rep. Margaret Croke is readying a run for state comptroller should Mendoza bow out. Croke has been nudged by donors and some elected officials who want to make sure there’s a woman in one of the statewide seats, according to a person familiar with Croke’s moves. Croke served in the Pritzker administration as a deputy chief of staff at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. She was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2020.
As I told you back in May, Comptroller Susana Mendoza has committed to running for either reelection or Chicago mayor, but not both.
I would expect others to jump in if Mendoza doesn’t run again. Just to pull a name out of a hat, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim would be an interesting candidate.
As Cook County Democrats prepare to gather later this week to endorse candidates for the 2026 primary election, there is growing speculation Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza will skip running for reelection so she can mount a possible 2027 bid for Chicago mayor.
Several Democratic sources said Mendoza has told them she will not run for a fourth term as the state’s chief fiscal control officer, an office she won in a special mid-term election in 2016. The sources requested confidentiality to avoid jeopardizing their relationships within the state Democratic Party.
In addition, Mendoza did not meet last week’s deadline set by Cook County Democratic Party officials to confirm an appearance at this Friday’s county slating to formally seek the endorsements of Democratic city ward and suburban township committeepeople. […]
“Comptroller Mendoza is weighing her options, including re-election,” Mendoza spokesman Abdon Pallasch said in a statement.
“She loves her job and is committed to public service. She will make her decision based on what is best for Illinois, Chicago and her family, but she will not run for two offices at the same time,” he said. “Whatever she decides to run for, she’ll be all in.”
* Speaking of this week’s slating…
10 State Senators from across Illinois are endorsing Juliana Stratton for United States Senate. The group represents communities from Chicago to Elgin to the Metro East and signifies the growing groundswell of support behind Juliana’s campaign, coming just one day after she was endorsed by Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch and Democrats from across Proviso Township.
“I’ve known Juliana for a long time – and I’ve stood side by side with her in the trenches. She’s a fighter who spends every day thinking about how she can deliver for every single Illinoisan,” said State Senator Cristina Castro. “Juliana leads with compassion, and that compassion makes her a fierce advocate for working families. I know she’ll spend every waking moment in the United States Senate fighting on behalf of my community and communities all across our state.”
“I’m proud to endorse Juliana Stratton for U.S. Senate. Juliana has represented the whole state as Lieutenant Governor, and knows the issues facing all of our communities,” said State Senator Doris Turner. “I’m looking forward to continuing the work with Juliana as our next Senator.” […]
The full list of State Senators endorsing Juliana is below:
• Senator Christopher Belt, 57th District
• Majority Caucus Whip Cristina Castro, State Senator, 22nd District
• Senator Lakesia Collins, State Senator, 5th District
• Senator Mary Edly-Allen, State Senator, 31st District
• Senator Laura Ellman, State Senator, 21st District
• Assistant Majority Leader Mattie Hunter, State Senator, 3rd District
• Senator Adriane Johnson, State Senator, 30th District
• Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, State Senator, 4th District
• Majority Caucus Whip Julie A. Morrison, State Senator, 29th District
• Senator Doris Turner, State Senator, 48th District
Majority Leader Lightford endorsed Stratton at Speaker Welch’s event yesterday.
* The 47th Ward Dems are going with Biss in CD9…
Today, the 47th Ward Democrats announced its endorsement of Daniel Biss for Congress in Illinois’ 9th District. The 47th Ward has consistently posted the highest voter turnout of any ward in Chicago, including in the 2024 primary and general elections.
“Daniel impressed the 47th Ward Democrats’ endorsement committee and our entire membership by demonstrating that he is ready not only to fight for working people, but also to build coalitions and actually win,” said 47th Ward Democratic Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld. “We need big, bold ideas to tackle climate change, invest in transit and infrastructure, support our schools, lower prices for essentials, and deliver for our residents. Daniel is the best person for the job, and we proudly endorse him in the upcoming primary election.”
“The 47th Ward has consistently been one of the most civically engaged communities in Chicago, pushing for change at every level of government,” said Daniel Biss. “This district needs a representative in Washington who is ready to take on Donald Trump and his allies and finally put government back on the side of the people. I’m proud of the movement we’re building, and I’m grateful to have the support of the 47th Ward Democrats.”
Since launching his campaign in May, Biss has raised more than $700,000 and has been endorsed by Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (14th District), State Rep. Mary Beth Canty (54th District), State Rep. Sharon Chung (91st District), State Rep. Nicolle Grasse (53rd District), Retired State Sen. Heather Steans (7th District), and State Sen. Mark Walker (27th District). He has also earned the endorsement of 314 Action as well as dozens of current and former elected local leaders across the Chicagoland area.
Ted Dabrowski and Aaron Del Mar are testing the waters [for governor], speaking with GOP insiders and potential donors about mounting campaigns. They would face DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, who’s already jumped in, and Joseph Severino who’s posted in social media that he’s running, too. […]
Del Mar is recognized in party circles across the state as he’s a former co-chair of the Illinois GOP and current Cook County Republican chair who ran as lieutenant governor alongside Gary Rabine in 2022.
Dabrowski is president of Wirepoints Corp., the conservative-leaning media company. While he lacks campaign experience, he’s a former banking executive and policy wonk whose fiscal message could resonate at a time of economic uncertainty. […]
Along with the money challenge, messaging will be an issue for GOP candidates as Pritzker and his Democratic Party will blame Republicans and President Donald Trump for the megabill that’s giving tax breaks to the wealthy and cutting Medicaid and food assistance programs.
“Conservative-leaning media company.” I guess that’s one way to describe it.
I told subscribers about Dabrowski a while ago and the Del Mar thing is already common knowledge.
Usually, folks like that would be encouraged to run down-ballot, but the party appears to have no marquee candidates waiting in the wings. And we still have no word on Republican down-ballot statewide hopefuls.
SHABNAM DANESH: I want to move on to the Senate primary. You’re running to replace, of course, retiring Senator Dick Durbin. He held the seat for more than 40 years. Big shoes to fill. Why do you believe you’re the right person to follow his footsteps?
ROBIN KELLY: I’m the only person in this race thus far that has worked effectively on every level of government, from local to state to county, and now the federal government. For 12.5 years. My district is urban, suburban and rural. I start in Chicago. I go south of Danville, west of Pontiac. I’m the only one in the race is federally represents, you know, a district like that. I feel like I have Illinois in my district, and I know that I’ve gotten stuff done. I mean, that’s the bottom line. Legislation passed, programs put in place, and great constituents services, thanks to my very wonderful staff.
[Krishnamoorthi] said one of his priorities if elected to the Senate would be to expand a 2018 law he sponsored that modernized and increased funding for career and technical education. He’s now calling for doubling funding for the program, arguing it is vital to growing middle class jobs and ensuring American businesses can hire workers with the right skills.
Is it just me or do all three of these US Senate candidates appear to be taking very safe, even boring paths?
[I had to make some edits of this post, but I have a Zoom in a few minutes and don’t have time to explain until later.]
