* Let’s start with some oppo that’s been floating around. Back in December of 2008, an Illinois House Special Investigative Committee was created to investigate Gov. Rod Blagojevich to see if more reasons existed to impeach him. From that report…

Ms. Gold’s first negative interaction came when she worked at the Equal Employment Office (EEO) in Schaumburg, IL as a TM 6 (technical manager), monitoring minority contracts and employment at IDOT sites. While there, Gilbert Villegas, was also put into this office as a TM 4. While there, Villegas was part of an incident where other employees heard Villegas and other associates using racial charged expletives including the N word. This incident was brought to Ms. Gold’s attention who then reported it to the Civil Rights Office of IDOT. This was further investigated and Ms. Gold stated that Gilbert Villegas was told by a superior that if Villegas lied about the incident (so as to cover it up) he would get Ms. Gold’s position at EEO. Shortly after the incident and investigation, Ms. Gold was transferred to the Civil Rights Office and Gilbert Villegas was placed into her old job as a TM6. Ms. Gold further claimed that upon Villegas’ taking over of this position, minority contracts for African-Americans fell swiftly and specifically that 14 African-American businesses went out of business.

Cook County Commissioner Stan Moore issued a statement today defending Villegas…

Marine Veteran Gil Villegas is a man of character and integrity. I was Gil’s direct supervisor during his time at the Illinois Department of Transportation and I have known him for decades since. There is no circumstance where he would ever use the language of discrimination and I can categorically say with certainty it did not happen at the time in question. 

* Speaking of CD3…

Expenditures of about $2.8 million from outside groups are a big factor in the newly created 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary, where Ald. Gil Villegas (36th) and state Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, are the front-runners. […]

About $1 million was spent by outside groups to support Ramirez and some $565,000 to oppose Villegas.

About $800,000 was spent by outside groups to support Villegas and some $420,000 to oppose Ramirez.

* Republican US Senate candidate Bobby Piton’s “closing arguments”…

Closing Arguments from Bobby Piton on Vimeo.

* From a Tribune story about the state party’s pitch to hold an early primary…

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers and a member of the party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, told the Illinois delegation that “Chicago is a very interesting place” where there are “local issues that then get played out in the national campaign.”

She cited labor disputes between the CTU and Chicago mayors, adding that, “I would have hoped that it was simply restricted to Rahm (Emanuel) and the CTU but it seems to be a continuing oration in Chicago” under Lori Lightfoot.

“How do you ensure that this is about the presidential election as opposed to all these other issues,” Weingarten asked.

[Jake Lewis, the state party’s deputy director] didn’t directly address the question. Instead, he called the state “absolutely union proud” and said backing for the early primary date, as well as for a bid to get the party’s 2024 presidential nominating convention for Chicago, were backed by the state AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor.

“Illinois isn’t a state where unions are on the defensive trying to stop Republican encroachment or join the race to the bottom. We are proud. We are aggressive,” he said. “Nobody knows better than you in this room the power unions have in Illinois and Chicago and we feel like Chicago is the capital of the Midwest and that what happens in Chicago, what happens in Illinois, radiates out to other states in the Midwest.”

As much as I despise much of the national political press, I gotta admit that watching presidential candidates navigate state, city and county politics would be hilarious.

* You can learn a lot at the doors. I was chatting with a legislator’s campaign manager earlier this month who looked incredulous when I asked if she had walked any precincts. “I’m the campaign manager,” I was told with an eyeroll. Well, yeah, but if you want to learn something about what actual human beings are thinking, go knock on some doors…

Democratic primary voters in southwest Lake County have a choice between two candidates for their party’s nomination to the Illinois House of Representatives who have one thing in common — they say they are willing to work hard to get the job.

Chelsea Laliberte Barnes of Palatine and Nabeela Syed of Inverness have walked throughout the district since they decided to seek a seat in the General Assembly knocking on more than 10,000 doors each. They say they learned a lot and met many potential constituents.

Syed and Barnes are running for the Democratic nomination in the 51st District in Tuesday’s primary for the opportunity to oppose one-term incumbent Chris Bos, R-Lake Zurich, in the Nov. 8 general election. Bos is unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Both candidates learned from potential voters the economy was at the top of the peoples’ minds while campaigning. Though there are other issues — like gun violence and health care — inflation, jobs and taxes were always close to the top of the list.

* Politico…

— Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez — AOC — just announced she’s endorsing Delia Ramirez in the newly drawn 3rd congressional district.

— Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller has been endorsed by state Rep. Dan Caulkins in her reelection bid against Congressman Rodney Davis.

— Steve Kim, a GOP attorney general candidate, has been endorsed by Dan Rutherford, a former state Treasurer who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2014. Kim was his lieutenant governor running mate.

* More…

* Rep. Underwood’s fundraising again tops Republican hopefuls’ in 14th District

* Opponents Criticize Jonathan Jackson’s Crypto Campaign Donations

* In primary races for Cook County Board, a new map and 3 retiring commissioners boost competition