* Evanston Now…

An early poll of likely Democratic voters in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District shows a three-way race emerging among Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, progressive journalist Kat Abughazaleh and State Sen. Laura Fine.

The internal poll was conducted by MDW Communications between June 12 and 15 for Abughazaleh’s campaign and was released Monday, first shared with Evanston Now.

MDW Communications is a Florida-based “full-service marketing agency specializing in digital and direct mail.” They don’t have a pollster on staff, and they do not advertise polling services on their website.

Color me skeptical. Also, this is from May…

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is showcasing a new internal poll that went into the field following his arrest outside an immigration detention facility that puts him within four percentage points of the leading candidate in the race for Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair). […]

The poll was conducted on May 11-13 by MDW Communications, a Democratic firm, with a sample size of 1,100 and a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

Um, Baraka lost to Sherrill by 13 points a few weeks later.

Oops.

* So, with all that in mind…

“The poll was conducted via text message by MDW Communications from June 12-15, with a margin of error of +/- 3% and sample size of 899 likely Democratic voters. Numbers are rounded.”

I’ve never heard anyone speculate that Sen. Ram Villivalam is running for Congress. Also, who is Jim Andrew?

* Back to the story…

In a statement, Abughazaleh’s campaign manager, Sam Weinberg, said the poll “shows we have a real path to victory,” noting that “it won’t be easy … We know we’re the underdogs in this race.”

George Lundgren, Daniel Biss’ campaign manager, said, “while it’s nice to see confirmation that Daniel is the front runner in this race, there is a long way to go before voters have their final say.”

* The Evanston Round Table has a good wrap-up of a recent candidate forum in that district. Click here to check it out.

* In other news, 8th Congressional District Democratic candidate Dan Tully released a pretty good announcement video. Have a look…

* Last week…

The Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee (CBCPAC) today endorsed Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate. The CBCPAC supports candidates for Congress that will promote progress for Black Americans.

“We’re excited to continue to grow our representation in the Senate with one of our own,” CBCPAC Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks said. “Robin Kelly has delivered for the people of Illinois and she will soar in the Senate. She is a fierce advocate on gun violence prevention, maternal health and health care as a basic right. Robin Kelly is a trusted, proven and dedicated leader, and we are proud to endorse her for the U.S. Senate.”

“It is an honor to be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and I thank the CBCPAC for this meaningful endorsement,” Kelly said. “I have lived my values as a congresswoman from Illinois’s 2nd District and I am committed to continue serving the people of Illinois with compassion and integrity in the U.S. Senate.”

Today’s endorsement of Robin Kelly for the U.S. Senate adds to other endorsements from members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

* More…

* Evanston Roundtable | City government 101: What happens if Biss goes to Washington: City code actually names two different temporary mayors who can take the incumbent’s place in different situations: the mayor pro tempore (meaning “for the time being” and “pro tem” for short) and the acting mayor. Both are selected from the nine members of Evanston’s City Council, and both are charged “to perform the duties and possess all the rights and powers of the Mayor” until they’re no longer needed.

* Dan Tully | I trust my fellow service members will abide by the Constitution: It is infuriating that we are even in this situation. Trump doesn’t care about members of the military, referring to fallen soldiers as “suckers” and “losers” for not escaping their obligations as he did during the Vietnam War. He denigrates the records of patriots such as the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, degrading his war hero status. He has saddled them with an incompetent secretary of defense in Pete Hegseth. Most dangerously, Trump intentionally disregards centuries of the military’s most essential tradition of nonpartisanship, eroding American faith in our most trusted institution.

* MSNBC | IL Congressman: Masked ICE agent called police to ‘evict us as trespassers’ when attempting to enter Chicago facility: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi joins The Weeknight to discuss the fight against Trump’s erosion of democratic norms – and what happened when he attempted an oversight visit at an ICE Facility in Chicago’s South Loop.

* Daily Southtown | In backdrop of shuttered MetroSouth hospital in Blue Island, south suburban officials warn Medicaid cuts could undermine health care: Rita and other local officials, including U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, visited the Blue Island Health Center Friday to highlight how Medicaid cuts put not only uninsured people, but entire communities and hospital systems at risk. Rita touted the Illinois General Assembly boosting funding by $40 million for federally qualified health care centers, but said “that will not be able to impact what is going to take place” the Senate passes the bill and Trump signs it into law. […] Kelly, who is vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, said “people will die” from lack of health care access provided through Medicaid. “It is never a good time for a hospital to close,” Kelly said. “But right now, our country is in the middle of a maternal mortality crisis, and Medicaid covers half of births nationwide.”

* Politico | IL-09: Howard Rosenblum, a civil rights attorney, announced this morning that he’s running as a Democrat for Congress for the seat now held by retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. “I know how important equality under the law and full opportunity through civil rights is. My legal experience fighting back is exactly what we need in Washington right now,” said Rosenblum, who served on the U.S. Access Board during the Obama administration and was appointed to the Illinois Human Rights Commission by Gov. JB Pritzker.