| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Anthony Fauci is retiring, and it might take a team to replace him, via POLITICO Nightly.
|  | TOP TALKER | | Battleground states across the country — places like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Arizona — are seeing a surge in election deniers gaining the Republican nominations for state and federal offices, according to a Washington Post analysis. Illinois is seeing its share, too. The most noticeable is at the top of the ticket, where GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey has said he recognizes Joe Biden as president without acknowledging he won fair and square. More recently, Terrence Stuber, a Republican running for Champaign County clerk was asked if he thought Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election. Stuber hedged, according to a report by News Gazette's Tom Kacich. "I don't know if he truly was the winner or not, but I do think it is definitely the time to move past it," Stuber said. His response has outraged Democratic County Clerk Aaron Ammons, who called Stuber's statement "terrifying" given the work required of being a clerk. "For my opponent to say he's not sure if former President Trump won the election or not is unconscionable and should disqualify him as a candidate for county clerk. If that's his position after seeing all the video footage of the Jan 6th attack on the Capitol, learning the role the former president played in that attack, and all of the evidence shared during the Jan. 6 committee hearings, that's dangerous. It's dangerous for democracy," Ammons told Playbook. Stuber and Bailey aren't the only election deniers in Illinois. Thomas DeVore, the GOP nominee for Illinois attorney general, has hedged when asked if the 2020 election was stolen. Catalina Lauf, a candidate in the IL-11 Congressional District, has called the Jan. 6 investigation "a hoax." And, of course, Republican Reps. Mary Miller, Darin LaHood and Mike Boss all signed on to a lawsuit challenging the results of the 2020 election. What it means: In a close contest, officials who "are willing to try to thwart the popular will could throw the country into chaos," according to The Washington Post analysis. "It would potentially delay the result, undermine confidence in the democratic system and sow the seeds of civil strife on a scale even greater than what the nation saw on Jan. 6, 2021." It's a doomsday sort of scenario, but one Democrats might not mind. In Illinois, it could be easier to run against Trump than inflation.
| | THE BUZZ | | We're a week away from the start of signature gathering, and the candidate roster for Chicago mayor is still being defined. What we know: Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, won't be in the mix. "It won't be me," she told a crowd gathered at the City Club to hear her speak. "I really love my job." The worst-kept secret: Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson all but acknowledged he'll be throwing his hat in the ring. Along with being a commissioner, he works for CTU, so he'd have the union's endorsement. The juice: Mayor Lori Lightfoot is still in the driver's seat with the power of incumbency and nearly $2.7 million cash on hand, including recent donations from media entrepreneur Fred Eychner ($100,000), foundation leader Pete Kadens ($26,000) and attorney Bob Clifford ($25,000), restaurateur Richard Melman ($25,000), and Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf ($10,000). The most juice: Willie Wilson, another mayoral candidate, has nearly $4.6 million in the bank. Petition deadlines: Candidates can start collecting signatures — they need 12,500 — Aug. 30. The deadline to turn them in is Nov. 28. The mayoral election is Feb. 28, 2023. RELATED Stacy Davis Gates won't run for mayor, but CTU ally Brandon Johnson hints at imminent announcement, by Sun-Times' Nader Issa Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I'd like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | In City Hall at 1 p.m. with Congresswoman Robin Kelly and local leaders to discuss Chicago's gun violence and prevention efforts.
| | Where's Toni | | On vacation through Wednesday.
| | TAKING NAMES | | How a secretive Chicago billionaire handed his fortune to the architect of the right-wing takeover of the courts: "In the largest known political advocacy donation in U.S. history, industrialist Barre Seid funded a new group run by Federalist Society co-chair Leonard Leo, who guided Trump's Supreme Court picks and helped end federal abortion rights," via ProPublica and The Lever.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic nominee for Illinois secretary of state, is getting an endorsement and campaign support from AFSCME Council 31, the public services employees union that represents more than 90,000 active and retired members in Illinois. AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch praised Giannoulias for his work as former state treasurer, saying "he's experienced, energetic, and he values working people and their unions." — Esther Joy King, the Republican nominee in the IL-17 Congressional District, launched her first TV ad of the cycle titled "Worth the Fight." The 30-second spot will run on broadcast and cable in the Bloomington-Peoria, Quad Cities, and Rockford media markets. The ad highlights King's military service and issues related to the economy.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — In visit to Cahokia Heights, Sen. Tammy Duckworth says future funding will have oversight: "The Illinois Democrat toured homes in the area to see the damage from chronic flooding during heavy rains which often contains raw sewage. 'This problem requires all of government — federal, state, county, municipality—to fix it,' Duckworth said. 'We're on the road to progress but there's a lot that needs to be done,'" by St. Louis Public Radio's Eric Schmid and Brian Munoz. ... … Duckworth and her family are taking an RV tour of Illinois with a stop today in the Bloomington-Normal area. — About those property tax rebates: "Starting as early as Sept. 12. … The rebates are paid automatically to taxpayers and will be distributed in the same way as the original income tax refunds. However, if a taxpayer did not receive an income tax return, the rebate will be sent via paper check to their most current address," by State Journal-Register's Patrick Keck. — Asian American history requirement starts in Illinois public schools: "Illinois became the first state to implement the requirement when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, or TEAACH, into law last summer," by WTTW's Amanda Vinicky and Eunice Alpasan. Illinois prepares to reveal updated state water plan — will it float? WTTW's Patty Wetli reports
| | CHICAGO | | — COOL TAKE | The 15 sub-cities of Chicago: "I prefer to think of it as a city of sub-cities, each with distinct foodways, ethnic makeups, political outlooks, and bars you probably shouldn't go into if you don't look like you're from around there. I've identified 15, and will proceed to make generalizations about them, rather than Chicago as a whole," writes Chicago magazine's Edward McClelland. — Rents are going up, forcing Chicagoans to make lifestyle changes, or hunt for more affordable housing, by Tribune's Dia Gill and Darcel Rockett — Missing man's body found in Lake Michigan; Mayor Lightfoot says city needs to educate more about water's dangers, by WTTW's Patty Wetli
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Patrick Daley Thompson expected to report to prison Monday: " The former Chicago City Council member from Bridgeport was found guilty in February of two counts of lying to regulators and five counts of filing false income-tax returns," by Sun-Times' Emmanuel Camarillo. — Snapchat parent reaches $35M biometric privacy class-action settlement in Illinois, by Tribune's Talia Soglin — Witness struggles as R. Kelly trial turns to alleged early-2000s cover-up, by Sun-Times' Jon Seidel and Andy Grimm ... … 'We feared for our lives': Mother of alleged victim testifies in R. Kelly trial, by Tribune's Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Cook County sheriff's deputy under internal investigation after drugs and guns found in home, by Tribune's Paige Fry and Annie Sweeney — Joliet councilman Mudron violates code of ethics, by The Times Weekly's Madhu Mayer — Glen Oaks Commons in Des Plaines changes hands as rising suburban rents bring in new apartment investors, by Tribune's Brian J. Rogal
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what new iconic images the new Ferris Bueller movie should include: John Lopez: "Given Ferris and friends went to a Cubs game, the spinoff, IMHO should focus on the South Side of Chicago. In 1986, it was still Comiskey Park." Kristopher Anderson, agrees: "It could have a good nostalgic tie to visit some areas featured in the original Blues Brothers movie like Calumet Fisheries, the bridge in Jackson Park and maybe a blues club!" Kent Gray: "Biggs Cigar Lounge and Gibson's Italia." Steve Smith: "The Bahai Temple. ... It would be funny seeing the valets take a road trip up Sheridan Road." Shawn Healy: "The Bean is the obvious addition, but the Riverwalk also deserves mention." What's the most non-breakfast food item you like to eat for breakfast? Email skapos@politico.com
| | MEDIA MATTERS | | — Big Tech could be forced to pay for online news under legislation aimed at helping local publishers: "The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act seeks to level the playing field by allowing local newspapers, broadcasters and other online publishers to negotiate collectively for an annual content fee from Google and Meta/Facebook, which dominate the digital advertising market," by Tribune's Robert Channick. — Tribune unceremoniously yanks the plug on its volunteer ChicagoNow blogging platform, writes Eric Zorn
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — PRIMARY DAY: New York takes center stage in fight for control of the House, by POLITICO's Ally Mutnick — Activism, an in-your-face attitude and Uber driving: The making of a Gen-Z politician in Florida, by POLITICO's Sabrina Rodríguez — Judge says FBI's evidence for searching Mar-a-Lago is 'reliable,' by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Renato Mariotti has joined BCLP as a partner in the law firm's litigation and investigations practice. He's a former federal prosecutor with the Justice Department and most recently was a partner with Thompson Coburn. Playbookers will know him for his periodic opinion pieces in POLITICO magazine. — John F. Young and Christine Fernandez Owen are now partners in the real estate practice of Norton Rose Fulbright, a global law firm. They joined from Clean Law PC, a Chicago-based boutique renewables real estate firm.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Bronzeville firebrand Harold Lucas has died. Organizer, activist, historian and preservationist, by Tribune's Darcel Rockett — Tom Coffey, who helped Harold Washington win, wield power, dies at 77, by Sun-Times' Neil Steinberg — Manuel Sanchez, Chicago's first Mexican American school principal, dead at 94, by Sun-Times' Maureen O'Donnell
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that Chicago's first public library, which opened in 1873 , was located in an abandoned water tower at Adams and LaSalle Streets. It housed 6,852 volumes arranged on shelves along the circular interior wall of the water tower. And h/t to Alex Hawley for noting the first permanent public library was at the Cultural Center, and Bob Remer who shares: "After the Chicago Fire, the Queen of England sent Chicago books to replace its library." TODAY's QUESTION: Who were the two brothers who moved the border in an amendment to Illinois' petition for statehood and what part of the border did they move? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, former state Sen. Dale Righter, former Trump administration aide Richard Chalkey, former Maywood Village Manager Chasity Wells-Armstrong, Illinois Department of Human Services' Chief of Staff Ryan Croke, Brunswick Group partner Patti Solis Doyle, comms consultant and YWCA Metro Chicago Board President Joyce Winnecke, civic leader Carol Prins, PR and media consultant Shawn Taylor, and journalists Charlie Madigan and Meribah Knight. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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