J.D. Vance’s Illinois connection

Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln

Jul 16, 2024 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. We're in Milwaukee, steps away from Fiserv Forum at the CNN/POLITICO Grill. TOP TALKER Delegates pose for a group photo on the convention floor at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Day One of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO MILWAUKEE — On Day One of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump made a dramatic appearance in the convention hall after an assassination attempt Saturday. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance was named Trump's vice-presidential running mate. Congressmwoman Mary Miller announced all Illinois Republican delegates were with Trump. And protesters marched within "sight and sound" of the Fiserv Forum as they had wanted. The buzz about Vance. You can say he has one connection to Illinois. He’s been blamed for holding up the confirmation of April Perry as Chicago’s top federal prosecutor. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth recently accused Vance of wanting to “grind the Department of Justice to a halt” over the confirmation. About his VP slot: Neither senator commented on Vance being named Donald Trump’s running mate. Durbin will join Gov. JB Pritzker at an unrelated event today, so we’ll wait for the Illinois press corps to pounce. Republicans like Vance, pointing to his upbringing in poverty in Ohio and Kentucky and his service as a Marine and apparently not bothered that Vance was a critic of Trump. “He’s lived the American dream,” said Myles Nelson, who works for Congressman Mike Bost, and was headed with other Illinois Republicans to the Fiserv Forum when we talked. The youth factor: State Sen. Terri Bryant said it’s about time there’s some youthfulness on the ticket. “For younger individuals in rural areas, or even urban, if they’ve had a tough childhood, this guy is going to connect on every level,” she said. “He understands the Beltway,” Travis Akin, a convention delegate from downstate Illinois, told the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Rick Pearson. “Redemption:” Richard Porter, the outgoing Republican national committeeman, says Vance for veep is part of Trump’s “redemption tour,” via a Q&A on The Crisis Cast. Energy is building: And Rhonda Belford, the incoming Republican national committeewoman, said Vance’s selection is an example of the GOP trying to unify the party. “Sometimes it takes something shocking to bring everybody together,” she said, referring to Trump surviving the shooting at a Pennsylvania rally. “It was an act of God, and when J.D. was nominated, it was emotional for me.” Not everyone cheered: Former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger headlined “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and called out Vance for criticizing U.S. support of Ukraine in the war against Russia. “They are celebrating that choice in Milwaukee and in Moscow,” he said. Clip, clip and clip. RELATED It’s Trump’s Party, via POLITICO’s live blog In J.D. Vance, Trump is going all in on populism — and elevating an heir apparent, via POLITICO Private meeting, billionaires and a G6 Gulfstream: The backstory on how Trump picked Vance, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt Suburban native, far-right conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk speaks at the convention, by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout CONVENTION ZONE IN CHICAGO | Chicago police boss still confident in convention security plan here after Trump shooting: “All of the incidents that could occur, we’re accounting for those things and we’re making sure that we’re training around those things,” said Police Superintendent Larry Snelling during a news conference Monda, via the Tribune’s Sam Charles. If you are Dick Durbin, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email: skapos@politico.com WHERE'S JB At 555 West Monroe at 11 a.m. to announce federal investments in Illinois — At Pace South Campus in Markham at 1 p.m. to give remarks at the campus’ opening. WHERE's BRANDON At the West Chicago Avenue Public Library at 12:30 p.m. for a presser about West Side flood remediation. Where's Toni At Bell Works at 9:45 a.m. to celebrate $500,000 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements to Central Road in Hoffman Estates and South Barrington. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com   SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     2024 WATCH — Gov. JB Pritzker’s political campaign has donated $68,500 to Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart campaign. Pritzker has maxed out the amount he can donate to Rinehart, who has been an ally of the governor’s, including supporting and enforcing the state’s assault-weapons ban. — From the Uihleins to prominent business owners: A look at the biggest Republican donors in Illinois, by WTTW’s Nick Blumberg THE STATEWIDES — Lawyers for ex-Speaker Madigan ask judge to gut indictment in light of SCOTUS ruling: The filing includes dozens of citations from the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which says the federal bribery statute does not criminalize “gratuities,” or gifts given to elected officials to express thanks for taking a favorable action, by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Ray Long and Megan Crepeau. — State Sen. Napoleon Harris' campaign spent $6,600 at high-end department stores, at least partly on clothes: “Those payments to Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue by the Flossmoor Democrat and former NFL player’s campaign fund might not be legal if the items purchased were for personal use,” by the Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth. CHICAGO — Johnson hopes to tap progressive Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez as next Zoning chair: The Southwest Side alderman’s colleagues “sought to strip him of his current Housing Committee chairmanship in April after a protest speech he made in front of a burnt American flag,” by the Tribune’s Alice Yin and Jake Sheridan. — Chicago’s top watchdog pushed to probe police oversight agency's investigations, allegations of retaliation: “Anthony Driver, president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, said the referral to Inspector General Deborah Witzburg was based on ‘information from multiple knowledgeable sources that raised serious concerns’ about the Civilian Office of Police Accountability,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba. — Mayor Johnson’s grooming bill grows: His campaign spends another $8,200 on makeup artist, by the Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth — Lightfoot's former deputy mayor for public safety accused of drinking on the job, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — As tornadoes hit Chicago area again, city battered by strong storms, via Block Club COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Brookfield Zoo Chicago unveils $500 million Century Plan to transform its campus, by the Tribune’s Hannah Edgar — South Shore residents want protection from housing price increases near Obama Center, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig TAKING NAMES — Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore has been elected president of the National Association of Black County Officials. — Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has been appointed co-chair of the National Association of Secretaries of State’s Securities Committee.   Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more.     Reader Digest We asked what you’re watching for from the Republican National Convention. Lucas Hawley: “The keynote speech introducing the party nominee. It is meant to hype up the crowd and set the tone. I still remember how Sen. Marco Rubio's in 2012 impacted me when I heard it over the radio as a teenager, one of the best speeches I have ever heard in my life to this day still.” Ed Mazur: “How many delegates will be eating Leon's Soft Serve Custard Ice Cream or Kopp's Soft Serve Custard Ice Cream.” Mark Rosenberg: “To see if Republicans dial down some of the hateful rhetoric in their speeches in view of what happened this weekend.” Jakhari Watson: “Seeing if the convention speakers, most importantly Trump and his running mate, are unifying in their messaging in light of the assassination attempt. If they take the high road, it would look good for them but if not, I think that would outrage swing voters and backfire.” NEXT QUESTION: What food says Wisconsin? Email skapos@politico.com THE NATIONAL TAKE — Biden defends ‘pretty damn good’ mental acuity in testy interview, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn — Judge dismisses Trump’s Mar-a-Lago classified docs criminal case, via POLITICO — Trump shooting investigation gives FBI chance to dig itself out of deep hole with Republicans, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein Transitions — Northeastern Illinois University gives interim President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan the permanent job, by Crain’s Mark Weinraub EVENTS — Thursday: “The Impact of Gun Safety Laws in Illinois” is the subject of a City Club of Chicago luncheon featuring Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly. Moderator is G-PAC President and CEO Kathleen Sances. Details here TRIVIA MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Michael Penicnak for correctly answering that Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka, the president and vice presidential candidates for the Green Party in 2016, were both born in Chicago. TODAY’s QUESTION: What was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named after an Illinois city or town? HAPPY BIRTHDAY Assistant Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Natashee Scott, Jewish United Fund Chief of Staff Jim Rosenberg, Committee on Foreign Affairs at U.S. House exec Marcus Towns II, American Medical Association comms VP Justin DeJong, leadership consultant Ginny Clarke, ALG Research Senior Associate Maddie Conway, entrepreneur Victoria Rivka Zell, New Trier comms director Niki Dizon and POLITICO cybersecurity engineer Kalon Makle. -30-   Follow us on Twitter Shia Kapos @shiakapos   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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