| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. It looks like we're in for a heavy dose of Midwestern charm.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
The Democratic vice-presidential choice, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, speaks during a campaign rally with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. | Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITIO | Gov. JB Pritzker, who was passed over for the Democratic vice-presidential pick, has only praise for his fellow Midwestern governor, Minnesota's Tim Walz, being named Kamala Harris’ running mate. They’re friends: Pritzker called Walz “a kind and decent human being [who] cares deeply about the work that he does, and every person that he interacts with.” The two men were elected governors of their states the same year, survived together governing during Covid and stay in touch by text, Pritzker told reporters at an unrelated news conference Tuesday. “Grueling,” is how Pritzker described the vetting process. And “no,” he’s not pining for a Cabinet post. “That’s not something I’ve contemplated,” he said. About what’s next: “I want to be clear with everybody. … I really do love being the governor of Illinois, and so I was very torn during this process about being a participant in it,” Pritzker said, sidestepping whether he might run for a third term. More take-aways on Walz: Stacy Davis Gates, the Chicago Teachers Union president, honed in on Walz’s pre-politics years teaching geography and coaching football. “He has the aspirations of a progressive and the dexterity to land the policies into law,” Davis Gates told Playbook, pointing to Walz’s efforts to fund schools. “It harkens back to LBJ,” she said, referring to President Lyndon Johnson, who like Walz, was a teacher before he became a politician. Davis Gates said teaching skills will come in handy in the White House, should the Harris-Walz ticket win in November. “Educators know how to differentiate. They know how to plan. They know how to work in coalitions because they work in groups. They know how to meet people where they are and grow their capacity,” she explained. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a military veteran who went through the vice presidential vetting process four years ago, praised Walz’s military service. “Gov. Walz knows the importance of service to our nation and as a Minnesotan, he speaks to and understands the issues happening at the heart of our country for our working families,” the senator said in a statement. What suburban officials are saying: “When you look at his record in Congress, he was one of the most bipartisan legislators,” said delegate and state Rep. Fred Crespo, by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke and Steve Zalusky. RELATED What Walz brings to the ticket: “He is a product of the so-called Pivot Counties, a collection of roughly 200 counties across the nation that voted twice for Barack Obama before flipping to Donald Trump in 2016. More than 80 of these places are clustered in just four states: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin,” by POLITICO’s Charlie Mahtesian. What Walz told Harris in his VP interview, via POLITICO For VP also-rans, Walz’s elevation could mean a long time in the political wilderness, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren Walz on the ticket leaves questions for Pritzker’s political future, by the Tribune’s Rick Pearson and Olivia Olander He wasn’t Harris’ pick, but Pritzker's national profile has grown, by WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky The vetting process: Pritzker signaled this CBS 2 story by Chris Tye is spot-on in understanding how it works. — COMMENTARY: Harris' veepstakes turn into a big moment for Jewish Democrats, by Salon’s Matthew Rozsa
| | CONVENTION ZONE | | PARTY ZONE: Democrats will celebrate Kamala Harris and Tim Walz inside the United Center in a few weeks, but three of the biggest parties will happen before the convention even begins. The details: The Chicago 2024 Host Committee is planning separate large-scale events for delegates, media and volunteers at Wrigley Field and Navy Pier. Iconic! On Aug. 15, an Appreciation Rally for volunteers will be held at the Cubs’ stadium, along with a chance to touch home plate. Local artists, including the Kenwood Academy Marching Broncos and Majorettes, will entertain. As with all the parties, local restaurants will be serving their specialties. On Aug. 17, a Media Welcome Party at Navy Pier will cater to the thousands of journalists covering the convention. The event will showcase the city’s 77 neighborhoods, according to the host committee. It’s a not-so-subtle nudge to get national and international media into communities. On Aug. 18, 5,000 delegates and their families will also gather at Navy Pier for the Delegate Welcome Party sponsored by the National Education Association and United Association. There will be a fireworks show. “Chicago knows how to party, and we can’t wait to welcome thousands of volunteers, delegates, and members of the media to some of the most memorable locations our city has to offer,” Host Committee Executive Director Christy George said in a statement. Seconding that: “No one does it like Chicago,” said Choose Chicago Interim President and CEO Rich Gamble. He means it. Eli’s Cheesecake will be donating 1,000 pound mega cheesecakes for delegates and the media. RELATED — HEADS UP: Watch for 20 billboards to go up around Chicago ahead of the Democratic National Convention. The billboards, paid for by the JB Pritzker campaign, spotlight the governor and fellow Illinois Democrats’ legislative accomplishments and policy wins, including on reproductive rights and raising the minimum wage. The billboards, as well as a video released by Pritzker last week, have a theme that Democrats deliver. Pritzker’s team has also put in an order for 2,500 Harris-Walz yard signs ahead of the convention. NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern caught one of the billboards here. — Chicago business owners unsure if they’ll see DNC business boost, by the Tribune’s Talia Soglin and Olivia Olander — Protests: Could pro-Palestinian march at the Dem convention help Trump? Protesters say it’s not their problem, by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: STOP CREDIT CARD CHAOS IN ILLINOIS! A new Illinois law will disrupt credit card processing for millions across the Prairie State, impacting consumers, small businesses, and tipped workers. It creates costly challenges for small businesses and reduces convenience and privacy for consumers. Repeal the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act now to protect Illinois small business owners, consumers, and workers. For more information, visit guardyourcard.com/Illinois. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At 555 West Monroe at 10 a.m. to sign bills expanding reproductive rights access — At the State Fairgrounds in Springfield at 3 p.m. to unveil the 2024 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At 1410 South Special Olympics Drive at noon for the Memorial Roll Call for Officer Ella G. French — At the Chicago Cultural Center at 5 p.m. for the My Chi. My Future. Safe Spaces End of Summer Celebration.
| | | Where's Toni | | | At the CCH Bronzeville Health Center at 9 a.m. to announce the work of the new center. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | Breaking News Briefing: Where Tim Walz Stands on the Issues — The Democratic ticket is set now that Vice President Kamala Harris has named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Join POLITICO Pro on Friday Aug. 9 for a detailed discussion with specialist reporters on what Walz's track record says about the policies he and Harris will embrace in the final stretch of the 2024 presidential campaign. Register for the Briefing | | | | | | | SPOTLIGHT | | — BIG ACQUISITION: Res Publica Group, the strategic communications firm that handles Lollapalooza, has acquired KemperLesnik Public Relations, a boutique agency in Chicago, from Kemper Sports Management. Res Publica founder Guy Chipparoni called the acquisition “a full circle moment,” as Res Publica Group spun off of KemperLesnik more than 20 years ago. Res Publica’s clients include the United Center, Lollapalooza and Sueños music festivals, Northwestern University’s Ryan Field and Cook County Health, among others. More from Crain’s Brandon Dupré.
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Farm Team PAC, a political action committee founded by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood to elect candidates to state and local office across her 14th Congressional District, is out with a list of endorsements for more than 40 races in November. Here’s the list. — Republican rift: The Illinois Freedom Caucus issued a statement criticizing four Republican leaders who are endorsing Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. “Hating Donald Trump is one thing. We don’t agree with their assessment of the former president, but they're entitled to their opinion. We do, however, question their judgment in publicly endorsing a far-left candidate like Kamala Harris,” they said in a statement about former Gov. Jim Edgar, former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and former Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Joe Walsh.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — 'How did the sheriff end up hiring this person?': Pritzker wants answers in Massey shooting, by the State Journal Register’s Patrick M. Keck
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — Johnson calls off plans for special meeting to confirm Sigcho-Lopez as Zoning chair, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Amid financial woes, Chicago Public Schools to receive similar state funding increase this year, by Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin — Migrant day laborers sue Home Depot, CPD and city of Chicago, alleging abuse and harassment, by the Tribune’s Sylvan Lebrun and Laura Rodríguez Presa — Greyhound to be booted from West Loop station by mid-September, CEO says — so city must act now, by the Sun-Times’ David Struett — It’s been 20 years since the Dave Matthews Band Chicago River poop incident: ‘Our Generation’s O’Leary’s Cow,’ by the Block Club’s Clint Worthington
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard says administrator fired and trustees OK handful of layoffs, by the Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan — Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin picks school board member for empty city council spot, by the Daily Herald — Indiana businessman not guilty of bribing Cook County assessor officials with free golf, fed jury finds, by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — PENNY PRITZKER stepped down as U.S. special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery, as her term is limited by law to one year. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma will assume her duties. First reported in POLITICO’s National Security Daily newsletter. — State Reps. Abdelnasser Rashid (21st), a Democrat; and Jackie Haas (79th) and Dennis Tipsword (105th), both Republicans, took part in the Council of State Governments’ Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development program, which assists up-and-coming state leaders in the Midwest.
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked when you realized you hit adulthood. Steve Brown, the former Illinois House insider: “I am still waiting to be old enough to go to the senior lecture series at my community center.” Tim Butler: “When I was 23 and driving my 1985 Chevy Cavalier to Washington, D.C., with all my clothes, $200 in my checking and a stack of resumes to find a job on Capitol Hill.” Dave Dahl: “Spending my 35th birthday planning my mom’s funeral.” Mike Gascoigne: “When I bought my house at age 31.” Carol Lampard: “When I obtained health insurance through my employment.” Jim Lyons: “When I was in my 20s and got a promotion that gave me more responsibility.” Ed Mazur: “When my parents told me that I would have to pay for my own car insurance.” Aubrie Mozingo: “This year, when I graduated college, the government started asking me to repay my student loans.” Joan Pederson: “When I first came home from college for Christmas: no bed of my own at my parents' house.” Kathy Posner: “When my father died when I was 16.” Timothy Thomas Jr.: “When I registered for the Selective Service upon turning 18.’” NEXT QUESTION: What makes you a Midwesterner? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Dems officially nominate Harris, Walz, by POLITICO’s Steven Shepard — 3 big takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries: Cori Bush’s loss, Donald Trump’s endorsement power and more, by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu, Madison Fernandez and Ally Mutnick — Meet the ‘balding gay Jew’ now leading America’s governors, by POLITICO’s Liz Crampton
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: STOP CREDIT CARD CHAOS IN ILLINOIS!
In less than one year, a new law will create credit card chaos for millions of Illinois consumers, small business owners and workers who rely on tips. The law changes how your credit card is processed and has never been done anywhere in the world. The end result is windfall for corporate mega-stores paid for through costly operational hurdles for small businesses and a loss of convenience and privacy for consumers who could have to pay tax and gratuity with cash.
There’s still time to protect Illinois small business owners, consumers and workers by repealing the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act now! For more information, visit guardyourcard.com/Illinois. | | | | | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Dan Vosnos and Betsy Shepherd for correctly answering that George Halas, Bronko Nagurski and Harold “Red” Grange were the first Chicago Bears inducted into the Football Hall of Fame — all in 1963. TODAY’s QUESTION: By what percentage did Abraham Lincoln win in his hometown of New Salem in 1832, the year he lost the overall race for Illinois state rep?
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Congresswoman Mary Miller, Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino, former Ald. Ariel Reboyras, Ignite Blue Partners founding partner Kelsey Nulph, former Senate candidate Alan Keyes, Illinois Department of Commerce Federal Policy Manager Chad Phillips, Rush Medical Center Media Relations Manager Polly Tita, A Better Chicago Comms Director Kamaria Morris and former FBI Director Robert Mueller. -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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