| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Election Day is five weeks away. ON THURSDAY: Illinois Playbook Live! Featuring Arne Duncan. At the Hideout. Details here
|  | TOP TALKER | | DEBATE WATCH PARTIES are popping up for the vice-presidential match tonight between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, even though Illinois won’t play a major role in the presidential contest. Why they matter: Illinois Democrats and Republicans are using the vice presidential debate to organize volunteers to write postcards, work at the polls or sign up to canvass in battleground states. Start your engines: “Our neighbors are going to be even more fired up to volunteer” after hearing Walz speak about the issues Democrats care about, said state Sen. Ram Villivalam, ticking off issues surrounding rights for reproductive health, LGBTQ+ and immigrants. Villivalam, an early supporter of Kamala Harris back in 2019, has organized a veep debate watch party at the Alarmist Brewery with his 39th Ward Democratic Organization. More than 120 people have RSVP’d — and 70 of those folks are volunteering in some way, he said. They’ll fill out postcards that will be sent to folks in swing states, and some will sign up to knock on doors in Wisconsin and Michigan. It’s a GOP thing, too: Bob Fioretti, the Republican candidate for Cook County state’s attorney, is trying to figure out how to get to three different events, including a debate-watch party put on by the Chicago Young Republicans. “Watch parties are a good organizing tool, whether you’re Democrat or Republican,” Fioretti said. “When you get groups together, especially young folks, you see them signing up for Election-Day duties and polling work to make sure we have good clean elections.” Times change: Back when the Daleys were running for mayor, it was the precinct captains who rallied volunteers to knock on doors. Beer blast: Now, Democratic and Republican leaders are using events (presidential and vice presidential debates) to build campaigns to make phone calls or write postcards to send to undecided voters. It’s a social event, and beer is usually a draw. One party attendee could write as many as 50 postcards during the time they’re sitting and watching a debate, one organizer told us. Big names are also a draw: The invite for the Chicago Cares debate-watch party says attendees will include Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Congressman Danny Davis, Lt Gov. Juliana Stratton, Atty Gen. Kwame Raoul, state Sen. Lakesia Collins and City Clerk Anna Valencia. Other debate-watch parties: Las Fuentes is hosting one for Illinois for Kamala Harris. There’s a party at Takito Street Restaurant in Chicago. Indivisible Illinois Group will be at Bobby's Eastside in Forest Park. The local AKA Sorority will be at The Retro Grill Stony Island. Indivisible Skokie is at the Village Roadhouse. And there’s a party at the Sidetrack Bar in Chicago. RELATED Everything you need to know about the VP debate, by POLITICO’s Greta Reich Dems lower expectations for Walz ahead of VP debate, by POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill JD Vance doesn’t think he needs debate prep to defeat Tim Walz, by POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy
| | THE BUZZ | | SCHOOL BOARD DRAMA: Potential resignations of Board of Education members could mean more CPS upheaval: “No resignations had been handed in as of Monday afternoon, but conversations are ongoing about the makeup of the board for the next few months,” according to reporting by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp and the Sun-Times’ Nader Issa. Head-turner: The mayor denies he asked CPS CEO Martinez to resign, by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern COLUMN: Election meant to democratize Chicago's school board has become an insider's game: “The school board races are near the bottom of a lengthy November general election ballot, stuck between races for county judge (groan) and judicial retention questions (double groan),” by Crain’s Greg Hinz. RELATED: Mayor Johnson’s budget address pushed back two weeks in face of nearly $1B deficit: “Johnson’s budget director says all options are on the table to close the budget gap as the mayor shores up a plan. The original budget speech was expected for Oct. 16, but it is now slated for the day before Halloween on Oct. 30,” by WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg. There’s drama in the Springfield school district, too, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie
| | WHERE'S JB | | At Richard J. Daley College at 10:30 a.m. to launch new statewide manufacturing training initiative
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events
| | Where's Toni | | At Malcolm X College at 8:30 a.m. to provide welcome remarks at the Cook County Behavioral Health Workforce Symposium — At the Cook County Administration Building at 1 p.m. to announce the Medical Examiner Case Archive Dashboard, which provides access to information about opioid-related, gun-related and temperature-related deaths. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | 2024 WATCH | | — 47th District state representative candidates debate effectiveness of current gun laws: The race between Republican incumbent state Rep. Amy Grant and Democratic challenger Jackie Williamson is a rematch from 2022, by the Daily Herald’s Eric Peterson — Casten, Conforti differ on abortion, but both oppose federal ban, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau — Cass County sheriff warns residents against stealing political signs, by WCIA’s Molly Sweeney
| | SPOTTED | | — Happy 60th! Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul celebrated the big 6-0 with a fundraising party at Divan in the River North neighborhood. Stopping by to say congrats: Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, state Sen. Willie Preston, state Rep. Marcus Evans, state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, state Rep. Kim DuBuclet, County Commissioner Bill Lowry, Cook County Board of Review’s Larry Rogers Jr., former state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, senior adviser to the Mayor Jason Lee, CRED Managing Director Arne Duncan, SEIU Illinois Healthcare President Greg Kelley, DL3 Realty’s Leon Walker and Chicago music retail legend George Daniels. — Doing it his way: William Marovitz, the Chicago businessman and former state senator, held a birthday party for the ages at his Carnivale restaurant in Chicago. The dinner party was titled “September of My Years,” a hat tip to Frank Sinatra. The event featured Marovitz’s favorite music, including Sinatra hits and videos of his dream concert that would include duets by Elton John and Billy Joel, Mick Jagger and Taylor Swift, Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion and Marovitz’s “favorite song of all time” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” sung by the late Judy Garland and Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. At the bash: Congressman Mike Quigley, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ald. Bill Conway, former Ald. Tom Tunney, restaurateur Rich Melman, Loop Capital’s Jim Reynolds, Parkside Realty’s Bob Wislow, attorney Philip Corboy, Jam Productions co-founder Arny Granat, Women's Business Development Center founder Hedy Ratner, Monsignor Kenneth Velo, former Bears star Richard Dent, businesswoman and former wife Christie Hefner, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Jeff Garlin and singer John Vincent, who sang Sinatra’s “My Way” with a twist to Marovitz, bellowing, “You did it your way!” Vincent and Marovitz closed the night singing “I’ve got you under my skin.”
| | | CHICAGO | | | — City allocates $75M in bond funds to market rate housing initiative on South and West sides: “The program will start in North Lawndale with 44 vacant, city-owned lots being offered to developers to purchase for $1 each,” by the Tribune’s Lizzie Kane. — City officials break ground at site of new transitional housing in Lincoln Square, by the Sun-Times’ Cindy Hernandez — Chicago’s beach season is over … or is it? Lake Michigan temps are breaking records, by WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco — Hancock observatory hires architecture firm SOM for complete renovation of Signature Room, by the Sun-Times’ David Struett — Running hot and cold: The City Council’s Committee on Public Safety is set to meet today to discuss the resolution introduced by Ald. Andre Vasquez calling for examination of Chicago’s Extreme Weather Response Plan.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Ford Heights installs interim mayor after Griffin’s conviction, by the Tribune’s Olivia Stevens — Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard faces eviction in spat with landlord, by the Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan and the Tribune’s Emily Hoerner
| | | TAKING NAMES | | — Michael Sacks and Richard Price, two high-profile veterans of Chicago’s corporate community, have left the board of World Business Chicago, by Crain’s John Pletz. — Giancarlo Guerrero has been named the next artistic director and principal conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival. He'll succeed Carlos Kalmar. Guerrero is now music director for the Nashville Symphony, by the Tribune’s Hannah Edgar. — Nick Kokonas sells his ownership stake in Alinea Group, by Crain’s Brandon Dupré
| | Reader Digest | | We asked what you hope is discussed in Tuesday’s vice presidential debate. Matthew Beaudet: “The candidates answering the question that is asked. Also, their answer should state what they would do and not opine on what their opponent would do. Wishful thinking, I know.” Lucas Hawley: “For the moderator to ask Gov. Walz if he has any regrets during his time as governor during Covid and what did he learn from it.” Eric Herman, the Democratic attorney: “Football metaphors. And I think Walz will look like the '85 Bears.” Carlton Hull: “Funding for children with special needs. As a Parent of a special needs daughter, the U.S. government must do better!” Nick Kalm: “I'm hoping the podiums don't hide any of Governor Walz's very distinctive body movements.” Pat McCann: “Facts and humor vs. lies and insults.” Timothy Thomas: “Real, defined policy positions and not stump/elevator pitches.” Jakhari Watson: “Policies on the economy, immigration, and crisis management, with JD Vance addressing his rhetoric on Haitian migrants and Tim Walz explaining Harris’ plans.” Patricia Ann Watson: “Statesmen’s civility, mod control and insistence on asked questions being answered, noncompliance noted.” Next question: If you had to evacuate your home and could only take one thing, what would it be? Email skapos@politico.com
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | — Sen. Tammy Duckworth joined fellow Senate Democrats to introduce the Keep Obstetrics Local Act (KOLA) “to help address the rising trend of rural hospitals and hospitals in underserved areas closing their labor and delivery units,” according to a statement. Duckworth says it’s causing “significant consequences for expectant parents, families and their local communities.”
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — A concert and 30 new homes mark Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday, by The Associated Press — Haley’s endorsement of Trump doesn’t mean her supporters will follow her, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw, Lisa Kashinsky and Natalie Allison — Trump turns Hurricane Helene aftermath political, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison and Megan Messerly — Top aide to Eric Adams forced out amid sprawling corruption probes, by POLITICO’s Sally Goldenberg, Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin
| | EVENTS | | — Oct. 16: Dr. Mona Hanna, a public health advocate whose work on the Flint, Michigan, water crisis brought national attention to the city, will be honored at the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods’ Smith Nature Symposium Awards Dinner. Emcees are Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Levi Todd for correctly answering that Sandra Cisneros' “Caramelo” is about a family's trip to Mexico City, where the narrator tells the story of her "Awful Grandmother." TODAY’s QUESTION: Which beloved children’s poet grew up in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, former state Rep. Dave McSweeney, Blue Raven Campaigns Partner Connor Mitchell, Republican operative Jesse Johnson, SNC Partners President Brady Chalmers, NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde, Raise the Floor Alliance Development Director Sophia Olazaba, McDonald’s Public Policy Manager Alisa La, retired counselor Cacia Sit and former President Jimmy Carter, who turns 100. -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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