Happy Monday, Illinois. The world has turned upside down since we connected Friday. Here are 18 ways America has been changed by the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade.
Watch for conservative Republican Darren Bailey to make a play to take over the Illinois GOP after tomorrow’s primary. Playbook hears that move could come as soon as Wednesday — right after Bailey’s expected victory in the six-man race for the party’s nod for governor.
Thomas DeVore, who’s running for attorney general alongside Bailey, echoed the idea. “Whether or not Darren and I win the general election, if we can at least get control within our own party, I think long term we have an opportunity to be successful,” DeVore told The New York Times.
MAGA moment: DeVore is referring to his and Bailey’s conservative brand of politics that’s upending the establishment GOP’s efforts to take back the governor’s mansion.
ICYMI:Bailey was endorsed by President Donald Trump on Saturday during a “Save America” rally in Mendon.
Trump’s stamp: “Darren is a fearless supporter of the Second Amendment and a tireless champion of religious liberty,” Trump said. “He will crack down on the violent crime that is devouring our Democrat-run cities and restore the state of Illinois to greatness. Darren has my complete and total endorsement.”
Spotted at the rally: Peggy Hubbard, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate. If she wins the GOP primary, she’d be among more than 100 candidates across the country who embrace the false claim that Trump won the 2020 election, reports WBEZ’s Dave McKinney.
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PRESIDENTIAL PLUG: Joe Biden endorsed veteran Rep. Danny Davis, who’s facing Justice-Democrats-backed Kina Collins in the IL-06 primary.
In a statement yesterday, Biden called Davis “an effective leader and lawmaker deeply rooted in his community. He serves with passion and integrity.”
A person familiar with Davis’ campaign says polling is on Davis’ side, but a boost from Biden can’t hurt.
Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet calls it: “a proxy fight over the future of the Democratic party — and the forces backing Collins wanting to pull it further left in part by defeating incumbent Democrats.”
An important factor: Polls may show Davis in a comfortable spot for tomorrow’s primary, but with voter turnout expected to be low, no one’s taking any chances.
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DEMS’ WEEKEND NEWS: Democrats marched in the Pride Parade to show support for LGBTQ rights and to call attention to equality in wake of last week’s Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
“We are on the agenda and on the menu for the right wing,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters before the parade, warning that the SCOTUS ruling endangers LGBTQ rights. “We have to be ready.” Lightfoot marched with her wife, Amy Eshleman.
— Pride Parade’s return amid worry and anger over Supreme Court decision on abortion, by Sun-Times’ Kaitlin Washburn
— Illinois activists and legal scholars say abortion decision endangers LGBT rights and contraception, by Tribune’s John Keilman and Madeline Buckley
SPOTTED AT THE PARADE: Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, and Gov. JB Pritzker and first lady of Illinois MK Pritzker, who was wearing a dress designed by a friend and detailed with her husband’s signature campaign sign. Pic!
FREUDIAN FLUB: Rep. Mary Miller drew backlash on social media and criticism from opponent Rep. Rodney Davis for a Freudian faux pas at a Saturday’s central Illinois rally with former President Donald Trump.
White Heat: Miller called the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade a “victory for white life.” It appeared she stumbled over her words. (Instead of saying “victory for life,” she said “victory for white…life.”)
None of it would have caused such a stir if it weren’t for Miller citing Adolf Hitler in a January 2021 speech about the political indoctrination of children.
But Miller is in a bitter primary: Davis pounced, saying it’s “part of a disturbing pattern of behavior she’s displayed since coming to Congress. This is why she uses the Biden basement strategy and refuses to answer questions or hold public events.”
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— MAGA voters send a $50M GOP plan off the rails in Illinois: “The primary race alone has drawn $100 million in TV advertising. Mr. Pritzker has spent more money on TV ads than anyone else running for any office in the country this year. Mr. Irvin ranks second, according to AdImpact, a media tracking firm,” reports The New York Times’ Reid J. Epstein.
— Don’t call it a primary party: Pritzker’s campaign is kicking off the general election with a party tomorrow night at the Marriott Marquis on the South Side. The state’s constitutional officers and Sen. Tammy Duckworth will take the stage
— BY THE NUMBERS: Former Gov. and businessman Bruce Rauner has donated $200,000 to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to campaign reports filed Friday and analyzed by Florida Playbook’s Gary Fineout. Rauner relocated to Florida after he lost his reelection campaign in 2018. His total level of support for DeSantis this cycle is $650,000.
— State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz took heat over the weekend for posting a controversial image criticizing the Supreme Court decision overruling Roe v. Wade. The sketch portrayed the image of a pope pointing a pistol at Lady Liberty. The Chicago GOP was outraged and called for Feigenholtz to resign.
“The posting of this disgusting cartoon has finally, but now openly exposed the deep contempt held by Senator Feigenholtz and her liberal woke colleagues toward not only the Catholic Church, but towards Christian religion in general,” Chicago GOP Chairman Steve Boulton said in a statement.
In a statement to Playbook, Feigenholz said, “Friday was an incredibly traumatic day — not just for me but for women around the country in the aftermath of the SCOTUS decision to overturn a woman’s right to choose. I posted an image that spoke to the moment and then later learned it offended people of faith. I immediately removed the post as I meant no ill will toward anyone who found it offensive, and am sorry. I have and will continue reaching out to friends and community members with the hope of healing.”
— Kellyanne Conway was in the hot seat during a Q&A with David Axelrod last week at an event at the University Club of Chicago. Conway acknowledged that Joe Biden was president but still questioned how fair the election was conducted in Pennsylvania. There was a tense back and forth before Axelrod moved on. Conway was in town promoting her book, “Here’s the Deal.”
… Speaking of Kellyanne: POLITICO’s Joanna Weiss talked to psychoanalyst Jeanne Safer about Conway’s tumultuous marriage.
— Jim Ryan and the death of the Illinois Republican moderate, by Derrick Blakley for Center for Illinois Politics
— Pritzker calls special legislative session on reproductive rights as Roe decision reverberates through Illinois politics: “One proposal under consideration would expand the ranks of medical professionals who are allowed to perform abortions in Illinois,” by Tribune’s Dan Petrella and Rick Pearson
… What we’re hearing: Lawmakers could be called back in July.
… Illinois-based Ulta pledges to help workers travel for abortions, by Crain’s Katherine Davis
… From police raids to reproductive justice, abortion history in Illinois is long and bumpy, by WBEZ’s Natalie Moore
— Mendoza, state leaders gathered in Cairo for updates on the Alexander-Cairo port project, by KFVS’ Colin Baillie
— GREAT LAKES WATCH: Gov. JB Pritzker was awarded the “changemaker award” by the Council of the Great Lakes Region on Sunday. The organization is in town for a few days for the Great Lakes Economic Forum. Pritzker was introduced by former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman and Vicki Heyman, who are active in the organization. After Heymans’ introduction, Pritzker joked, “I always wanted to be an ambassador. You get to keep the title for the rest of your life and they call you ‘your excellency.’ I’ve tried to get people to call me excellent for my whole life,” he told the crowd, which laughed at the line. Though the bigger laugh came after Pritzker said, “Just so you know, the weather is like this all year round.”
— Bally’s hoping to file Chicago casino application with state this month; odds may be against June 2023 opening: “Getting the permanent casino open by the first quarter of 2026 could be challenging as well, with ongoing opposition from neighbors and new questions about Tribune Publishing’s plans for its printing operations,” by Tribune’s Robert Channick.
— World Business Chicago touts Illinois’ abortion-rights bona fides to corporations, by Crain’s Trina Mannino
— Chicago Park District vows to open some pools July 5 — but won’t say how many, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.
— Gig workers who rely on cars make changes as gas prices stay high: One strategy is staying in the Loop during peak hours “to draw better tips,” by Sun-Times’ Elvia Malagón
— City’s speed cameras yield more tickets and controversy – but drivers aren’t slowing down: “A WBEZ analysis of Chicago’s speed ticket data shows little safety benefit, even as the city rakes in more cash,” by Michael Gerstein, Matt Kiefer and Charmaine Runes.
Former President Barack Obama visited the site of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park on Friday. His visit coincides with the one-year anniversary of the center’s groundbreaking. “President Obama toured the site with two key construction vendors working on the project, Junisa Brima from Turner Construction and Ron Lewis from Ujamaa Construction, both of whom work with Lakeside Alliance, the overall construction company for the Center,” the foundation said in a statement.
— Topless sunbathing at Evanston beaches? “Prohibition of public nudity ordinance in city could be changing,” by Pioneer Press’ Alex Hulvalchick
— Lombard couple featured in new Food Network series ‘Me or the Menu,’ by Daily Herald’s Scott Morgan
— Former Dixmoor police commander convicted in assault on grandmother, by Tribune’s Megan Crepeau
— Federal judge throws out lawsuit alleging required signage on Illinois’ gas tax freeze violates free speech, by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner
— Fox News’ Gianno Caldwell’s younger brother killed in Chicago shooting, via Fox 32
Democrats are looking for a weed deal: “As this Congress enters its final months, lawmakers warm to the idea of cannabis banking ‘plus,’” by POLITICO’s Natalie Fertig.
We asked which candidates have knocked at your door: Capitol Edge Consulting’s Kristin Rubbelke: “Both Sharon Chung and Karla Bailey Smith (Democrats running in the 91st House District primary). That’s pretty good for Bloomington.” … Timothy Thomas Jr.: “I was a freshman on campus at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1980 when Congressman Tim Johnson knocked on my dorm room door in the run-up of the November general election. He actually came into my room and we chatted for about 10 minutes. Although he was a Republican and I was not going to change my voting address from Chicago, I always followed his career and was saddened by his passing last month.”… Nancy Shepherdson: “Nabeela Syed, running for District 51 state rep in the Northwest suburbs.”
What’s your Election Day tradition? Email [email protected]
— The Supreme Court has chipped away at the Voting Rights Act for 9 years. This case could be the next blow, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro
— Trump fatigue sets in: ‘Some donors are getting sick of the sh–show,’ by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw and Matt Dixon
— ‘The dog that caught the car’: Republicans brace for the impact of reversing Roe, by POLITICO’s David Siders
— In states that allow abortion for rape and incest, finding a doctor may prove impossible, by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly
— Samuel Alito, Andrew Jackson, slavery and states rights, by Heather Cox Richardson
Kristopher J. Anderson, external affairs VP for the Chicago Association of Realtors, and Ebony N. Scott, executive director of the Spark nonprofit, married Friday in a small ceremony with family and friends at Gibsons Steakhouse. Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough officiated. The afterparty was at Vu Rooftop. Among the guests: Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and Ald. Jason Ervin, state Rep. Marcus Evans and Deloitte’s Mary Miro. Pix!
— Wayne Whalen, wide-ranging lawyer and political adviser, dies at 82: “He had his hand in the election of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, the writing of the Illinois Constitution and numerous other matters,” by Crain’s Steven R. Strahler.
— Michael Stephen Kanne, a 7th Circuit Court judge, died earlier this month. His funeral is this week.
FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Rey Nonato for correctly answering that traveling salesman Aaron Montgomery Ward started the world’s first mail-order business in 1872. Montgomery Ward’s warehouse was located at Chicago Avenue and the north branch of the Chicago River — now condos and commercial and headquarters of Groupon.
TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the first Asian American elected alderman in Chicago? Email [email protected]
State Rep. David Welter, former state senator and Kenya U.S. Ambassador Kyle McCarter, The Inland Real Estate Group’s senior VP Dan Wagner, tech investor and political donor Howard Tulman, former Illinois Supreme Court candidate Daniel Epstein, Accountable Tech co-founder Jesse Lehrich, PR pro Karrie Leung, PR pro Melissa Skoog, marketing pro Sarah Habansky, and Cor Strategies marketing guru Bill Pohlman.
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