Don Tracy considers governor bid
Illinois Playbook at the Hideout on Aug. 7 featuring Congressman Mike Quigley. Details here
TOP TALKER
2026 INTRIGUE: A familiar Republican name is eyeing the 2026 governor's race. Don Tracy, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party, confirmed to Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore that he is actively considering a bid for the state's top job.
'I'm taking a hard look at it,' Tracy told Moore, noting he's been 'making some calls' and that 'several people' have urged him to throw his hat into the ring.
The potential candidacy comes at a time when the Illinois GOP is in a prolonged wilderness stretch, failing to win a statewide race in nearly a decade.
Tracy may be the Republican to change that. He's a Springfield attorney and businessman with ties to the party's donor class. And though he stepped down as chair last year, Tracy's name still carries weight in Republican circles.
It wouldn't be easy. Incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire with virtually unlimited resources and a finely tuned political operation, announced in June that he will seek a third term. The governor has already signaled an aggressive campaign that focuses on attacking extremism.
THE BUZZ
SILLY SEASON: It turns out Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry isn't endorsing fellow Commissioner Donna Miller's bid for Congress after all.
Last week, Miller's campaign trumpeted endorsements featuring suburban mayors and 10 of her County Board colleagues, including Lowry. It seemed like a show of unity.
Not so fast. After seeing our report on the endorsements, Lowry's political spokesperson said he's not endorsing Miller, or anyone, in the IL-02 congressional race for the seat now held by Rep. Robin Kelly, who's running for U.S. Senate.
The back story: More than a year ago, Lowry agreed to endorse Miller if she were to run for Congress, and she in turn would endorse him if he ran for Cook County Board president, according to folks in both their camps. But since Board President Toni Preckwinkle is seeking reelection, Lowry's not running. Preckwinkle, meanwhile, is backing state Sen. Robert Peters in the race.
He said, she said: Lowry's team said they notified Miller's team in May about the non-endorsement. But Miller's team says Lowry's team signaled earlier this month that he was supporting her.
The takeaway: In Illinois politics, alliances can be fragile and timing is everything.
If you are Bill Lowry, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
WHERE'S JB
At Lessie Bates Senior Circle Cafe in East St. Louis at 11 a.m. to hold a roundtable discussion addressing SNAP cuts
WHERE's BRANDON
At City Hall at 9:30 a.m. for his regular media briefing — At the Rainbow Push Coalition at 6 p.m. for the Community Youth Lakeside Chat
Where's Toni
No official public events
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— In IL-09: Daniel Biss has been endorsed by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim in his bid for the open IL-09 congressional seat. 'Daniel Biss is a tough advocate and effective leader for the people he has served,' Pappas said in a statement. 'He has been responsible with public money and made smart investments for his communities.'
— In IL-02: The IAM Union, formally known as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, has endorsed Robert Peters in the IL-02 congressional district race. Peters is a state senator who chairs the Illinois Senate Labor Committee.
— State Sen. Sue Rezin, who serves as deputy Republican leader, is returning to the trail. 'After a lot of thought and discussions, I have decided to run for reelection to protect taxpayers' pocketbooks, strengthen public safety and keep and grow good-paying jobs right here at home in the 38th Senate District,' she said in a statement. Rezin has been serving in the General Assembly since 2010. Her launch video is here.
THE STATEWIDES
— Gov. JB Pritzker signs two more gun control measures: One requires Illinoisans to more quickly report lost firearms, and another mandates law enforcement agencies statewide participate in a federal gun tracing platform, by the Tribune's Olivia Olander and Jeremy Gorner.
— Hospitals are scaling back trans care for youth. A rapid response team is stepping in: 'The team has a network of practitioners in Illinois who don't rely on payments from the federal government, which threatens to cut funding to gender-affirming care providers,' by WBEZ's Kristen Schorsch.
— Rate increases, express lanes, new highways considered in tollway's latest strategic plan: 'Board directors on Monday approved a 20-year road map that intertwines road building and repairs with 'innovation, equity and sustainability,' by the Daily Herald's Marni Pyke.
— ComEd closes $10M customer relief fund after 70,000 applications, by the Tribune's Robert Channick
CHICAGO
— Chicago Public Schools official tells families budget cuts will mean changes on their campuses: 'Students may see fewer hot school meals, delays in updating technology, fewer crossing guards and other changes,' by Chalkbeat's Mila Koumpilova.
— Restaurants feeling impact of tariff uncertainty, policy shifts: 'New ordinances have required Chicago restaurants to give workers paid time off and higher hourly wages. Cook County property taxes have risen, and rents alongside them. Add in broad economic factors, and Chicago restaurants' labor and product costs have increased more than 35 percent since 2020, according to the Illinois Restaurant Association,' by Crain's Ally Marotti.
COOK COUNTY
— Rolling Meadows hopes for redevelopment near Bears' potential new home: 'The visibility of this location is really important as far as a gateway into and out of our community, and especially knowing what might be coming in the future down the road, that may make this site a highly desirable development site,' City Manager Rob Sabo said, by the Daily Herald's Christopher Placek.
SPOTTED
— Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul hosted a fundraiser Monday at Joy District in Chicago for Virginia Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. In the room: Congresswoman Robin Kelly, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Rep. Kim duBuclet, Ald. Matt Martin, former state Sen. Jacqueline Collins and former state Sen. Majority Leader James Clayborne.
TAKING NAMES
— Lenny Innocenzi, a restaurateur and community leader, has received the Highland Park Community Foundation's Jack Blane Community Service Award, named for longtime public servant Jack Blane. The award recognizes residents 'who go above and beyond in their dedication to the Highland Park-Highwood community.' Innocenzi is the former owner of Buffo's in Highwood and helped establish Highwood Days.
— George Lucas finally comes to Comic-Con to give a preview of his new museum, by The Associated Press' Andrew Dalton
Reader Digest
We asked what mascot besides an elephant and donkey you'd choose for the major political parties.
Michael Churchill: 'Pangolin because it would help raise awareness about endangered species that need our protection.'
Cynthia Ann Given: 'Tiger because it's independent and represents strength, courage and strategic thinking.'
Kent Gray: 'Niffler, from Harry Potter, for the Democratic Party.'
Lucas Hawley: 'The capybara for an anti-war or anti-interventionist party because it is peaceful and a friend to all.'
Jim Lyons: 'A female kangaroo. The pouch ... to store envelopes.'
Joseph Monack: 'A capybara because it brings peace and joy.'
Dennis Rendleman: 'For Independents, the pangolin. They are passive — their defense is to roll into a ball — and endangered, making them the most trafficked animals in the world. Other than eating only insects, they sound like Independents.'
Charlie Schlenker: 'A mugwump.'
NEXT QUESTION: Is it better to work inside the system for change, or challenge it from the outside?
KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION
— Durbin demands tapes of Ghislaine Maxwell interviews: 'The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee also pressed the Justice Department for a promise that Maxwell will not be pardoned for her cooperation in matters related to the Jeffrey Epstein files,' by The New York Times' Annie Karni.
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— Federal employees can pray and preach in the workplace under new Trump rules, by POLITICO's Gregory Svirnovskiy
— Trump, breaking with Netanyahu, acknowledges 'real starvation' in Gaza, by POLITICO's Myah Ward
IN MEMORIAM
— Hall of Famer and Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg dies after battle with prostate cancer: 'Sandberg still holds the modern-era franchise record for runs scored (1,316). Among right-handed hitters, he leads the pack in career singles (1,624) as a Cubs and triples in a single season (19 in 1984),' by the Sun-Times' Maddie Lee.
TRANSITIONS
— Tom Carney has been named assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. He's the former commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation.
— Devin Carpenter is now a partner in Honigman's Litigation Department. He joins from DLA Piper.
EVENTS
— Tonight: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is hosting a Community Town Hall featuring Democratic AGs Letitia James (New York), Keith Ellison (Minnesota), Peter Neronha (Rhode Island) and Nick Brown (Washington). Topic: The impact of federal actions on Illinois. RSVP here
— Tonight: Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) will host a town hall at Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium starting at 6:30 p.m.
— Tonight: State Sen. Bill Cunningham and state Reps. Mary Gill and Rick Ryan will host a 'Healthcare is a Human Right Town Hall' at 5:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Park Public Library in Chicago.
— Wednesday: It's National Cheesecake Day, and Eli's Cheesecake will be passing 45-cent slices at its Forest Preserve Drive location and free slices at three locations around Chicago. Here's where you can find them.
TRIVIA
MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Brandon Lee for correctly answering that the late California Sen. S.I. Hayakawa wrote for the Chicago Defender during the 1940s.
TODAY's QUESTION: Which Arlington Heights native and DePaul basketball alum spent a season coaching the Chicago Rockers of the Continental Basketball Association? Email your answer to: skapos@politico.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Ashley Jenkins-Jordan, the chief of staff for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon; Yusuf Nekzad, legislative director for Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski; broadcaster Sam Brief and former NBA star and Farragut Academy alum Tony Brown. And belated greetings to Kieran Lawless of Sen. Dick Durbin's office, who celebrated Monday.
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