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Chicago Tribune
16 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Laura Washington: Chicago mayoral wannabes are already edging to the gate
Elections, elections. They never seem to stop coming at us. The next Chicago mayoral election comes in February 2027 — 19 months from now. The race unofficially kicked off last week. While no contestant has formally announced, the wannabes are already edging to the gate. Starting with Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Word is, she has been mulling a challenge to Mayor Brandon Johnson for months. Before her three-term stint as the state's chief financial officer, this high-energy politician served as an Illinois state representative and the city clerk for Chicago. She ran for mayor in 2019, coming in fifth in a nine-candidate field. If Mendoza were reelected as comptroller in November 2026, she would take office just months before the Feb. 23 mayoral election. Running for one office while turning around to bid for another is bad optics, not to mention a perilous juggling act. Hence, she called the news media to a restaurant in the Little Village neighborhood last week to announce that she would not seek a fourth term. Mendoza has pledged to serve out her current term, but she is surely testing the waters for a second mayoral run. 'I'm definitely leaving the door open,' she told reporters. She has plenty of not-so-indirect criticisms of Johnson's leadership. 'I think that Chicago is in dire need of competency, someone who understands the needs of the city,' she told reporters. 'I think we've had two very unsuccessful mayors in a row. So, Chicagoans, let me just say that Chicagoans deserve better; they deserve a lot better.' Johnson pushed back when he was asked about her comments: 'I don't think much about her candidacy,' he said. 'In fact, she tried this already, and apparently Chicagoans did not think too much of her candidacy, either.' Touché. Still, a chorus of critics and supporters alike has been weighing in on Johnson's tenure, spurred on by his low performance ratings in recent polls. A series of missteps and controversies have hamstrung Johnson's progressive agenda. Potential challengers are making the rounds to test the political waters. Given Johnson's vulnerabilities, he's sure to face a raft of challengers. Our incessantly talkative mayor isn't saying much about 2027, but he has heard the message. He's been hitting events and rallies in the city's African American neighborhoods, to bulk up his strongest base. The potential competition is getting itchy. That includes contenders such as Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. He is running for reelection in November 2026 and was endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party last week. He's widely believed to be hankering for a mayoral run. Unlike Mendoza, Giannoulias declined to pick a lane. Chicago business owner Willie Wilson has continued his philanthropic ways, hosting gas and grocery giveaways, writing op-eds and boosting his profile. He cultivates the limelight, with three previous runs for mayor and even a try for president of the United States. While Wilson captured about 10% in his mayoral forays, he may not be able to resist a fourth time around. Maria Pappas, the flamboyantly popular baton-twirling Cook County treasurer, has been feeding mayoral rumors, declaring at one point that she was open to a draft. Will Paul Vallas return for a grudge match? He lost the 2023 runoff to Johnson by 4 points. Since then, he has been a ubiquitous and angry Johnson critic. He would lean on his experience as a former Chicago Public Schools CEO and City Hall budget chief. That didn't work the first time, but who knows? Brendan Reilly, Bill Conway and Brian Hopkins are high-profile aldermen who know how to maneuver a microphone and have cultivated deep ties to the downtown corporate types. Their problem: If they mount a mayoral run, they must give up their City Council seats. That would be a rare move for a sitting City Council member. Janice K. Jackson, who also served as a CPS CEO, is stepping down from a four-year stint as the founding CEO of Hope Chicago, a nonprofit that offers debt-free college scholarships and wraparound services to students and parents. She has just been named executive director of Aspen Institute's education and society program. Jackson, who earned solid reviews for her leadership at CPS, could tout that experience in an appeal to voters. My wild card: Lisa Madigan. The former Illinois attorney general might resume her political career with a mayoral run. She left office in 2019 after serving four terms as the state's chief legal officer and previously served her North Side district as an Illinois state senator. Now in private practice at the law firm Kirkland and Ellis, Madigan could bring credibility and credentials to a serious campaign. Yes, Michael Madigan, the disgraced former Illinois speaker of the House, is her father. The sins of the father should not be visited on the daughter. While a certain U.S. president might wish so, elections are not going anywhere. More to come in the race for City Hall, and soon.
Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
Election 2026: Why Cook County Democrats are ditching Assessor Kaegi
The Cook County Democratic Party declined to endorse incumbent Assessor Fritz Kaegi for reelection and is instead supporting one of his opponents. The big picture: The powerful county Democrats endorsed Lyons Township Assessor Patrick Hynes, nephew of former Cook County assessor and influential Democrat Tom Hynes. Patrick Hynes once worked in Kaegi's office. Between the lines: Kaegi won in 2018 as a progressive reformer against the Cook County Democratic Party's preferred candidate, Joe Berrios. That's the same political machine that Tom Hynes built. Flashback: In 2010, the Better Government Association wrote that the county assessor's office had traditionally been "one of the plummest of the plum political jobs — a bastion for patronage and big campaign donations." It was those stories, plus a scathing investigative report about Berrios by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica, that led to Kaegi being elected. Yes, but: Kaegi's two terms have been rocky. He's fended off criticism that he is responsible for massive residential tax hikes while routinely butting heads with the other property tax offices that are more firmly entrenched with the party. Zoom in: The election will put the entire Cook County property tax system in the spotlight. Assessments, appeals and payments have been rife with problems since the pandemic. Since Kaegi started reassessing properties, taxpayers have complained of being blindsided by the increases. There have also been delays in bills, including the next one. Reality check: The delays have widely been blamed on hiccups after the county hired a technology partner to help digitize their antiquated systems.
Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
A Democratic family feud averted
Happy Monday, Illinois. And a h/t to my neighbors who made the block party a hit. TOP TALKER STAYING NEUTRAL: The Cook County Democratic Party has opted to support an open primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, rather than endorse a specific candidate. That means a Democratic family drama has been averted, at least for now. A battle looms among Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi and a few other lesser known candidates ahead of the March primary. The party didn't share who supported whom, but Stratton heralded the backing she got from 14 committee members, each of whom has a weighted number of votes based on their constituency. The Democrats' non-endorsement came after Gov JB Pritzker's team talked to committee members ahead of the vote, and Krishnamoorthi and Kelly also made calls to gather support. It would have been a challenge for any of the three to get the 50 percent plus one needed to win the endorsement. There's still family drama: Patrick Hynes, the Lyons Township assessor, won the endorsement nod for Cook County assessor after he organized support against incumbent Assessor Fritz Kaegi. Kaegi is now running as an outsider, a position he's familiar with since that's how he first was elected in 2018. More from the Tribune's Rick Pearson and A.D. Quig. And in the scramble to replace Susana Mendoza as state comptroller, state Rep. Margaret Croke won the party leaders' backing, even amid complaints from Senate President Don Harmon and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that the Democratic-backed ticket lacks Latino and/or Asian voices. Capitol News' Andrew Adams has details. The next question is whether state Sen. Karina Villa and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim stay in the primary race. They would join George Danos, the Champaign County auditor, who's also running for state comptroller and also presented at slating. Here's a full list of endorsements by the Cook County Democrats. THE BUZZ DUTY CALLS: Christian Mitchell, who was just tapped as Pritzker's lieutenant governor running mate for the 2026 campaign, is already taking a break from the campaign trail. There's a good reason: 'I've been called into active training with the Air Force,' he told Playbook. Mitchell is a JAG officer, serving as a judge advocate and lawyer in the Guard. Mitchell serves one weekend a month plus two weeks a year. This time, it's a longer stint. Timing isn't great, but … Mitchell says the service can't be paused. 'Tens of thousands of people in the National Guard are nurses, firefighters, teachers. When the state called during Covid or the 2019 floods, they answered. I don't want to do any less,' he told your Playbook host after he stood before Cook County Democrats on Friday for their slating event. Pritzker's take? 'The governor's been very supportive,' Mitchell said. When he returns to the campaign trail in the fall, the political season will be getting into full swing as campaign teams will be gathering petition signatures. If you are Don Harmon, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB At the Salt Shed at 6 p.m. for the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference WHERE's BRANDON At 1116 West Argyle Street at 8:30 a.m. for the CTA Red and Purple Modernization Project Argyle Station grand opening Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ SPOTTED BIPARTISAN MOVES: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy sat down together Sunday in Chicago to talk about the issue that transcends partisan politics — climate. 'It could be one of those issues that keeps dividing the country, or it's a real opportunity to bring the country together on a whole host of things,' Dunleavy said during their appearance at the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference in Chicago This wasn't about politics, but … Whitmer took a careful swipe at her party for fixating on ideological purity. 'There are folks who want things to end up perfect — and perfect is often just not possible,' she told the crowd gathered at the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago. Also at the conference: U. of C. economics professor Michael Greenstone (who moderated the Whitmer/Dunleavy Q&A), Intersect Illinois CEO Christy George, state Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet, Illinois Finance Authority Executive Director Chris Meister, ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones, World Business Chicago innovation Chair Mark Tebbe, Hire360 Executive Director Jay Rowell, Ariel Investment Senior VP John Oxtoby, former White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi, Evergreen Climate Innovations CEO Michelle Carr, Climate Jobs Illinois' Chynna Hampton, P33 Chicago's Tifair Hamed MaRS Climate Innovation board member Natalia Moudrak, climatologist Tom Skilling and Kobi Weinberg and Rachel Star, co-founders of Chicago Climate Corps. BUSINESS OF POLITICS — Paul Kendrick is exploring a run for the Illinois 12th District House seat that's now opened up with state Rep. Margaret Croke running for state comptroller. Kendrick works for the education organization Hope Chicago. He's also an Obama White House alum and worked on the 2018 Pritzker for governor campaign. — The Anosh Inc. Foundation, a nonprofit focused on community development and public service, has formed an Illinois Super PAC. The foundation was founded by Chicago physician and philanthropist Dr. Anosh Ahmed. The PAC will address local issues such as rising property taxes, public safety, and transparent governance, according to a statement. THE STATEWIDES — Companies warn Illinois will be 'toxic tort' capital if bill is signed, but lawyers call it 'fundamental fairness: 'The legislation would allow anyone harmed by exposure to a toxic substance anywhere in the U.S. to file a lawsuit in Illinois against the company that's responsible, provided it's registered with the state,' by the Daily Herald's Marni Pyke. — Chicago activists urge Pritzker to pass law to make polluters pay for climate change damages, by the Tribune's Adriana Pérez — Conservation practices needed to protect Illinois farmers as topsoil loss increases, experts say, by the Tribune's Brandon Chew — Opinion | State Rep. Anna Moeller on Medicaid cuts: 'Illinois will be hit particularly hard,' via the Daily Herald CHICAGO — Inside America's quiet safety revolution: How local leaders are cutting crime without more cops: ' Johnson's administration has invested in public schools, parks, and programs to support vulnerable residents—all while navigating a politically resistant city and statewide apparatus,' says Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice, via Richard Fowler in Forbes. — Chicago mayors and their inspector generals: a contentious relationship that almost always ends badly: 'Deborah Witzburg decided not to seek the second term that Mayor Brandon Johnson almost certainly would deny her. It's not the first time that the relationship between a Chicago mayor and inspector general has soured,' by the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — NASCAR Chicago street race isn't coming back next year, but could, by Block Club's Stephen Montemayor — ICE arrests increase across Chicago under Trump, many with no convictions, data shows, by the Tribune's Joe Mahr and Nell Salzman COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Bridget Degnen joins exodus from Cook County Board: 'Once rumored to be thinking about running for board president if incumbent Toni Preckwinkle stepped down, Degnen instead said she would serve the remainder of her term through December 2026, and then consider her next career move,' by the Tribune's A.D. Quig. — Suburban mayors worry that pending transit legislation would reduce their authority over land use near stations, by the Daily Herald's Marni Pyke — First look inside Northwestern's $862M new Ryan Field, by Front Office Sports' Colin Salao. — Aurora City Council to vote on doubling hotel room tax, by the Aurora Beacon-News' R. Christian Smith — Home values: The National Association of Counties has endorsed Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi's request that the federal government's Federal Housing Finance Agency release appraisal information on home interiors, according to a statement. Kaegi, who's seeking re-election, says the data would help to more accurately determine property values. ILLINOIS' POPE — Will Pope Leo forge greater LGBTQ+ inclusion? Chicago-area Catholics pray for 'reconciliation rather than division,' by the Tribune's Angie Leventis Lourgos — Pope Leo XIV renews his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, by Dario Artale and the Associated Press Reader Digest We asked who the best Marvel superhero would be as president. Matthew Beaudet: 'Captain America, not for his physical strength but because he's still Steve Rogers — the scrawny kid who stood up to bullies and put others and the country above himself.' Carol Hughes: 'Captain America, though I also would vote for Black Widow. Both are proven leaders with a heart.' Charles Keller: 'Groot, because he already has a waste management company and could haul the trash out of DC.' Jim Lyons: 'Captain America.' Terry Poulos: 'Superman. He always tells the truth, except when snakes like Lex Luthor require 'handling.'' Ed Mazur: 'The Scarlet Witch who can alter reality itself and can tap into magical forces.' Alison Pure-Slovin: 'Wonder Woman for her strength, compassion and commitment to truth and justice. AND because she is a WOMAN!' Eira Corral Sepulveda: 'With climate change being the greatest existential threat of our times, my vote goes to Storm.' Peter Skosey: Superman of course, 'Truth, Justice and the American Way!'' Matt Sullard: 'Captain America! His penchant for fairness and doing the right thing would be very welcome, as would his eternal and inspiring hope.' Erika Weaver: 'Queen Ramonda of Wakanda! Wakanda forever.' NEXT QUESTION: What album would you take with you on a desert island? KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Bipartisan legislation: Republican Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) and Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) joined in introducing the Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience (COUNTER) Act of 2025. It would require the U.S. to develop a strategy to counter China's growing military base network. THE NATIONAL TAKE — How the Trump tax cuts ballooned, by POLITICO's Taylor Miller Thomas, Paula Friedrich and Jonathan Lai — Republicans' food aid cuts will hit grocers in many towns that backed Trump, by POLITICO's Rachel Shin — Andy Beshear introduces himself to South Carolina, with an eye toward 2028, by POLITICO's Elena Schneider KUDOS — C-Strategies, a Chicago-based communications and public-affairs firm, won two national Bulldog PR Awards, including silvers for midsize agency of the year and PR professional of the year for Becky Carroll, who heads the firm. IN MEMORIAM — First District Appellate Court Justice Thomas E. Hoffman dead at 77: 'His opinions were golden,' by the Sun-Times' Violet Miller — Ed Feulner, founder of the Heritage Foundation and an Illinois native who served as an aide to Republican Congressman Phil Crane, has died. Details here — Frederick Ford, first Black president of Union League Club, dies at 98, by the Sun-Times' Kade Heather TRANSITIONS — Janice Jackson has been named executive director of Aspen Institute's education and society program, which is focused on improving public education outcomes by working with education and policy leaders. She was CEO of Hope Chicago nonprofit and before that was CEO of Chicago Public Schools. TRIVIA FRIDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to La'Mont Williams for correctly answering that Cincinnati Base Ball Club (aka the Cincinnati Red Stockings) was the first pro sports team to play a game in Illinois. The team traveled to Quincy to play the local amateur Occidental Senior Base Ball Club on Oct. 18, 1869. The Red Stockings received a $250 fee plus expenses and won the game 51 to 7. TODAY's QUESTION: What South Side building was known for its large ballroom and being the center of Jazz and Blues music? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY State Sen. Bill Cunningham, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Erika Orr, Cook County Circuit Court Judge John Mulroe, We Are RALLY Director Sean Anderson, Law Center for Better Housing Executive Director Mark Swartz, campaign consultant Enza Raineri, PR pro Amanda Berrios and NBC 5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern -30-
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
The Tribune's Quotes of the Week quiz for July 19
Temperatures cooled down in Chicago this week, but there was plenty of heat at City Hall. Mayor Brandon Johnson's granny flat ordinance was stalled by opponents, efforts to override the mayor's veto of a teen curfew rule failed and City Council members began jockeying to be the next Zoning Committee chair as Ald. Walter Burnett vacates the position at the end of the month. The midterm election may seem far away, but many races are well underway. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for Sen. Dick Durbin's soon-to-be-empty seat, is already airing ads. The Cook County Democratic Party began issuing endorsements (or in some cases, no endorsements) this week. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza appears to be eyeing a second mayoral bid after announcing her decision to not to run for reelection as the state's top fiscal officer. And in the very crowded primary for Illinois' 9th Congressional District, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss earned the support of fellow progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren. On Thursday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Chicago and in cities across the nation to protest President Donald Trump and his policies. Meanwhile, the president — still facing criticism over his handling of records in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case — asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to unseal grand jury transcripts, and the House scrambled to put forward a resolution calling for transparency regarding the Epstein files. It wasn't a great week for national media. Congress approved $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which will impact NPR, PBS and hundreds of other locally-operated television and radio stations across the country. 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' was also canceled by CBS, with the host announcing Thursday that the final episode will air in May 2026. Plus, it was a week full of All-Stars. The MLB's Midsummer Classic was Tuesday, and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong made his All-Star debut alongside a slew of other youngsters and rookies on the winning National League team. And in the midst of collective bargaining negotiations with players, the WNBA is hosting their All-Star festivities. If you're looking for something to do this weekend, take your crew out for a slice of the city's newest delicacy: the Chicago Dog Deep Dish pizza, a collaboration between Lou Malnati's and Portillo's. Well that's it for this week! Now for the fun stuff. Here's the Tribune's Quotes of the Week quiz for July 13 to 19. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mendoza could skip all-important Cook County meeting amid rumors of mayoral bid
CHICAGO (WGN) — In the 2026/2027 game of chess, another piece has moved. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is signaling she might be eyeing a different office. Mendoza, first elected in 2016, may skip the all-important Cook County Democratic Party slating meeting later this week. 'That, to me, is kind of like a trigger point. I know her folks are saying, 'Well, it's kind of a pro forma thing and they could still slate her if she didn't show up,' But I think not showing up is an indication of how, as her people have pledged, she's only going to run for one office, she's not going to run for two offices,' said Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson. WGN INVESTIGATES: A spokesman for Mendoza said in a statement that the comptroller is 'weighing her options. This is what (she's) been saying for weeks and it has not changed. She will make her decision on her own timetable.' Mendoza, credited with retiring a multi-billion-dollar bill backlog for the state, has positioned herself as a fierce critic of progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson. Mendoza recently penned a Tribune op-ed ripping Johnson's handling of Chicago Public School finances, fueling speculation that Mendoza could run for mayor in 2027. 'She questions his competence (and) his financial acumen,' Pearson said. 'The comptroller position kind of gave her a platform, an elevated platform, as she puts the heat on him.' MORE FROM WGN'S TAHMAN BRADLEY: Mendoza ran before in 2019, when she placed fifth in the crowded contest with 9 percent of the vote. Much like the last two elections, the 2027 mayoral contest will likely be crowded with several high-profile names generating buzz, including Mendoza, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Congressman Mike Quigley, Alderman Bill Conway, City Clerk Anna Valencia, and former CPS CEO Janice Jackson. 'Because of what we've seen in polling about the mayor, people sense an opportunity here,' Pearson said. 'We won't let it stand': Chicago Teachers Union calls for state aid amid budget deficit Mayor Brandson Johnson has not officially launched a re-election effort. Nobody is running yet. But speculation will only keep building over the next year and a half. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
