A thread on IL-progressives and voting on Hakeem Jeffries

Kat once again using the “only viable candidates line” in her latest video

Somehow me and my bf solved the Midi in 0 seconds

One reason I got into this race is because Congress is broken and desperately out of touch with our neighbors. We DESERVE representation that meets people at their doors, in every corner of our big district. Sign up at mikesimmons.org to join this movement in the final stretch!

Another example: seems like they didn’t even change the phone number they’re sending these messages from These are supposed to be two separate super PACs and are established as such with the FEC

You can see the clear trajectory from “riding high off that one internal poll” ➡️ “mailing out photoshops of biss presenting hole” ➡️ “sweding watergate” in my texts from the same number over the past weeks. sad!

NEW – Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be in #IL09 on Friday for a canvass with Daniel Biss

Oops! Looks like "Chicago Progressive Partnership" (the supposedly separate super PAC running this attack ad) just outed themselves and confirmed the speculation that it's the same group (AIPAC) behind the pro-Fine/anti-Biss super PAC "Elect Chicago Women" aka: ECW "ECW: You are now opted-out..."

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly vowed Monday to vote against any more funding for the war launched by President Trump against Iran in the last debate in the Democratic primary to replace U.S. Sen. Durbin. Watch the full show here: https://to.wttw.com/4b0CBJF

Daniel Biss' campaign told me that he would not accept the lobby's support. Laura Fine's campaign, on the other hand, dodged the question, saying she “has the same rating as Daniel Biss and believes in common-sense regulation.” All Illinois questionnaire-submitters received an "A" rating. 8/9

NEW: A $5.2 million attack ad. An industry advocacy group. Billionaire Trump donor Ben Horowitz. In several Illinois primary races, they all connect to the crypto lobby, my analysis based on @followthecrypto.org found — and candidates may quietly be vying for its support. 🧵 1/9

We're hearing unconfirmable rapid response reports from this morning as well with a myriad of vehicles, including ones tied to Broadview Detention Center. We're also aware of the Airbus H125 'control' helicopter that has flown up the coastline.

I'm on the livethread team here with my colleagues. Please, if you see vehicles/have a report/know info/etc. in the Chicago area, let me know: [email protected] / DMs open (Signal or phone # on request).

Fwiw, the $20k spend was much smaller than the $165k ad buy on the previous attack ad which rehashed some political positions she took in high school

New anti-Abughazaleh ad from Chicago Progressive Partnership out today via text, calling her “totally fake” Pretty sure this is the $20k digital ad placement filed with the FEC on Saturday

LOLLLLL AIPAC SENT ME A TEXT

Another Midway Blitz defendant in Chicago is opting for trial, a federal judge is told this afternoon. This time it's Jose Mauricio Rosas-Hernandez:

Inbox: The Assyrian American PAC is endorsing Laura Fine in #IL09

Confirming the Daily's report: A source tells me rapid response teams are "on the lookout for two known ICE vehicles taking an extensive drive going east on Oakton from Park Ridge."

TONIGHT: Three Democratic candidates running for U.S. Senate join us in their last televised forum. We'll hear from Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi on issues like war powers, immigration and the cost of living. https://to.wttw.com/4k7Mvv6

Federal agents were seen in Park Ridge on Monday at around 1.07 p.m., according to an ICIRR alert at 1:59 p.m. The agents were traveling east on Oakton Street at the Northwest Highway in a black Nissan Pathfinder and black Dodge Ram, the alert read.

Something I really about Bushra Amiwala's campaign is how accessible she is. She's always super quick to answer any policy questions on her platforms and email

Trans rights are human rights, I have been very consistent and vocal on this issue at forums, debates, etc. 3 specific things I talk about: 1. Depoliticizing gender affirming care and preventing private insurance from declining coverage here (vote no on Do No Harm in Medicaid Act) - CONTINUED

What a great way to roll into the final days of the campaign! Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov will join Daniel Biss @danielbiss.bsky.social (and me 😁) in Evanston this Friday! Important note: it’s a “launch” not “lunch”. Sorry. www.mobilize.us/danielbiss/e...

Not Laura Fine trying to insert Mike Simmons in her latest Instagram reel 😭😭😭

SCOOP: Might the Biss campaign’s closing argument be an appeal to the fashionable socks demographic? good.store/products/asc...

Anti-Biss people (and AIPAC) being weirdly horny. A thread

For context, here's how many times the audience interrupted with applause during each of the candidates' closing statements: Kat - 1 Bushra - 3 Phil - 0 Jeff - 1 Sam - 0 Nick - 2 Mike - 5

👀👀

There is little marking Jackson’s ties to Greenville, SC, and its larger civil rights history today, but leaders and elders in the rapidly gentrifying community are making plans to honor their most famous son.

Throughout WTTW News' Voter Guide, you’ll find candidate profiles that include detailed, issue-based questionnaires and an easy-to-navigate compilation of legal bar association ratings for the sometimes difficult-to-navigate judicial races. https://to.wttw.com/4rS8B8f

“Detained with no cause. All she was told was that there was curious travel history,” said Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison. “The fact that this could happen to any U.S. citizen should terrify us all,” Morrison said. #JusticeforSunny

You might’ve heard: I’M RUNNING! With 9 days until Election Day, we need your help to sprint through the finish line!! Go to mikesimmons.org to chip in a small-dollar donation, volunteer with us, and find a platform + candidate that you can be proud to share with others: Let’s win this, together!

To every little girl who dreams of making change: I hope you see this campaign and know you can do it too. Happy International Women’s Day P.S we inspire the little boys too

so no regime change

Happening now at the Broadview, IL ICE facility: waiting for a press conference on the story of Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi, a US citizen who was reportedly detained by federal immigration agents at O'Hare Airport Thursday and ended up released from a detention facility in Wisconsin early Saturday morning.

Outside the Chicago area ICE facility in Broadview this afternoon, people are gathered for what should have been a relatively uneventful press conference explaining what happened with US citizens detained by CBP on Friday. Folks are now running down the street bc their vehicles were just towed.

Laura Fine is not taking to losing well

I'm so grateful to see Sunny reunited with her family back at home, and looking forward to telling her story tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who helped elevate her situation, showed up, and helped to get her released. #JusticeforSunny

Check out this feature from Evanston Now highlighting Bushra Amiwala’s campaign and the growing momentum across the 9th District. Read more here: evanstonnow.com/amiwalas-pit...

A thread of IL-09 candidate forum recordings

Brownie update

Choose your fighter: Overused IL-09 phrases edition “I fought the biggest bullies in Springfield” “This issue is deeply personal to me” “I don’t want you to vote for me based on where my daddy learned English”

Watching this rn. Here’s a TLDR Every time Bushra and Mike start speaking: Audience: WOOOO 👏👏👏👏👏👏

NEW: Super PAC “Progressive Values Illinois” just entered #ILSen. It is funded by billionaire Donald Wilson, a business partner of Trump Media. $101K backing Raja Krishnamoorthi $101K backing Robin Kelly $101K opposing Juliana Stratton

Putting into a big folder titled “Laura Fine Third Place Evidence”

My colleague Jack Baker broke yesterday allegations by Kat's campaign that Fine's field director attempted to covertly get info about campaign strategy. Today, Kat's campaign provided us video of the incident and named the alleged spy: Madeleine McGrath. McGrath has now deleted their LinkedIn.

Oh Fine's campaign is crashing and burning, isn't it?

The first bill I ever passed was the Jett Hawkins Act. Together with Jett and his mother Ida, we banned hair discrimination in all schools statewide because all kids deserve to be unapologetically themselves!

only 10 days left in the campaign, how over it/sick of it are we feeling from 1 to 10 i'm giving it a strong 7 to a light 8, with the knowledge i will absolutely hit 10 before the end of it (probably next weekend)