I also got another mailer from Biss' state-lvl cmte, which is being used for his bid for state central committeeman, attacking Laura Fine on AIPAC funding. As I've noted, they're technically not direct opponents in that race, and a Fine surrogate already reported Biss to the FEC over another mailer.

Another day, another batch of Elect Chicago Women spending in IL-09. The AIPAC-backed super PAC added another $52k supporting Laura Fine w/ media production and phone messages, and another $131k opposing Daniel Biss w/ direct mail and phone messages. Updated totals: $2.85mm pro-Fine, $815k anti-Biss

I appreciate that I'm not the only person covering this now, but a little bit of credit for breaking this back in *October* would've been nice

concentration camp profiteers

new: highlands reit, a small chicago-based real estate firm, is renting an empty prison it owns in colorado to ice and private prison giant geo group. highlands is part of a network of private contractors hoping to get a cut of the $45 billion allocated to warehouse immigrants through 2029.

Post old memes to confuse you- hey wait a second

Another little tell that the mailer is fake: It advises to "take a photo of this card with you to vote". Voters can take sample ballots like this into the photo booth with them, no photo needed! Local Dem parties know this, and many put that advice on the sample ballot itself, e.g. the two below

If you were on Bluesky a couple nights ago when I dropped the ERT poll, you might've briefly seen my ramble about how no one ever gets our name right — it's RoundTable, one word and two capital letters! But at least it's long and has weird capitals. This repeated "Bliss" mistake is just silly lol

In the second independent poll of the Democratic primary race to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, about 22% of respondents remain undecided. Breaking down its results hints at which voters are still up for grabs. — Reported by @ryaninevanston.bsky.social

New analysis of this poll @thedailynu.bsky.social: The most interesting part of this poll is the crosstabs. For instance: Abughazaleh is successfully targeting younger voters and Fine/Biss are successfully targeting older voters. But 3 in 10 respondents aged 46 to 65 remain undecided.

Paris said they're gonna talk about super PAC spending after the ad break, and then the ad break immediately starts with four (4) super PAC ads in a row.... Perfect, no notes

Watching the FOX 32 debate, and Paris said "Threats to democracy" is the top polling issue on IL-9... Wonder where he got that from 🤭

lmao @ daniel "bliss"

It's done, it's posted, holy shit we bought a poll, cheers to Flourish, it looks way better in the story, I'm gonna get back to shooting pool now kthxbye

IL-09 POLL: In an @evanstonroundtable.bsky.social/PPP poll of likely Dem voters in IL-09, Daniel Biss remains the frontrunner at 24%, followed by Kat Abughazaleh at 17% and Laura Fine at 16%, and all others at 6% or less; undecideds stay high at 22%. Polled Feb. 20-21, MOE 4.4%. See below for more!

Goddammit do drafts not carry photos between devices

Aaaaand now the Biss campaign has announced another FEC complaint against the Fine campaign alleging improper coordination between it and the super PAC Elect Chicago Women, specifically around Fine ending her TV ad buys just before ECW started to buy its own.

Well, the Fine campaign is aware of this ad too, just now sending an email announcing an FEC complaint was filed against Biss accusing him of "spending nonfederal funds in connection with a federal election" in violation of fed law and regs. Includes a comparison btwn the mailer + his red box page.

hint #1 for my secret thing dropping later today: i will be toasting flourish tonight for making it look awesome

I am disgusted this happened to Senator Simmons. Even in a district as diverse as ours, we are reminded all too frequently that Black and brown communities bear the burden of overpolicing. We stand in solidarity with Mike.

soon

Arriving home I found that earlier today I received not one, not two, but *three* different pro-Laura Fine mailers, all paid for by the AIPAC-backed Elect Chicago Women super PAC.

you know, when i get worn out covering il-9 24/7, i can always count on a 5-hour-long evanston city council meeting to bring me back to my reporting roots

The Broadview Six defendants' motion today is quite damming, with multiple images of those charged either nowhere near the car as it drives through the crowd of protesters or evidence that seems to contradict the government's assertion of a "conspiracy" by the protesters

SCOOP: IL-9 congressional candidate and current state senator Mike Simmons had police called on him in Buena Park while canvassing for votes. No arrest was made. Here’s the video of the interaction @senmikesimmons.bsky.social recorded and shared with me.

not even noon on monday and i'm already getting read in the work group text smh

Got this interesting mailer from Daniel Biss' state campaign committee, contrasting him with congressional opponent Laura Fine. The mailer isn't about the congressional campaign though, it's about their simultaneous runs for state central committeeperson -- in which they actually *aren't* opponents.

i'd hit a pentuple axel every time he yells "THERE'S A BOMB IN MY CAAAAARRR"

laura fine kicked this off after catching shade for aipac in earlier questions, which didn't have a rebuttal, with "i'm tired of being a punching bag" and trying to make "Dansplaining" happen and then biss got up and rebutted on his position paper to aipac then kat, then phil, then bushra...

so the pink poster club forum has a rebuttal system during the "deep dive" round on specific topics, where you get one (1) 90s rebuttal per like, 6 questions everyone but mike simmons used theirs back to back to call out stuff about aipac etc etc at the very start on an unrelated question lol

At the Pink Poster Club form for IL-9 tonight with the top 6 candidates. Started with a lightning round using yes/no paddles, and while there were WAY too many to share here, I want to share Q1: have you seen Heated Rivalry? Five waved no, Mike Simmons *emphatically* waved yes lol

Here's that positive ad for Biss, complete with his ICE red box points and music straight out of a pick-up truck commercial. Now we wait for the negative ad on Fine

Anyone here use Klaxon to help mobitor website changes? If so please DM because this shit is noooot working for me lol

Biss boosted: the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC is rolling in with six-figure support for Daniel Biss, who got the group's endorsement back in November. I'm seeing $342,724 in cable ad buys that run from yesterday thru March 8/15, split between two different contracts.

Biss boosted: the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC is rolling in with six-figure support for Daniel Biss, who got the group's endorsement back in November. I'm seeing $342,724 in cable ad buys that run from yesterday thru March 8/15, split between two different contracts.

Scott wins, the story with low views but numerous comments is about the Chicago Stars FC's application to move to Northwestern's Ryan Field for a few seasons. Specifically this one about a councilmember who works for NU being cleared by legal to vote on the app instead of abstaining:

IL-9 really is the gift that keeps giving bc this guy's technically been in the race since before Biss (FEC cmte created on May 11) and y'all are just now discovering him lol I remember saying to @mattheweadie.bsky.social "nah no way he actually files," only to eat crow on the last day of filing

Y'all are gonna really like the secret thing 👀

🧵 Hello all, I've been very busy creating election resources for the @evanstonroundtable.bsky.social, but I also suck at plugging them — so I'm gonna put them all into this thread! All of our coverage + resources on the primary can be found on our landing page: evanstonroundtable.com/2026elections

as much as i'm hyperfixated on IL-9 right now (especially on here), those stories just don't get these types of numbers lmao — points to anyone who can guess the topic without cheating

Totally uncoordinated, I’m sure

Oh hey, there's Biss on CBS2! He dropped $12,550 on spots thru this coming monday for his 30s ad ft. Jan and AIPAC. Not his fault I missed it, it's nc the station decided to upload the contract materials uhhhhh after the ads already started airing lol

not to start live reacting 4hrs late but oooookay this is really dumb not gonna find exactly what hoan said but i know this case, and a) biss was sued as the mayor, not *individually*, b) he was dropped as a defendant anyway, and c) the slumlord *actually* being sued finally settled like 8mos ago

we will never know peace from that godforsaken popeyes saga

Simpsons did it first

Daniel Biss has a new ad out this morning, his first on broadcast TV. Heavily features Jan Schakowsky, who says "AIPAC and Trump donors are attacking" Biss and she "won't stand by and let them pick my successor." Does not mention opponent Laura Fine, whom AIPAC is supporting.

Scrolling through FCC filings again and just stumbled on something interesting (not IL-9, for once): crypto super PAC Fairshake is payong $6400 to air some ads starting this week on TheU 26. Seems to be issue-only ads with no candidates mentioned. The sole program slot of choice? Judge Judy.

Still waiting for an answer, btw.

A tale in four pictures: 1) I ask Fine's campaign about the timing of their ads ending, and Elect Chicago Women's starting. 2) They respond without answering the question, and go after Biss. 3) Fine's redbox page, with points that match the attack on Biss. 4) My folo, which is still unanswered.

Taking time now to comb through filings for Fine + Kat, and I quickly noticed something across three major channels: Fine's campaign spent BIG on OTA TV ads thru 01/31, and then just... stopped cold. 02/01 happens to be when super PAC donos went dark until post-election. A coincidence, I'm sure.