New Preckwinkle campaign poll: Toni Preckwinkle 53% Brendan Reilly 22% Undecided 25% For the boss of what is left of Cook County Democratic machine, this poll shows that she is vulnerable to a Chicago Alderman who is still unknown to the whole county.

Mayra Macías, former Latino Victory Project executive director, is launching an independent run in IL-4 after Rep. Chuy García’s handoff of the Democratic nomination to his chief of staff. She filed her FEC paperwork today.

IL DEM SENATE POLL: A new independent poll from Victory Research shows Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi leading with 29%, followed by Rep. Robin Kelly at 22% and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton st 18%.

Nice graphic by @adquig.bsky.social showing where Chicago property tax money goes: about 45% to CPS and 20% to the City. Recent inflation has let local governments raise their property tax levies by up to 5% each year without asking voters.

Plow tracker is live:

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas is in real danger of getting kicked off the ballot by progressive challenger Juanita Irizarry. A records exam found him 273 signatures short. He is trying to rehabilitate signatures before his 12/5 election board hearing, but it will be tough.

New dark money entity "Fair Share Project" is funding tens of thousands of untraceable funds to Juanita Irizarry's campaign by donating to the Empower Southwest and then donating to Irizarry. The address is an attorney office. Progressives are using the same tactics of old school politicians.

I used to get lunch at the Christkindlmarket, but now I cannot because of the long lines. I was only able to get in late at night once after waiting in a long line. And it is maddening, because it feels like there aren't many people once you get in.

Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez has filed FEC paperwork to run for Congress in IL-04 as an independent, for the seat Chuy García is vacating. To even make the ballot he’ll need a massive number of signatures, I've heard at least 11,000.

Cook County Sean Morrison announced that he stepping aside in the only Cook County Board district currently represented by a Republican. Former Commissioner Liz Gorman now becomes the GOP nominee by default. Gorman is the only other Republican who filed in the 17th District.

The House just passed a rare rebuke of Rep. Chuy García (D-IL) for quietly clearing the 2026 Dem primary field so his own chief of staff would be the only Democrat on the ballot. 23 Democrats joined almost all Republicans to back the “disapproval” resolution.

Cook County Treasurer and fashion icon Maria Pappas is running for Chicago Mayor.

House vote 206–211: Democrats fail to block debate on Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s resolution rebuking Rep. “Chuy” Garcia over his retirement flip that left only his chief of staff on the ballot. Gluesenkamp Perez and Jared Golden joined all Republicans.

Illinois Governor JB Pritkzer just donated $25.5 million to his campaign. Expect to start seeing commercials.

Congrats to whoever Kevin Ryan is, on winning the Democratic ballot lottery to be first on the ballot for the U.S. Senate seat Dick Durbin is vacating.

Congratulations to Dan Biss @danielbiss.bsky.social, who just won the ballot lottery and will be first on the ballot. With 10,000 candidates running for IL09, being first matters.

Dan Biss leads a new IL-09 Impact Research poll at 31%. Kat Abughazaleh is second with 17%, followed by Laura Fine at 10%. The other countless candidates (I think 12) are in single digits.

After decades in Chicago politics, I’ve finally reached peak clout: early access to the 2026 Maria Pappas calendar.

It's snowing! ❄️

Full moon over Chicago

🚨 Congressman Chuy Garcia Retires 🚨 Chuy's chief of staff Patty Garcia just filed to run for Congress in IL04. Chuy is retiring and will support Patty to run in his place. Garcia to replace Garcia (they’re not related).

A "close call" on deference to the executive's determination of an emergency? If trade deficits are an emergency, then so are Tuesdays. The word loses all meaning. See the brief signed by leading economists (and me): www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...

Influencer and candidate for Congress Kat Abughazaleh, local Democratic committeeman Michael Rabbitt, and Chicago aldermanic aide Cat Sharp were indicted by the Feds for allegedly blocked and damaged an ICE officer’s car at Broadview on Sept 26, 2025.

Wild. Hakeem Jeffries flies into Chicago and Springfield to say the Democratic House majority depends on Illinois redistricting… only for Illinois Dem leaders to say "no thanks."

Cook County Commissioners Bridget Gainer (10th, North Side), Tara Stamps (1st, West Side), and Sean Morrison (17th, West Suburbs) did not file petitions this morning. All other incumbents did. Opponents for Gainer and Morrison filed. One week remains.

“At least seven people were detained by agents during the mid-morning raid, including Jacqueline Lopez and Elianne Bahena, Rodriguez’s chief of staff, who is an elected member of the Ogden (10th) District Police Council. Both are U.S. citizens, Rodriguez said.” Lawless is the correct word rn.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, in office since 2010, raised $281K and spent $291K last quarter, ending with $621K cash. Her challenger, Ald. Brendan Reilly, raised $912K and spent $200K, closing with $1.4M — more than double the 15-year incumbent.

Chicago Inspector General: Mayor Johnson’s top advisor Jason Lee should be fired for refusing to cooperate in an ethics probe. The investigation centered on allegations Lee tried to trade removal of a West Loop homeless camp in Ald. Bill Conway’s ward for political support.

Kina Collins is back again. She is a progressive who thrice challenged Rep. Danny Davis, including a close 52–45 race in 2022. Kina filed to run for Congress once more in Illinois’ 7th District for 2026.

Michael Madigan is now at the Federal Prison Camp in Morgantown, West Virginia. “Country roads, take me home… to the place I belong.”

Billionaire Lester Crown just dropped $100,000 to back an Illinois statewide redistricting reform referendum 💰

My great-grandfather left Italy for New York in 1906, became a U.S. citizen in 1918, and made a home on 2418 Wentworth Ave in Chicago, once Italian, now the heart of Chinatown.

CUBS WIN! 🏳️‍

RIP Sister Jean, Loyola’s beloved icon.

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele is scheduled for her DUI trial from November 13–14, with a pretrial hearing on November 12. (That’s my reading of the handwritten court notes.)

Judge April Perry just set oral arguments for the National Guard lawsuit for Thursday. Illinois v. Trump.

Congressman Mike Quigley files paperwork with the Illinois state board of election to run for the mayor of Chicago

James Comey’s lawyer is Patrick Fitzgerald. In DC he is known as the prosecutor in the Scooter Libby case. In Chicago he is known as the U.S. attorney who convicted Gov. Blagojevich. He served under both Bush and Obama, something unheard of today.

Update: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson didn’t have the clout or votes to make Ald. Daniel La Spata chair of the Zoning Committee. Ald. Bennett Lawson will remain interim chair indefinitely.

IL-08 Democratic primary initial ballot: Bean 10, Ahmed 8, Morrison 5, Bankole 3, Tully 3, Khot 1, Others 1. Undecided 68. From Normington Petts, a pollster that has previously worked for Bean. #IL08

Mayor Brandon Johnson reshuffles Chicago city council chairs to bolster base and progressive support. Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) replaces Walter Burnett (27th) as Zoning chair; Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) named vice-mayor

Chicago South & West Side face massive tax hikes: 37,000+ properties saw assessments double since 2023. Median jumps hit 119–160% in Englewood, Roseland & North Lawndale (vs 22% citywide).

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas just broke the caps by donating $101,000 to herself. She has no known opponent for the 2026 Democratic primary. Pappas has not had a contested primary since 2018, when she won 82%. Maybe Pappas is fundraising for a 2027 Chicago mayor run?

Judge Tim Evans, who has served as Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court since September 2001, just lost in the second round of voting to Charles Beach to be the next chief judge. Chief Judge is elected in a ballot among judges.

Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly just dropped his Cook County Board President video. Not sure a white guy can beat Toni Preckwinkle, but he has $689,098.60 on hand and a downtown donor base youtu.be/mY102G3Rr8s

New UChicago NORC/Mansueto poll puts Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s approval at 26% and disapproval at 58%.

Indian American Impact sponsored and released this poll putting Raja Krishnamoorthi at 51%, over Juliana Stratton at 28%. I am skeptical. As a NW suburban congressman, 51% statewide this early feels high.

Oscar F. Mayer, the sausage king of Chicago

JB Pritzker’s public stock holdings, per his Illinois Statement of Economic Interest. Big names include GOOGL/GOOG, AMZN, AAPL, BRK, MCD, META, PG, DIS, and more. Disclosure threshold is $10k.