Republican Congressman John Shimkus, of downstate Collinsville, is making a long-shot bid for chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Politico is reporting. The downstate congressman will become the most powerful Illinois Republican in Congress if he can bypass several other, more senior congressman for the seat. more ›

Despite speculation that Mayor Daley's impending retirement from the position of Mayor for Life™ might lead to City Council meddling with his budget, it was instead approved by the City Council’s Budget Committee Monday. With only one amendment, restoring $3.5 million in funding cuts to local chambers of commerce and other neighborhood planning groups, the budget passed committee. A final vote on the budget by the entire council is set for November 17th. more ›

City Clerk Miguel Del Valle held a press conference Monday to dispel rumors that he was dropping out of the race for mayor. “Under no circumstances will I leave the race for mayor,” Del Valle said, responding to a column published over the weekend by Michael Sneed claiming that he's “negotiating for a top position with the Chicago Public Schools in exchange for his exit from the mayoral race.” more ›

In a show of collegiality strikingly missing in this election cycle, Senator-elect Mark Kirk and defeated Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias met at the Billy Goat Tavern last night for a beer. “Alexi and I, during this campaign, we discussed having a beer when this is all over,” Kirk told CBS2. “The first round is on me.” more ›

Forrest Claypool, who launched an independent bid against Democrat Joe Berrios for Cook County Tax Assessor, lost last night. Claypool told WBEZ that he was counting on the suburban "protest" vote to put him over the top. Unfortunately for Claypool, that vote never materialized, putting Berrios firmly in the assessor's seat. more ›

For me, like many voters that tend to punch the Democratic button in the ballot booth, this election is a shock, even if we saw the train wreck coming months in advance. I remember being in Washington, D.C. on election night 2008, when a spontaneous demonstration of Obama supporters broke out in front of the White House, when I heard people running through the streets of DuPont Circle shrieking and yelling in elation. I remember thinking that, like we still talk about "Reagan Democrats," we might soon be talking about "Obama Republicans." Like some of the president's advisers, I think I underestimated the newly-minted minority party, and overestimated the Democrats in congress. more ›

Thanks to the magic of pop-up ads, Chicagoist discovered Wal-Mart's foray into electoral politics this morning. Walmart Community Votes "is dedicated to providing you with the resources, tools, and information to help you make that decision - in a non-partisan and objective format," by connecting users with information on where and how to vote, as well as links to who the elected officials in a given area are, and who the candidates in a given race are. The site isn't very profound as far as content goes - they've only offered printed responses to a questionnaire sent to the two major-party candidates in Illinois. What's more, it appears that only Mark Kirk filled out the questionnaire. more ›

Yesterday, we talked about the tenuous relationship that mainstream Republican candidates have with Tea Party activists. To wit: GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady will be attending a Tea Party event in Will County, but isn't promoting it as such. Now Mark Kirk will be joining Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown (along with Bill Brady) on Halloween at Joe's Bar on Weed Street. more ›

Republican candidate for governor Bill Brady sent out an email Monday inviting supporters to join him in Will County's Homer Glen for the "final stop on Brady's suburban ‘Clean Break Express' tour." What Brady's email failed to mention is that the event is hosted by the Will County Tea Party Alliance. more ›

On the heels of the revelation that Mark Kirk will deploy "voter integrity" squads to majority black voting districts around the state, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias's lawyers have sent letters to state’s attorneys, county clerks and the Illinois attorney general asking that additional resources be set aside to make sure that Kirk's plan doesn't become voter suppression. In a letter sent to Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, letter, Michael Dorf of Adduci, Dorf, Lehner, Mitchell and Blankenship, PC, asks that Alvarez "investigate this voter suppression program that Congressman Kirk and the Republican party officials have planned." Dorf also asks that "in areas Congressman Kirk is targeting, your office provide additional legal and law enforcement personnel in order to ensure that every vote is cast and counted legally." more ›

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk, who's locked in a close race with Democrat Alexi Giannoulias for Barack Obama's former Senate seat, is sending "voter integrity" squads to "key, vulnerable precincts, for example, South and West sides of Chicago, Rockford, Metro East, where the other side might be tempted to jigger the numbers somewhat," according to a private conversation that was secretly recorded and released to the media last week. more ›

And it seems like the candidates are full-swing into campaign mode. more ›

On tour in Illinois yesterday with New Jersey's Republican Governor, Chris Christie, GOP Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady got caught up in some difficult questions about how he'll handle the state's ballooning budget deficit. Brady called Christie "an inspiration" for cutting New Jersey's budget, but refused to discuss specifics of either the cuts he would propose or the borrowing he would consider, and cut short his news conference when the local media pressed him for details on how to handle the state's $13 billion budget hole. more ›

Another day, another Rahm Emanuel-related news item. While Rahm is widely expected to announce his candidacy this Friday, a group of Chicagoans are asking Rahm not to leave D.C.: immigration reform advocates. Maria Pesqueira, president of Mujeres Latinas en Acción, has asked Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and Chicago congressman Luis Gutierrez, both Democrats, to ask Emanuel to stay in Washington until immigration reform has become law. more ›

Illinois's election law has changed, and now anyone can vote by mail by requesting an absentee ballot. The Equality Illinois Education Project produced this video to get the word out about the possibilities Illinois voters can now experience when casting a ballot. more ›

Joe Berrios, who is running for Cook County Assessor, filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against the Better Government Association, claiming that they have misused their nonprofit status by getting involved in politics. "The BGA has crossed the line in their biased reports on the Cook County Assessor's race," Berrios said in a statement. "I believe the federal government should investigate whether Executive Director Andy Shaw and the BGA board of directors have violated the income tax law by filing a false exemption." Among the allegations that the Berrios campaign is making against the BGA is that many of the people that have made donations to the organization have also donated to the Claypool campaign, and that BGA has been issuing "one-sided reports about the Cook County assessor's race which show that the organization is attempting to persuade voters to elect Claypool, who is the candidate backed by the organization's major contributors," Berrios said. more ›

A host of ethics reforms approved earlier this week by the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed the full board Wednesday. Key among those reforms is a ban on doing political work, including lobbying, while on the county clock or using county resources, such as telephones or office space. The board also voted to require candidates for assessor or the Board of Review to return campaign contributions in excess of $1,500 from from lawyers and individuals that appear before the board seeking lower property tax assessments. more ›

Republican Senate Candidate Mark Kirk is launching a new ad today, targeted at Spanish-speaking voters with roots outside of the United States. The ad, in which Kirk shows off his Spanish-speaking chops, touts the congressman's efforts to bring together families that are split between the U.S. and Mexico. "I coordinated the Project 'Abuelita' that reunited grandparents with their grandchildren in Illinois," Kirk says in the ad. "Working as your Senator, I will help Latino families who want to start their own businesses and combat gangs. These are difficult times. Latino families in Illinois deserve a senator who works for them." Kirk is referring to a program that helped secure tourist visas for Mexican grandparents that have family in Waukegan, which is in Kirk's congressional district. more ›

Among the many things that Labor Day traditionally signifies in the United States - the end of summer, busting out the black loafers - Labor Day has also signified the traditional beginning of the campaign season. And while congressional GOP leadership have been acting like the campaign season is in full swing of late, President Barack Obama used the bully pulpit of the presidency to kick-off campaign season Monday. For the president's supporters, it's been a rough summer, with what looked two years ago like the chance to change the world dwindling to a forced march to November, a fading hope that a Democratic majority might be retained, at least in the Senate. It was gainst that backdrop, at Milwaukee, WI's Laborfest, the same location Obama kicked off his final run to the 2008 presidential election, that the president announced part of his latest economic package. more ›

10th District Congressman Mark Kirk, the Republican nominee for Illinois' junior Senate seat, issued his "Five Top Policies to Control Spending" Thursday afternoon. Kirk's proposals are summed up in five neat bullet points, including" more ›

Forrest Claypool, who is running as an independent for Cook County Assessor picked up a slew of endorsements Wednesday, with 9th District Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky leading the day's list. She was joined by several other elected officials who endorsed Claypool over his Democratic challenger Joe Berrios, including outgoing county Assessor Jim Houlihan, Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, State Senator Jeff Schoenberg, State Senator Heather Steans, Alderman Robert Fioretti, Alderman Joe Moore, Alderman Gene Schulter, Alderman Mary Ann Smith, State Representative Robyn Gabel, State Representative Harry Osterman, Committeeman Michele Smith and former Senator Carol Ronen. Claypool was also endorsed by the 43rd Ward Democrats. “It’s time to take politics and clout out of the property tax system in Cook County. It’s time that average homeowners and senior citizens receive the fair treatment they deserve. I’m pleased that the elected officials and organizations supporting me today also believe that these principles are more important than party affiliation,” Claypool said in his remarks. more ›

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk is accusing Democrat Alexi Giannoulias of being tied to BP, the global energy giant that is drowning under bad press from its oil spill in the Gulf Coast. In Kirk's newest campaign ad, the campaign accuses one of Giannoulias's "top aides" of being a "long time BP lobbyist." The Tribune is reporting that the aide in question, Endy Zemenides, was in fact a lobbyist for BP, but that the work she did was for BP gas stations around Chicago, not for the beleaguered multinational. Kirk dismissed the criticism at a press conference Monday. “A BP lobbyist is a BP lobbyist,” Kirk said. “When you register as a BP lobbyist, you’re a BP lobbyist.” more ›

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk received the endorsement of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. The endorsement shouldn't come as a surprise, given that the generally Republican-leaning Chamber has only endorsed a Democrat once before - when Dick Durbin ran for re-election in 2002. Nonetheless, Chamber president Doug Whitley told the Sun-Times that they would have considered Alexi Giannoulias had he agreed to meet with the Chamber's board before the endorsement. In describing the Chamber's rationale for endorsing Mark Kirk, Whitley noted Kirk's "depth of knowledge and experience; national defense; his position on international trade," adding that "he supports policies that will bring jobs to Illinois." Giannoulias spokesman Matt McGrath shot back, attacking Kirk on trade policies: "Mark Kirk does have a notable record on job creation, if you count jobs in China." (The Chamber has not responded to our email asking if Hartmarx, which Giannoulias fought to keep open and in Illinois, was still a member of their organization.) more ›

State Senator Bill Brady, the Republican nominee for governor of Illinois, visited Mayor Daley yesterday to talk about budget issues facing the city and state. But Daley made it clear that he's not endorsing Brady for governor. "It was a courtesy visit," mayoral press secretary Jacquelyn Heard told the Sun-Times. "Sen. Brady some time ago asked to see the mayor and [Tuesday] was the day," she said. "Mayor Daley is never so partisan that he's unwilling to listen." more ›

Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool made official his intention to run as an independent candidate for county assessor yesterday, bringing the obscure and byzantine world of property taxes front and center this election season. "Those of us who've been fighting for years to change Cook County government are not willing to stand by and concede this office to Joe Berrios and the insider politics he represents," said Claypool at the Hotel Allegro where he made his announcement. "If elected the independent assessor of Cook County, I'll continue to stand up for taxpayers - not big businesses or their clout-heavy law firms. I'll start by declaring my independence from the tax appeal lawyers who fund Joe Berrios. ... I pledge to you today: I will not take their money," he said. more ›

Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool will announce his bid as an independent candidate for Cook County Assessor this morning. “I didn’t expect to be a candidate,” Claypool told Carol Marin last week. “But I was angered and surprised someone like Joe Berrios with record low turnout could slip in with 39 percent of the vote . . . carried over the finish line by ward bosses.” Claypool announced in January that he was leaving county government last year, opting instead to head to the private sector to work on his new health care venture. Since then Toni Preckwinkle won the Democratic nomination for Cook County Board President, a seat Claypool once hoped for, and Berrios won the nomination for county assessor as Jim Houlihan leaves office. Houlihan, who's clashed with both Berrios and State Dem chairman Michael Madigan to ensure that tax assessments in Cook County are fair, has warned that Berrios and his pals are trying to manipulate the vote by delaying this year's tax bills, which are expected to be significantly higher. more ›

Since the State of the Union, the Obama Administration has taken a more hands on approach to moving its agenda forward. Taking questions at the House Republican annual retreat in Baltimore on national television, offering to meet with congressional leadership on health care reform in front of C-SPAN cameras, and just generally getting out of the White House and in front of the American people have all been part of this strategy. And earlier this year Obama brought wunderkind David Plouffe back on board to manage Organizing for America, the political arm of the Obama campaign that built a broad network of supporters and helped win the election in 2008. As part of that national strategy to reconnect with supporters, OfA will host a strategy session in Illinois's 10th Congressional District next month. "Organizing for America staff will be there to update you on the year ahead, and we'll work together to create the local strategy that will accomplish our goals for this year," read the release. more ›

While Illinois grapples with the fallout from the Scott Lee Cohen debacle (not to mention Jason Plummer's vast lack of experience and qualifications on the GOP ticket), Rhode Island voters will have the opportunity to support a candidate for the number two slot that stands for nothing. Literally. Rhode Island lawyer Bob Healey is running for Lt. Governor of that state on the Cool Moose Party ticket, and his platform is simple: abolish the office. If elected, Healey promises not to hire a staff, not take the salary, and eventually abolish the office, which absorbs $1 million of the state's budget annually. more ›

Indiana Senator Evan Bayh celebrated President's Day by saying that he was frustrated with the partisan gridlock in Washington. "After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so in Congress has waned,'' Bayh announced in a press conference. Bayh's announcement was a shock to Democrats bracing for rough midterm elections. But Bayh was hardly the darling of the Democratic Party. “He’s finished,” a Democratic political consultant active in national races told Politico. “His party needed him to stay and fight, and he ran away. People won’t forget.” Meanwhile, former Republican Dan Coats, who replaced Dan Quayle in 1989 and left congress in 1999 has moved back into the state to run for senate, leaving Indiana Democrats struggling to run a candidate that can carry a conservative midwestern state. more ›

The National Republican Senatorial Committee took a swing at Alexi Giannoulias the day after the primaries, launching an ad accusing Giannoulias of alleged mob ties at his families bank, as well as Rod Blagojevich and Tony Rezko. The ad, which played off popular notions of American mafioso lore (with a dash of the Sopranos thrown in for a laugh) caught the attention of the media, and showed what both Kirk and the NRSC had in mind in terms of the tone of this race. more ›