In a press conference held on Wednesday, July 16, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced that she would not seek reelection for a fourth term. Prior to becoming Comptroller in a 2016 special election, Mendoza served as a six-term Illinois State Representative in the 1st District. Elected in 2000, she was the youngest member in the General Assembly, at the time. In 2011, she became the first women ever elected as Chicago City Clerk, where she stayed for two terms before assuming the office of Illinois Comptroller.
Throughout her three terms as Illinois Comptroller, Mendoza, in conjunction with the Illinois General Assembly and Gov. JB Pritzker, have worked to strengthen Illinois finances while increasing transparency and accountability. Under Mendoza, Illinois received a total of nine credit upgrades, reduced its backlog of unpaid bills by $13.2 billion in five years, and cut vendor payment times from over 10 months to under 30 days. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Comptroller Mendoza saved $82 million by paying off federal loans two years ahead of schedule. As comptroller, she promoted General Assembly legislation, such as the Debt Transparency Act, Truth in Hiring Act, Budgeting for Debt Act, and the Vendor Payment Program Transparency Act.
Some have speculated that Mendoza may be eyeing the Chicago Mayoral Election in 2027. While she did not comment on a potential mayoral campaign, she did tell reporters that she’s “now walking away from the public” and that she was “excited to leave the door open.” Mendoza however did discuss the needs of the City of Chicago, stating that “Chicago is in dire need of competency… I think we’ve had two very unsuccessful mayors in a row.” With Mendoza’s announcement that she will not run for reelection, the field of potential replacements for the Comptroller position will begin to take shape in the coming months ahead of the 2026 election.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
October 14-16 – Veto Session Week 1
October 28-30 – Veto Session Week 2
In the News
Plan expanding state grant program for agriculture education teachers awaits final action – WAND News, July 17, 2025.
School districts can currently apply for a state grant covering 50% of the personal service cost for agriculture teachers. This plan clarifies that teachers should receive 100% of that compensation for working 60 additional days or 400 hours outside their regular teaching duties.
Pritzker seeks more regulatory authority over homeowners insurance business – Capitol News Illinois, July 17, 2025.
Gov. JB Pritzker is asking lawmakers to pass legislation this fall to give the state more control over the rising cost of homeowners insurance. State Farm, based in Bloomington, recently announced it is raising premiums by an average of 27.2%, due mainly to the risk of losses from severe weather.
Governor JB Pritzker pens letter urging President Trump’s education secretary to unfreeze $6.8B in grants – Chicago Sun-Times, July 17, 2025.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday joined 13 Democratic governors in demanding that Education Secretary Linda McMahon release $6.8 billion in education grants that are being withheld by the Trump administration.
US Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly have the most cash available in Illinois US Senate race – Chicago Tribune, July 16, 2025.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton may have the endorsement of the state’s wealthiest politician, billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker, but she finds herself at the bottom of the major Democratic U.S. Senate contenders when it comes to how much available cash she has to campaign with as the candidates approach nine months before the primary.
Susana Mendoza not running for 4th term as Illinois comptroller – CBS Chicago, July 16, 2025.
Susana Mendoza announced she will not run for a fourth term as Illinois comptroller. She made the announcement at a press conference in Little Village Wednesday morning, becoming emotional at times as she spoke. She has served three terms as the state’s top fiscal officer. She did not say what her plans for her next step are but did say she’s not done with public service. Insiders expect her to make a run at becoming mayor of Chicago, challenging Brandon Johnson for office in the mayoral election in 2027.
US Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss in crowded 9th Congressional District primary – Chicago Tribune, July 16, 2025.
Warren, a three-term senator from Massachusetts and briefly a front-runner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, announced she was backing Biss in a statement shared with the Tribune in which she praised the two-term mayor as “a relentless fighter for working people who can help deliver the structural change our country needs right now.
Illinois treasurer returns record $303 million to people, businesses, nonprofits in FY2025 – Iroquois Countr’s Times-Republic, July 16, 2025.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a record $303.8 million in missing money to nearly 312,000 residents, businesses and organizations through the I-CASH program during Fiscal Year 2025.
IL Comptroller Susana Mendoza to announce plans for 2026 race – ABC 7 Chicago, July 16, 2025.
This Wednesday, IL Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced she would not be running for reelection; however, she didn’t announce what her plans for the future where. She did however say the door is open for a mayoral race.
After Pritzker’s attacks on State Farm, insurance industry sees another push for rate review coming to Springfield – WGLT, July 15, 2025.
The dispute spilled into view last week when Pritzker issued a statement critical of State Farm’s 27% homeowners’ insurance rate increase. He called the rate increase “unfair and arbitrary.” Pritzker said an analysis by his administration suggests “State Farm is shifting out-of-state costs onto the homeowners in our state.”
La Shawn Ford won’t run for state representative again – Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2025.
After 17 years as a state representative for Illinois’ 8th district, La Shawn Ford said on July 15 that he won’t be running for reelection come November 2026.
Raja Krishnamoorthi first up on TV in the Illinois US Senate race to succeed Dick Durbin – Chicago Tribune, July 15, 2025.
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is the first contender to launch TV ads in the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, with the five-term congressman billing himself as an “underdog” who has a history of fighting bullies and singling out President Donald Trump as the biggest.
IL proposal expanding legal definition of stalking arrives on Pritzker’s desk – WAND News, July 14, 2025.
Legislation to expand the legal definition of stalking in state statute could soon become law. Sponsors told WAND News this bill could help victims obtain a stalking no-contact order more easily if the victim feels under emotional distress.
State senator to Pritzker: Opt IL into school choice scholarship tax credit – The Center Square, July 14, 2025.
The “one big beautiful bill” that President Donald Trump approved earlier this month includes a 100% tax credit for anyone who donates up to $1,700 to a school choice scholarship granting organization. Illinois state Sen. Andrew Chesney said it’s a simple administrative step for a state to participate.
Pritzker signs executive order responding to impact of tariffs on Illinois – Capitol News Illinois, July 14, 2025.
The order requires seven state agencies to “consider the specific impacts that the U.S. tariffs have had on Illinois and provide draft recommendations of measures to mitigate the impact of these tariffs” within the next 100 days, which would be Oct. 22.
Illinois House Speaker endorses Lt. Gov. Stratton for Durbin’s senate seat – WGN 9, July 14, 2025.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch on Monday gave his endorsement to Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton in her bid for US Senate, highlighting what he said is her compassion and commitment to public service.
Won’t be easy, but Illinois has a chance to mitigate SNAP cuts – Chicago Sun-Times, July 11, 2025.
The costs to Illinois’ government because of the new Republican congressional budget reconciliation law will be steep. However, the state has some time to prepare itself, and possible Democratic gains in the U.S. House and Senate next year might be able to reverse or mitigate some of the steepest cuts to food security and health care programs before the vast majority of them take effect after the 2026 elections. In the interim, Gov. JB Pritzker could also lower some of the state’s direct fiscal impact with a big administrative effort — a fact that has been glossed over in pretty much all news coverage so far.
Trump’s ‘big bill’ takes center stage in Illinois’ U.S. Senate race – Capitol News Illinois, July 11, 2025.
With major future cuts to social service programs now written into law, Democrats seeking Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat in 2026 are hitting the campaign trail seeking to position themselves among the law’s most vocal opponents.
State Farm says Pritzker’s rate hike claims are ‘factually incorrect’ political rhetoric – WGLT News, July 11, 2025.
The Bloomington-based company has responded forcefully to Pritzker’s claims, which became public Thursday in a statement to the media. Pritzker claims an Illinois Department of Insurance analysis suggests “State Farm is shifting out-of-state costs onto the homeowners in our state.” He called the rate increase “unfair and arbitrary.” In a statement Friday, State Farm said that “Illinois families deserve an honest conversation about insurance economics rather than political rhetoric.”
City Council members pushing to legalize video gambling — at Chicago airports or even citywide – Chicago Sun Times, July 17, 2025.
Two ordinances were introduced at Wednesday’s Council meeting, the last before the August recess. One would authorize installation of hundreds of video gambling machines beyond security checkpoints at O’Hare and Midway Airports. The other would lift the longstanding ban on video gambling citywide in an attempt to offer an economic lifeline of sorts to neighborhoods bars and restaurants fighting for survival.
City Inspector General Deborah Witzburg won’t seek second term – Chicago Sun Times, July 17, 2025.
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg announced Thursday she will not seek another term as Chicago’s top watchdog. In a statement, Witzburg said she made the decision based on the City Council’s latest approval of ethics reforms, which removed what she viewed as barriers to the inspector general’s office’s internal investigations.
Cook County Democrats mostly sticking with incumbents on primary slate — but Assessor Fritz Kaegi is in limbo – Chicago Sun Times, July 17, 2025.
Cook County Democrats punted Thursday on endorsing anyone for Cook County assessor, putting two-term incumbent Fritz Kaegi at risk of an open primary fight as he vies for a third term. The lack of an endorsement is the latest twist in the complex relationship between Kaegi and county Democrats.
United Airlines refines profit target on rebounding travel demand – Crain’s Chicago Business, July 16, 2025.
United Airlines refined its profit outlook for this year as travel rebounds, adding a dose of optimism following a bleak few months punctuated by flight disruptions, trade tensions and fighting in the Middle East. The carrier now expects full-year adjusted earnings of $9 to $11 a share, United said in a statement on Wednesday that included second-quarter results that exceeded analysts’ expectations.
Mayor Johnson’s crackdown on retail window signs stalls – Chicago Sun Times, July 15, 2025.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to improve both public safety and retail corridor aesthetics by cracking down on businesses that cover or block more than 25% of their “public-facing window space” ran into a buzz saw of opposition Tuesday amid concern about the impact on struggling retailers.
Illinois public broadcasters in Chicago, and especially downstate, fear impact as Senate vote to cut funding looms – Chicago Tribune, July 15, 2025.
The GOP-controlled Senate is expected to decide this week whether to slash federal spending on public radio and TV, a move national Republicans say is long overdue but Illinois Democrats and media advocates argue could deprive Americans of reliable sources for news and educational programming.
Chicago transit’s $771M fiscal cliff could shrink because of extra sales tax – Crain’s Chicago Business, July 15, 2025.
The coming fiscal cliff for mass transit in Chicago is starting to look less steep than originally predicted, thanks to a tax on e-commerce that took effect in January. The Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois says the Regional Transportation Authority, which coordinates mass transit across the metropolitan area, could get over $200 million more a year than it previously received if the rate of spending holds up.
Chicago taxpayers may be on the hook for added police, firefighter pension costs – Fox 32 Chicago, July 15, 2025.
Chicago taxpayers might be on the hook for billions more in new costs thanks to a bill that quietly passed in Springfield. Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson said it will cost taxpayers as much as $7 billion over the next 30 years, $60 million this coming year alone, and then $750 million per year by 2055.
Upcoming Chicago budget ‘grimmest picture of all’ for Mayor Brandon Johnson, aldermen – Chicago Tribune, July 14, 2025.
Two days after that roundtable, Johnson’s finance team would disclose the city ended 2024 with a $161 million deficit, emptying one of its key emergency funds. Adding to the bad tidings last week was a final $7 billion estimate for the cost of a state bill boosting benefits for police and fire pensioners through 2055.
Slowed by obsolete toll plaza infrastructure? Tollway is removing gates and barriers – Daily Herald, July 13, 2025.
The initiative will “convert our system to a barrier-free system to improve traffic operations at these plazas, as well as remove the aging infrastructure that we no longer need because we’re not collecting cash,” Chief Engineer Manar Nashif said Wednesday. It should save time for drivers and money for the tollway by slashing maintenance costs.
