Illinois Supreme Court Stays Election Slating Decision
On Friday, August 23, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision to block a ban on post-primary election slating ahead of a general election. The provision, originally passed on May 3 by Democrat supermajorities in the Illinois General Assembly, was seen by Republicans as an attempt to boost Democrats in the November 5 general election. SB 2412 (now P.A. 103-586) created a mini election omnibus containing the slating ban as well as a few other provisions. Previous state law offered three opportunities for major party candidates to reach the General Election: (1) circulate petitions and win their primary, (2) run as a write-in candidate and win their primary, or (3) wait until after the primary occurred and be appointed to fill a ballot vacancy by local party chairs. The third option, known as “slating,” had been used by both major parties in the past to appoint strong candidates while avoiding the campaign costs of the traditional electoral system. SB 2412 eliminated slating for legislative offices effective immediately, a stipulation that would have prevented either party from using the tactic this November.
The legislation was immediately challenged by the Liberty Justice Center, a national conservative legal advocacy group with an office in Chicago, on behalf of Republicans who had already been circulating candidacy petitions for slating. Sangamon County Circuit Judge Gail Noll stayed the slating law, citing it would be unconstitutional to enact so close to the upcoming election as it “impermissibly burdens” candidates who had been following the previous law from “hav[ing] their names placed on the November ballot.” The Illinois Democratic Party immediately appealed the stay to the Illinois Supreme Court, which upheld Judge Noll’s original decision via dismissal.
Notably, Justices P. Scot Neville and Joy Cunningham recused themselves from the case. The Supreme Court opinion did not include how the remaining justices ruled; it just stated the Court was unable to come to a decision as it could not reach the constitutionally mandated concurrence of four justices for a decision. Without a decision, the appeal was dismissed and Judge Noll’s stay was upheld. In accordance with the original stay order, the slating ban will take effect beginning in 2026. As a result, candidates wishing to run in a future general election will also have to run in a primary. The General Assembly still has the option to pass legislation before 2026 to reverse the slating ban and allow the practice to continue.
Chicago Area Transit Updates
The Senate Transportation Committee held its fourth hearing on the future of public transportation in the Chicagoland area on August 28. The hearing focused on suburban communities and their concerns with the proposed legislation to combine the four current Chicago area transit agencies into one consolidated governing body. Testifying before the Committee was: Corinne Pierog, Kane County Chair; Michael Buehler, McHenry County Chair; Maya Wade, Elgin Community College Student Representative; Rick Mack, Mayor of Ringwood Village & President of the McHenry Council of Government; Mike Reid, President of the Village of Hampshire & President of the Metra West Council of Government; Jeff Schielke, Mayor of Batavia & Chairman of the Kane and Kendall Council of Mayors; Tony Lucenko, Director of the Elgin Development Group; Scott Hennings, Director of McHenry County DOT; Thomas Rickert, Deputy Director for Kane County DOT; and Thomas Bamonte, Senior Advisor, Metropolitan Planning Council. The suburban representatives largely agreed that current proposals to consolidate the transit governing bodies would put the collar counties as a significant disadvantage as the new board would see only five voting members representing the collar counties (one member per county) of the proposed 18-member board. The suburban officials agreed that while some governance reform should occur to address pitfalls of the transit system today, the current proposal would harm the collar counties and the communities within them.
The hearing also featured panels on the impact of transit on public health, with testimony from Kirk Dillard, RTA President; Melinda Metzger, Executive Director of PACE; Janice Thomas, Chief of Staff & Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs for Metra; Dorval Carter, President of CTA; and Christina Hamilton, Illinois Advocacy Director, American Lung Association. These panelists highlighted the positive impacts robust transportation systems have on air quality, lung and heart health, human stress levels, emissions and greenhouse gases, social wellbeing, and reducing traffic related deaths and injury.
To address the projected $730M impending transit fiscal cliff set to hit in the 2026, the Senate Transportation Committee has two additional hearings scheduled to address how transit mitigates the impact on climate on September 18 and why funding transit is a statewide priority on October 16. The Committee already heard testimony on the regional economic importance of transit, the necessity of accessible transit, and how transit supports community quality of life earlier in the summer.
In conjunction with the Senate Transportation Committee hearing, House Speaker Chris Welch announced the formation of a Public Transit Working Group. The Working Group, featuring House Democrats from Chicago and the suburbs, will privately examine the Chicagoland’s public transportation system and provide policy recommendations on how to address its shortcomings and fiscal troubles. Speaker Welch appointed House Assistant Majority Leader Kam Buckner and Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, both of whom introduced legislation to merge the Chicago area transit agencies, to lead the group. Additional members serving on the working group include Rep. Dagmara Avelar, Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, Rep. Mary Beth Canty, Rep. Will Davis, Rep. Mary Gill, Rep. Matt Hanson, House Assistant Majority Leader Barbara Hernandez, Rep. Hoan Huynh, House Deputy Majority Leader Natalie Manley, Rep. Rita Mayfield, Rep. Anna Moeller, Rep. Yolanda Morris, and Rep. Marty Moylan.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
November 5 – 2024 General Election
November 12-14 – Veto Session Week 1
November 19-21 – Veto Session Week 2
In the News
Potential testimony in Madigan case is previewed as attorneys start wrangling over what a jury might hear – Chicago Tribune, August 29, 2024
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was back in a federal courtroom Thursday to hear proposed expert testimony from a former Chicago alderman about the structure and importance of political operations like the one Madigan helmed during his record run in the state legislature.
Tollway settles lawsuit over contract blunder that stalled major interchange – Daily Herald, August 29, 2024
After months of construction delays on a massive interchange project, Illinois tollway board directors Thursday approved a nearly $25 million settlement to a lawsuit filed by a contractor. Tollway leaders also acknowledged that the agency made an administrative error when it awarded a $323 million contract to New York-based Judlau Construction in 2023 to repair the I-290/I-88 interchange.
Illinois to soon accept submissions for new state flag – Chicago Tribune, August 28, 2024
The state of Illinois will begin accepting submissions for a new state flag design on Sept. 3 as a commission decides whether Illinois’ current flag needs to be replaced.
Open Downstate House Seat Could Be Path to the Center for Both Parties – The Ilinoize, August 28, 2024
The LaSalle-Peru-Ottawa based 76th District has long been one of the swingiest House districts in the state. Republicans often targeted then-Rep. Frank Mautino for defeat, who held on to his seat by just some 300 votes in 2014 before he was appointed Auditor General in 2015.
Illinois Democrats, GOP offer differing views to undecided voters – 92.7 WMAY, August 28, 2024
Democrats and Republicans are focused on different issues as they try to attract undecided voters in Illinois. State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, told The Center Square at last week’s Democratic National Convention that there needs to be more infrastructure construction in the United States.
Illinois lawmaker plans resolution to honor fallen officer – Fox 2, August 28, 2024
An Illinois state lawmaker is now helping a fallen-officer’s widow memorialize her husband. For months, Viola Jonas has been coming up with a plan to honor her late husband, former Centreville police Lieutenant Gregory Jonas.
Lawyers for ‘ComEd Four’ say case was built on ‘rotten foundation,’ ask for acquittal – Chicago Tribune, August 28, 2024
Lawyers for four ex-ComEd executives and lobbyists convicted in a scheme to bribe then-House Speaker Michael Madigan argue in a new court filing that the entire prosecution was built on a “rotten foundation” and the charges should be dismissed in light of a key Supreme Court ruling in June.
Will Court Ruling on Slating Actually Help Elect Any Republicans? – The Illinoize, August 27, 2024
When the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Friday a hastily-passed Democratic measure this spring banning the “slating” of legislative candidates couldn’t apply to the November election, it cleared the way for at least ten Republicans to appear on November ballot.
DNC do again? Host committee head agrees with Pritzker, wants DNC back in 2028 – Chicago Sun Times, August 27, 2024
Gov. JB Pritzker on August 20 said he’d be up for a 2-peat: back-to-back conventions. “I’m with him,” Christy George, the executive director of the Chicago DNC’s Host Committee said in an interview with the Sun-Times on Tuesday.
Organized retail crime costs Illinois retailers, consumers, taxpayers – The Center Square, August 27, 2024
Illinois retailers, consumers and taxpayers are all paying a price for organized retail crime. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul told The Center Square that organized retail crime involves much more than just smash-and-grab incidents.
DNC was Illinois State Police’s largest single deployment in history – The Daily Line, August 28, 2024
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago last week was the Illinois State Police’s largest deployment for a single event in the agency’s 102-year history.
Illinois Supreme Court sides with GOP, upholds unconstitutionality of ban on slating candidates – Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2024
In a setback for Illinois Democrats and Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois Supreme Court has upheld a downstate judge’s ruling that found unconstitutional a Democrat-passed law preventing the slating of legislative candidates for the November election in races where political parties did not field contenders.
Attorneys for ex-Speaker Michael Madigan want sex harassment, other ‘controversial’ evidence excluded from trial – Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2024
Lawyers for former House Speaker Michael Madigan have asked a federal judge to exclude a laundry list of potentially prejudicial evidence from his upcoming racketeering trial, including details about controversial gaming legislation, Madigan’s influence over hiring at Metra, and payments made to a political operative who was accused of sexual harassment.
Illinois Democrats interested in hosting another DNC – The Daily Line, August 27, 2024
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) the “best political convention this country has ever seen” in a victory lap news conference on Friday.
The Dishonor Roll: Meet the public officials who helped build Illinois’ culture of corruption – Chicago Tribune
Corruption is a way of life in Illinois politics and in Chicago, once dubbed “the only completely corrupt city in America.” As part of its ongoing series “Culture of Corruption,” the Tribune has compiled a list of roughly 200 convicted, indicted or generally notorious public officials from Illinois’ long and infamous political history.
Top Illinois political figures still like Boeing’s campaign money despite its troubles – Chicago Sun Times, August 27, 2024
Three of the state’s four legislative leaders, both major political parties and other Illinois political funds recently have accepted campaign contributions from the aerospace giant. Political figures and funds have taken more than $90,000 from Boeing since the federal government accused it of fraud in 2021, records show.
With conventions in rearview mirror, Illinois’ parties work to get out the vote – The Center Square, August 26, 2024
With the national parties’ conventions over, it’s a mad dash to the general election finish line. Leaders from both of Illinois’ major political parties are laying out their get-out-the-vote efforts.
Illinois Democrats fired up after Chicago convention – The Daily Line, August 26, 2024
Democrats have seen a new surge of enthusiasm since Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign last month and the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago left Illinois Democrats fired up for the home stretch of the election.
No ‘slated’ GOP candidates will be kept off ballot after rulings from Supreme Court, elections board – Capitol News Illinois, August 23, 2024
A law banning political parties from waiting until after the primary election to place a state legislative candidate on the general election ballot won’t keep any Republicans from running this November.
Saying Trump has ‘suffocated the soul’ of his party, former GOP Rep. Kinzinger endorses Harris at DNC – Capitol News Illinois, August 22, 2024
Former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger did something Thursday night that might have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. He stood on the stage of the Democratic National Convention and endorsed a Democrat for President of the United States.
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch Discusses Governor Pritzker’s Influence in National Politics – The Center Square, August 21, 2024
From the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop talks with Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch on Governor Pritzker’s influence and the state’s role in national politics.
City forecasts nearly $1B budget gap for 2025, its largest since 2021 – The Daily Line, August 30, 2024
Chicago is facing a nearly billion-dollar budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year, a tough financial situation that will necessitate “collaborative solutions and strategic planning,” Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Thursday morning as the city unveiled its 2025 budget forecast. In addition to a projected $982.4 million budget gap for Fiscal Year 2025, the city is projecting a $222.9 million budget deficit to end Fiscal Year 2024.
Did DNC Boost South Side Businesses? Tours Helped, But Organizers ‘Missed Opportunities’ To Do More – Block Club Chicago, August 28, 2024
Some South Side business leaders say they were left out of potential opportunities to capitalize on the Democratic National Convention coming to town, even as DNC leaders touted their “successful” efforts to spread the convention’s impact “to every corner of the city.”
Chicago faces dubious distinction with Greyhound station closure looming – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 30, 2024
The search for a new Greyhound bus station downtown is heating up as Chicago looks to avoid becoming the largest city in the Northern Hemisphere without an intercity bus terminal. The city is in danger of losing its transportation hub in less than a month as the property owner eyes the site for redevelopment. Greyhound’s parent company sold the bus line to German company Flix in 2021 for $172 million.
NASCAR says it will return to Grant Park in 2025, mum on 2026 – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 29, 2024
The Chicago Street Race is a go for 2025, NASCAR and the city of Chicago announced today. Stock cars will race around Grant Park a third time next Fourth of July weekend. NASCAR said the street course will follow the same 12-turn, 2.2-mile route it did the past two years.
Chicago’s newest newsrooms on a mission to keep local journalism alive and relevant – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 29, 2024
Chicago has long been a home for groundbreaking journalism. From the reporters and editors who cover the news to the newsmakers who keep this city at the nexus of national and global flashpoints, you can count on getting the stories that matter to Chicago and the world. Though local journalism is facing a crisis in many parts of Cook County, Chicago continues to create media outlets that reach new and diverse audiences.
No sellout, but a ‘solid’ DNC week for downtown hotels – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 29, 2024
Downtown hotel owners didn’t fill as many rooms as many hoped during last week’s Democratic National Convention, but they still posted a strong week of revenue and relished a media spotlight they expect to pay dividends in the future.
Suburban officials oppose changes to transit service boards – The Daily Line, August 29, 2024
Suburban officials asked state lawmakers on Wednesday to make sure they don’t lose representation if any changes are made to the governing boards of the Chicago area transit agencies as discussions about major public transportation reforms continue.
Mass transit and health outcomes discussed during Illinois Senate hearing – The Center Square, August 28, 2024
In a series of hearings on Illinois mass transit, public health outcomes and streamlining services were in the spotlight Wednesday in Elgin.
Ordinance would ask voters to approve larger civilian police oversight commission with expanded powers – The Daily Line, August 28, 2024
Though the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), Chicago’s civilian police oversight board, received its first batch of mayor-appointed commissioners in May, some Chicago alderpeople are already pushing to alter the structure of the board and expand its powers through a proposed ballot question.
Kamala Harris wants housing costs to drop, some Chicago housing experts worry her plan adds ‘gas to a fire’ – WEBZ Chicago, August 27, 2024
Kamala Harris is proposing a number of tax incentives to help American families achieve home ownership, but some real estate professionals are concerned her proposals will put strain on Chicago’s housing market.
Cook County judge who implemented controversial courthouse ban over cellphone ordered to undergo training – Chicago Tribune, August 27, 2024
A Cook County judge who controversially banned a law clerk from the county’s main courthouse for using a cellphone in her courtroom will undergo training and mentoring, officials said.
Closing Greyhound station would make Chicago the largest northern city without an intercity bus terminal, report finds – Chicago Tribune, August 27, 2024
The company that owns Greyhound buses is nearing the end of a lease at its downtown station, and that could leave Chicago poised to become the largest city in the Northern Hemisphere without an intercity bus terminal, according to a new report.
Developers of color get shut out of building Chicago multiunit housing, analysis finds – Chicago Sun Times, August 28, 2024
An analysis from the D.C.-based Urban Institute found there were only leaders of color at about 17% of the firms building multifamily housing in Chicago.
Fed minutes show Chicago, New York chiefs favored a July discount rate cut – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 27, 2024
Directors at the Federal Reserve Banks of New York and Chicago voted in July in favor of lowering the so-called discount lending rate, records released by the Fed Wednesday showed.
Did DNC Boost South Side Businesses? Tours Helped, But Organizers ‘Missed Opportunities’ To Do More – Block Club Chicago, August 27, 2024
Organizers touted their outreach to South Side business leaders, but some say they were in the dark about vendor opportunities, neighborhood tours and other ways to participate in the convention.
A new class of Chicago journalists is out to reshape the narrative – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 26, 2024
Frustrated and disappointed with how Chicago is often portrayed in mainstream media as the “murder capital” of America, three Black Northwestern University alumni set out to flip the script. In February 2017, Tiffany Walden, Morgan Elise Johnson and David Elutilo created The TRiiBE, a digital media platform on a mission to “reshape the narrative of Black Chicago” and give ownership back to the people.
Facing end-of-year deadline, city issues RFP for organization to administer $3.5M ARPA-funded nonprofit assistance program – The Daily Line, August 27, 2024
The city of Chicago is looking for an organization to administer a program that will help local nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic become more impactful and fiscally sustainable.
Cook County to hold community meetings on which ARPA programs to keep – The Daily Line, August 27, 2024
Cook County will hold the first of four community meetings this Wednesday to gauge feedback from residents on which American Rescue Plan Act-funded programs they would like to see continued past the expiration of federal funds in 2026.
Party’s over? Fresh from DNC victory laps, Mayor Johnson to run into financial morass – Chicago Sun Times, August 26, 2024
The three-year financial forecast that serves as the city’s preliminary budget is due out this week. The results won’t be pretty. Even the rosiest estimates from last year projected a $636 million shortfall — and a lot has happened since.
The DNC put Chicago in the limelight, but it also emptied the Loop of office workers, hurting some restaurants. ‘It was mostly a bad week.’ – Chicago Tribune, August 25, 2024
Chicago stepped into the limelight this week as host of the Democratic National Convention, with Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Democratic Party winning praise for hosting an event without serious disruptions. But even though the roughly 50,000 attendees enjoyed raucous nights at the United Center, parties on Navy Pier and perfect sunny days, many downtown business owners said it was a tough week.
Under spotlight of DNC, Mayor Brandon Johnson sought to boost progressive, pro-labor brand – The Chicago Tribune, August 23, 2024
The morning after his “Welcome to Chicago” speech in front of a national audience at the Democratic National Convention, Mayor Brandon Johnson greeted a scene that could not have been more different from the towering stage and crush of TV cameras during his United Center spotlight.
‘Can we stop talking about 1968?’ Chicago’s top cop takes victory lap after DNC protests. – The Chicago Tribune, August 23, 2024
The specter of 1968 – with its angry confrontations and police brutality – hung heavy over Chicago in the lead up to the Democratic National Convention, as if the largely uneventful 1996 convention never happened.
DNC spotlight brought clean CTA stations and helpful staff: ‘If only it was this clean everyday’ – The Chicago Tribune, August 23, 2024
After facing years of complaints about service, cleanliness, and safety, the CTA faced a major test this week during the Democratic National Convention.
Mayor, police superintendent address impacts of DNC following end of convention – The Daily Line, August 26, 2024
The city’s 26th political convention did not end up resembling the 1968 Democratic National Convention (DNC) as some had feared, but party divisions still became more apparent later in the week.
CTA adding bus service to some routes, nearing pre-pandemic levels – Chicago Sun Time, August 23, 2024
The latest boost brings the bus system to 98% of pre-pandemic scheduled service levels, CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. said.
Rest up, Chicago. Illinois politicians want to bring the DNC back in 2028. – WBEZ, August 23, 2024
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker floated the idea earlier in the week. But it’s catching on among Chicago’s public officials.
Editorial: Chicago and the Democrats both rebranded together in a dazzling show of DNC strength – Chicago Tribune, August 25, 2024
There was no mystery guest on the final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The organizers tacitly encouraged the hype, betting more people would catch their nominee’s acceptance speech if they thought Taylor Swift might jump out of a custodial cart at any moment. But in the end, despite breathless online reporting of the “arrival” of her plane at Midway and even her entry into the United Center, there was no Beyoncé sighting on Madison Street.
