The Dirksen federal courthouse in Chicago.  

Former Speaker Mike Madigan’s chief of staff and former executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois Tim Mapes was found guilty by a jury in federal court on Thursday of lying to a grand jury investigating Madigan.  

Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) leads the House Personnel and Pensions Committee in Chicago on July 19. [Blue Room Stream] 

As lawmakers continue to dig into pension reform, several pension systems pushed back on a deferred retirement option plan proposed into the bill, which also exposed a point of disagreement between the chief co-sponsors on the bill.  

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) speaks at a news conference at Governors State University alongside Illinois lawmakers and local officials. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Beginning in January, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will begin seeking proposals from private developers to build the South Suburban Airport in Peotone after decades of conversations on a third Chicago airport.  

Supporters of the airport believe there is sufficient interest in both building and using the planned cargo-oriented airport.  

Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) could face a primary race in March. And faculty at Illinois State University kicked off a campaign Tuesday to form a faculty union.  

Illinois Capitol   

Gov. JB Pritzker has taken action on all 567 bills sent to his desk this spring after he signed a bill into law Friday to address access to grocery stores. In total, Pritzker signed 561 laws and vetoed six bills that lawmakers will reconsider this fall. 

Among the final bills signed by Pritzker this year were measures to hold gun manufactures accountable, establish new regulations for businesses, keep abortion information private and help reduce food deserts in Illinois.  

Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy speaks at Republican Day at the State Fair on Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

While Illinois Democrats have had more recent success than Republicans, both leaders of both parties said they are adopting new practices to position their candidates to be competitive in 2024.  

A video screen at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association brunch shows a clip of news of an indictment against former President Donald Trump. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

The presidential candidates hang out at the Iowa State Fair, leaving Illinois politicians to bask in their own spotlight during the Illinois State Fair’s political days. But as former President Donald Trump campaigns in Iowa, he was still the talk of the Illinois State Fair’s political days as Democrats rally support against him and many Illinois Republicans wished to ignore him. 

Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy speaks at Republican Day at the State Fair on Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Illinois Republicans have a hefty challenge for 2024 as they need to flip multiple General Assembly seats to undo the Democrats’ super majority.  

It’s a tall order for the state’s minority party after getting blasted up and down the ballot in 2022. For the next election cycle, Illinois Republicans face challenges from the party’s historical opposition to abortion, a lack of resources and funding, turnout typically benefits Democrats in presidential election years, and the potential name at the top of the ticket, indicted former President Donald Trump.  

 

Gov. JB Pritzker and other Illinois Democrats hold a rally at the State Fair’s Governor’s Day. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Illinois Democrats kicked off the 2024 campaign season Wednesday with the party’s annual County Chair’s Brunch and Governor’s Day at the State Fair. 

While it was an off year for campaigns and there are no statewide races on the ballot next year, Democrats set the groundwork for their campaign message celebrating legislative accomplishments and issuing new warnings about Republican candidates on next year’s ballot.  

Gov. JB Pritzker issued an amendatory veto of a bill giving downstate power companies, chiefly Ameren, first rights to new power lines. And U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) discussed if he will run for reelection in 2026.