Good Thursday morning, Illinois. The special House Jan. 6 committee will make its likely final case to the American public today on live TV, describing the lingering threat of Donald Trump.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Sen. Dick Durbin, who heads the powerful Senate Judiciary in Washington, D.C., and presided over confirmation hearings for the first African-American woman nominated to the U.S Supreme Court, is getting involved in Illinois judicial politics.
D.C. delivery: The Senate Democratic whip is endorsing Lake County Judge Elizabeth Rochford for Illinois Supreme Court in the 2nd District.
It’s not random: Rochford faces Mark Curran, a former Lake County sheriff who ran against Durbin in 2020, losing by 16 points.
On camera:Durbin has cut an ad that promotes Rochford’s experience but also takes shots at Curran. “He’s anti-choice, believes the 2020 election was stolen and his mind is bubbling over with screwball conspiracies,” Durban says in the ad.
Zeroing in on experience: Durbin also points to rankings by the Illinois State Bar Association, which “highly recommended” Rochford and didn’t recommend Curran, who has not served as a judge.
Curran’s team is holding off commenting until it sees the ad. The 2nd District race is one of two open contests to fill seats on the state Supreme Court. Republican Michael Burke, who’s already a justice, and Democrat Mary Kay O’Brien, an appellate court judge, are facing each other in the 3rd District.
Why he’s getting in the mud: That Durbin would get involved in a state race is an indication of how important Democrats view the contest.
With two open seats on the state’s highest court — in districts that are predominantly suburban — Republicans have an opportunity to gain a majority. That concerns Democrats who see abortion rights at risk if the state’s high court veers right.
WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky has a good explainer on the race and why in the world judges campaign under political parties but serve as nonpartisan once they’re elected.
More air time: The independent expenditure committee All for Justice is out with another ad, this one titled “Oath.” It features a doctor talking about abortion rights being at stake in the Supreme Court races. A voice-over also says Curran and Burke want to “criminalize abortion.” Responding, the Illinois GOP called the ad “false and defamatory.”
Speaking of Durbin: He’ll be in Chicago tonight for the Illinois Women in Leadership Training Academy fundraiser. The organization, which for 20 years has trained women political candidates, was started by Durbin and his wife, Loretta Durbin. The two will be honored at the event. Details here
The governor’s latest big idea |Gov. JB Pritzker floats $1B jobs ‘closing fund’ as he touts re-election credentials: “In an interview with Crain’s, the governor offered few details on SAFE-T Act tweaks or even his abortion agenda — but he did take time to mention an economic development tool he’d like to have in a potential second term,” explains Crain’s Greg Hinz.
Illinois could use a big deal-closing fund, Pritzker said — essentially a pot of money the governor is empowered to dip into to sweeten economic development deals when the competition with other states is tight. “Michigan has, I believe, a $1 billion fund. They can just write a check,” the governor told Crain’s. “It would be great if we had a closing fund in Illinois.”
Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I’d like to hear from you: [email protected]
No official public events.
At AMC River East 21 at 5:30 p.m. for the screening of ART AND PEP at the Chicago International Film Festival.
At Union League Club at noon for a community forum.
— Jesse White off statewide ballot for first time in nearly a quarter century | Voters faced with fresh choices for Illinois secretary of state, report Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner and Jake…