Illinois in Focus

As the Illinois governor weighs in on a potential vice presidential nomination, a socialist alderman from Chicago is expressing frustration with the Democratic Party. Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN he’d be reluctant to give up his post as governor of Illinois, but the possibility of being vice president would be appealing. “It’d be hard to resist a call and consideration if the nominee called me to ask to be considered for vice president,” Pritzker said Wednesday. He told MSNBC Tuesday that he had not received any vetting materials from the Harris campaign. 

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Vetting for potential candidates to run alongside Kamala Harris in her bid for president is underway, with a number of prominent elected Democrats under consideration, according to published reports. A Tuesday afternoon report by the Wall Street Journal said the Harris campaign sent vetting materials to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. But Gov. J.B. Pritzker has denied receiving any vetting materials.

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Greg Bishop reviews some of the recent headlines around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker could be the running mate for presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

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Illinois political leaders are reacting to President Joe Biden announcing he won’t run for president and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic party’s nominee. Biden made the announcement Sunday afternoon, saying the move is in the “best interest of my party and the country.” Biden’s announcement throws the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month into uncertainty, though he endorsed Harris to get the nomination.

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Illinois Republicans are making the case for more public safety in the Land of Lincoln while attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Tuesday’s theme at the RNC was “Make America Safe Again.” Earlier in the day, Illinois Republicans gathered for their breakfast off site. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro, said the Biden administration’s open border is allowing crime, drugs, human trafficking and terrorists in. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Outgoing Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, U.S. Rep. Darin Lahood and other state GOP leaders answered questions about election integrity, the Secret Service's handling of the security detail at the campaign event Saturday where former President Donald Trump was grazed by a bullet and another man was killed, and other issues Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

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Some Black leaders from the Chicago area are urging others to ditch Democrats and vote Republican. After Wednesday’s GOP breakfast outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Wednesday, Republican Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Bob Fioretti made his case to the media that he will bring back law and order. Pastor David Lowery Jr., a pastor with Universal Baptist Church in Harvey, stood alongside Fioretti and said Black voters should join him in ditching the Democratic party.

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Illinois elected members of Congress and the state legislature answered questions from the media Tuesday during a gaggle at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

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Politics continue in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump with both sides in Illinois taking stock of the temperature of the rhetoric this election cycle. In Pennsylvania Saturday, a Trump rally attendee was shot and killed and Trump was injured after a would-be assassin opened fire minutes into the former president’s speech to a crowd in an open air field. The assailant was shot and killed by law enforcement. At an unrelated event in Springfield, Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said it was a miracle Trump survived.

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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is responding to questions about a hot mic comment this week where he said of the presidential race, “I don't like where we are.” Every appearance Pritzker has in front of the media this week, he’s been peppered with questions about President Joe Biden’s physical and mental fitness to serve. Biden’s fitness to serve as president has been the major national political story since his poor debate performance late last month. Some are looking to a Biden news conference later in the day Thursday as a make or break moment. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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