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Good Thursday morning, Illinois. And Ramadan Mubarak to all our readers who observe.

SCOOP: In an unprecedented move, the Illinois Democratic Party is funding campaigns for nonpartisan school board and library board races across the state out of concern that conservatives are trying to take over those organizations to ban books or impede First Amendment rights.

Theyre running to push a political agenda that is completely and directly antithetical to our values, Ben Hardin, the executive director of the Illinois Democratic Party, told Playbook in an interview. We decided that it was absolutely necessary that we do whatever we can do to prevent these organizations supporting, and these candidates, from taking over school boards.

The party has made a six-figure investment in paid communications for more than 80 campaigns across Illinois. The support is going to candidates who align with the values of the Democratic Party, Hardin said, and to campaigns opposing candidates that have right-wing support.

This isnt about Republicans vs. Democrats, Hardin said, adding the program came about when the party learned of national extremist organizations supporting candidates for school library boards here in Illinois.

He pointed to Darren Bailey, the former GOP governor candidate, billionaire Republican donor Dick Uihlein and dark money from national conservative groups as trying to control school and library boards. Bailey recently told Playbook that his next political move was to get conservatives elected to school boards.

Spreading the word: The Illinois Democratic Party is also launching a new website to provide voters with information about these races. DefendOurSchoolsIL.com allows voters to identify fringe candidates that the state Democratic party considers to be far-right extremists, according to the party.

Round the clock: The effort is part of the partys new effort to work year-round on campaigns and political endeavors.

RELATED

Illinois House OKs measure to allow the state to deny grants to libraries that ban books, by Tribunes Jeremy Gorner

Des Plaines school board member says schools shouldnt celebrate Columbus Day: In District 62, were very mindfully teaching true history, Tina Garrett told Daily Heralds Russell Lissau

NEW MAYORAL POLL: The latest survey by Victory Research shows the race is close with Paul Vallas at 46 percent, Brandon Johnson at 44 percent and nearly 10 percent undecided.

Johnson is focusing on endorsements to help define him as well as Vallas.

Endorsements energize your base and show a positive energy about our campaign, explained Johnson spokesman Bill Neidhardt. A good example was Wednesdays endorsement by Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, a member of The Squad and someone who can rev up Johnsons progressive base.

Campaign war: Separately, Johnsons campaign has manufactured an endorsement and claimed its Vallas.

Context: Oppo research revealed Vallas on a conservative radio show a few years ago claiming Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot act like dictators for their pandemic executive orders.

The oppo prompted Republican Darren Bailey to talk about it on his Facebook live page , which Johnsons team is calling an endorsement for Vallas. Bailey didnt endorse anyone.

Johnsons team isnt giving up on pinning the Republican label on Vallas, who was officially endorsed Wednesday by former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Vallas was Quinns running mate in his failed 2013 race against Bruce Rauner. Though Vallas more recent stumble might be spending too much time on conservative talk shows.

Wednesdays debate was packed: Public safety, education, Kim Foxx, eye rolls, head shakes and dismissing people, writes Sun-Times Mitchell Armentrout.

On their 100-day plans for Chicago: More beat cops vs. treatment not trauma, by Tribunes Alice Yin and Gregory Pratt

Watch the full debate via Fox 32

Johnson gets the New York Times treatment: Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said there was no expectation that Mr. Johnson would be in lock step with the union if elected. But she said the possibility of having a mayor who understood the struggles of classroom educators and would listen to their concerns had motivated teachers to support him.

AD-ING IT UP: In a new, direct-to-camera ad released Wednesday, Johnson calls himself the real Democrat for mayor, highlighting his plan to go after the root causes of crime. Johnson is now airing four ads, including one in Spanish, and Vallas has three spots. Still, Vallas spending is outpacing Johnsons. With less than two weeks before the April 4 runoff, Vallas is committed to spend $2.88 million since March 21 compared to Johnsons $803,000.

Vallas reports new $1.4M in fundraising, via Crains.

If you are Ayanna Pressley, Playbook wants to know when was the last time you were in Chicago. Email [emailprotected]olitico.com.

No official public events.

No official public events.

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Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Id like to hear from you: [emailprotected]

Blue wall Democrats urge the White House to give Chicago the 2024 DNC convention, A group of governors, including Gov. JB Pritzker, Congress members and city leaders across the Midwest signed a letter Wednesday, calling on the White House and DNC Chair Jaime Harrison to choose Chicago, writes NBCs Natasha Korecki. Heres the letter.

Chicago and Cook County each call for 1,000 election judges before April 4, by the Chicago Tribunes Jake Sheridan

A quarter of a century after being carjacked, Giannoulias doles out $21M in grants to fight current surge: Chicago carjacking reports hit an apex of 1,849 in 2021. The Illinois secretary of state said its also personal for him, after being carjacked with high school basketball teammates in 1998. It leaves a scar you never forget, he said. I hate the thought of anyone else going through that, by Sun-Times Mitchell Armentrout.

Lawmakers pass bill to designate official state nut, via NBC 5

Defense tries to flip the script in ComEd bribery trial, casting corruption charges as classic, honest, legal lobbying: Four former political power players are charged in a scheme to bribe Michael Madigan when he was Illinois powerful House speaker by arranging for jobs, contracts and money for Madigans allies, by Sun-Times Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles.

Tribunes take: Ex-ComEd lawyer testifies request to put Juan Ochoa on utilitys board came from Michael Madigan, by Jason Meisner and Ray Long

11th Ward: Nicole Lee and Anthony Ciaravino face off in Chicagos first Asian-majority ward: Ciaravino, a longtime cop for the Chicago Police Department, said he did not think Asian representation on the City Council is important, but that he has a lot of friendships and fellowships and brothers and sisters in that Chinatown community, by WBEZs Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Amy Qin. Lee, the current Asian alderwoman, calls Ciaravinos statement dismissive, according to a statement responding to WBEZs story.

First in Playbook: Sen. Dick Durbin is weighing in on the ward race. Hes backing Lee.

Chicago Public Schools and Board of Ed say help needed as $600M deficit looms: Federal pandemic relief funding has papered over long-standing issues, but that money is set to run out in two years, by Sun-Times Nader Issa and WBEZs Sarah Karp.

Independent day: Aldermen wanting to make the Chicago City Council run more independently from the mayors office are calling a vote next week to change how their committees operate. Ald. Michelle Harris, who has endorsed Paul Vallas for mayor, says changing the rules will establish a strong and independent City Council. Heres her message to aldermen.

Citys 2022 overtime bill stands at $441M, With $210M going to police working overtime, by WTTWs Heather Cherone and Jared Rutecki

Chicago is required to have a chief administrative officer; it hasnt for decades, reports Sun-Times Fran Spielman

Blackhawks will not wear Pride jerseys for Sundays Pride Night due to safety concerns for Russian players, Sun-Times Ben Pope reports

Naperville stopped ticketing students at school. But its still pushing a 3-year-old case about AirPods to trial, by ProPublicas Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards

We asked if you need to live in Illinois to run a good political campaign.

Scott Fawell: No, but it helps to know the state and have the institutional knowledge as to how to build a winning coalition. And be aware, politics in Illinois is a contact sport.

Matthew Beaudet: Yes. Never forget that All politics is local.

Kevin Conlon: No, but hire a person already engaged here so they dont waste valuable time learning the players.

Rosemaria DiBenedetto: No. I manage suburban races all the time in areas I dont live in. You need to understand the issues and have a strong field operation.

Brendan Power: Yes. In 2016, my regional field director was based out of Ohio never set foot in Chicago and insisted we canvas during the Cubs playoff run and World Series. It did not go over well.

Jay Pearce: No. However, you do need to understand the lay of the land and how to apply universally good strategies to Illinois unique characteristics.

Andy Shaw: No. Its easier to build a campaign around made-up claims, charges and promises when youre not familiar with Illinois.

Patricia Ann Watson: No, but the manager better be surrounded by staffers who understand the uniqueness and connections.

Whats the nerdiest thing you do? Email [emailprotected]

Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) is trying to promote ESG policy making at a time when many of his colleagues are more interested in pushing political agendas. His stated goal of working across the aisle seems almost quixotic at a moment when bipartisanship is in short supply, writes Jordan Wolman in POLITICOs The Long Game.

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) reintroduced the Health Care Affordability Act, her signature legislation to permanently lower the cost of health care premiums, Wednesday with the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. A short-term version of Underwoods measure was included in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Jeff Zients was the man to make the trains run on time. Its been a bumpy start, by POLITICOs Adam Cancryn, Eugene Daniels and Nicholas Wu

Court rejects Trumps urgent bid to keep lawyers records from special counsel, by POLITICOs Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney

Never Don and Never Ron: The rest of the GOP field looks for a third lane, by POLITICOs Natalie Alison and Adam Wren

Task force challenges length of prison sentences in America, via USA Today

Today at 2 p.m.: Liz Dozier, founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond, will discuss Opportunity and Hope Through Disruption with John Shaw, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in this virtual event. Details here

WEDNESDAYs ANSWER: Congrats to Mark McCombs and Ted McClelland for correctly answering Mayor Anton Cermaks son-in-law, Otto Kerner, was governor of Illinois.

And h/t to Helena Kerner Stern, great granddaughter of Mayor Cermak, who was assassinated before Kerner took office.

TODAYs QUESTION: What was a four-legged voter in Chicago election terms? Email [emailprotected]

Former state Comptroller and 1978 governor candidate Michael Bakalis, Mac Strategies Monique Garcia, political consultant Charles Edwards, economist Valerie Michelman, Kivvit principal Evan Keller, Chicagos own Chaka Khan and belated greetings to Illinois Democratic Party spokeswoman Kiera Ellis, who celebrated Wednesday.

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Illinois Dems join the culture wars - POLITICO - POLITICO