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Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Election day is 21 days away.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama vote early for the midterm elections on Oct. 17, 2022, in Chicago. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO

Barack and Michelle Obama returned home to vote Monday ahead of the midterm elections that will see the former president campaigning for Democrats across the country.

Doing downtown: The Obamas, who are staying a few days at their Hyde Park Home, stopped by the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite at 191 N. Clark Street, where your Playbook host got a glimpse of them casting their ballots. (Yes, they still have a home in Chicago, where they are registered to vote.)

Side by side: The former president joked with elections staffers about missing the days when he could just punch a paper ballot for Democrats. On Monday, the former first couple voted on touch screens. They stood side by side but didnt confer with each other, though the former president had notes in hand he might have referred to. They took about 10 minutes to fill out their ballots before posing for pictures with Chicago Election Board staffers, who were surprised by the visit.

The voting site stayed open while the Obamas cast their ballots and as they left, a few folks were startled at the sight of the former first couple.

More surprise visits. The Obamas then hit two youth events. The former president greeted more than 60 Chicago high school students gathered at Fulton Market event space where he headlined a panel discussion on community resources and activism. Joining him: Chicago Bulls Ayo Dosunmo, Bulls creative strategy exec Don C. and students Adeeb Borden of Butler College Prep and Aniya Hill of North Lawndale College Prep.

Michelle and Barack Obama talk to Chicago Elections Board staff as they get ready to vote on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO

On the South Side, Michelle Obama surprised Hyde Park Academy students during an all-school assembly to kick off the school years Obama Foundation Futures Series, which exposes students to leaders and careers.

You dont need connections to do well. You dont need money to do well. You need people that you can go to when its hard, people that remind you who you are, the former first lady told the group. WBEZs Nereida Moreno has this story.

About the midterms: Obama will be on the campaign trail in the coming days, including in Georgia on Oct. 28, where hell stump for governor candidate Stacey Abrams and Sen. Raphael Warnock.

Obama is then scheduled to join Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at a get-out-the-vote rally on Oct. 29. And on the same day, hell head to Wisconsin to campaign for Democrats there.

In an interview with Pod Save America that aired Friday evening, Obama said hes looking at down-ballot races. There are governors races, secretary of states races, state legislative races that are going to really matter, he said. It may turn out that in a close presidential election at some point, certification of an election in a key swing state may be at issue. And its going to be really important that we have people there who play it straight.

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Ahead of tonights governors debate, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker issued a scathing attack on Republican Darren Bailey for not speaking out against former President Donald Trumps comments about American Jews.

Trump wrote on his TruthSocial social media platform that American Jews need to get their act together and show more appreciation for the state of Israel before it is too late.

A campaign spokeswoman for Pritzker, who is Jewish, said: After courting and earning Donald Trumps endorsement and spending months refusing to apologize for his appalling rhetoric comparing the Holocaust to abortion rights, voters can only assume that Bailey agrees with his idol that U.S. Jews need to get their act together.

In a statement to Playbook, Bailey spokesman Joe DeBose called Pritzker an out of touch billionaire who is too focused on national politics

Lamenting the state of affairs: Illinois House Jewish Caucus Leader Bob Morgan said comments by Trump and Kanye West, who recently posted anti-Semitic messages on Twitter, are fueling antisemitic behavior. Its the most Ive seen in my lifetime, Morgan told Playbook. We have had moments of extraordinarily high anti-Semitism over the years, but now were seeing public displays by people who are followed by millions of Americans.

Well be watching to see if the issue makes it into tonights debate.

The debate starts at 7 p.m. on WGN.

POLL | Pritzker, Duckworth hold commanding leads ahead of election, according to the Illinois Broadcasters Association and Research America Poll via NBC 5

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

On the debate stage at 7 p.m. on WGN to face Republican Darren Bailey.

On the Chicago Riverwalk at 2 p.m. to announce infrastructure investments.

At the Cook County Building at 9:30 a.m. to announce the resumption of ambulance runs to Cook County Healths Provident Hospital, serving Chicagos South Side.

BIG RULING | Ahead of key Illinois Supreme Court elections, federal judge blocks state campaign contribution limits in judicial races: The decision, handed down Friday, has the potential to unleash a deluge of cash into two hotly contested races for seats on the states highest court, by Tribunes Dan Petrella.

In suburban congressional races, Dems clobbering Republicans in fundraising except in IL-17: Republican Esther Joy King of East Moline has nearly $1.4 million cash on hand to Democrat Eric Sorensens nearly $295,000, according to the latest Federal Election Commission reports. Sun-Times Lynn Sweet has all the numbers.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth holds giant fundraising lead over GOP challenger Kathy Salvi: The Illinois Democrat has raised about $18 million, while her Republican opponent on the November ballot has brought in about $1 million, according to new FEC reports, by Sun-Times Lynn Sweet.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch and Democrats for the Illinois House closed the quarter reporting $14.1 million raised and $17 million cash on hand.

Judge Elizabeth Rochford is being endorsed by the Illinois Education Association in her campaign for the Supreme Court's Second District.

Republican Erica Harriss has been endorsed by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business political action committee in her bid for the 56th District state Senate seat.

Democrat Maria Peterson has been endorsed by the Illinois Senate Latino Caucus, Citizen Action/Illinois and the Latino Victory Fund in her bid for the 26th District state Senate seat.

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Illinois sees first snowfall of the season, but 70s are returning: O'Hare Airport reported snowfall on Monday as did other areas of the region, but forecasters predict the weather will steadily improve, via National Weather Service. By Patchs Jeff Arnold.

Illinois might overshadow Iowas corn fields: Iowa farmers are projected to harvest about 200 bushels of corn per acre this year on average a yield potentially less than Illinois 210, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture predictions, Successful Farming reports.

COVID UPDATE | Illinois no longer requires masks in health care facilities, though many may continue mandating them: The change marks a milestone in the pandemic and is in line with recently released recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by Tribunes Lisa Schencker.

Mountain lion killed in crash on I-88 in DeKalb County: Now wildlife officials are monitoring a second cougar in western Illinois, by WTTWs Patty Wetli

WELCOME: For the first time in weeks, there were no new arrivals of migrants to Illinois, according to the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services. The city has so far welcomed 3,408 asylum-seekers bused from the Texas border since Aug. 31.

Immigrants from Texas need winter clothes, coats, shoes and supplies. Heres how you can donate, by Block Clubs Maia Pandey

The Chicago Housing Authority keeps giving up valuable land while HUD rubber-stamps the deals: Despite being years behind on obligations to build more homes, the citys public housing agency gets permission to sell, lease and swap its property in gentrifying neighborhoods, by ProPublicas Mick Dumke.

The agency running a 988 call center in Chicago is trying to allay fears of police ties: The nonprofit known as C4 says it has received about 350 calls to the new suicide lifeline and hasnt transferred any to cops, by WBEZs Chip Mitchell.

Embattled Ald. Jim Gardiner gives up Fire Department promotion to seek 2nd term on City Council: He objected to being forced to choose, by Sun-Times Fran Spielman

Ald. Derrick Curtis accidentally shoots himself in wrist while cleaning gun, police say, via Sun-Times Tom Schuba and Fran Spielman

City's public health chief points to funding cliff ahead as Covid federal funding shrinks, by Crains Katherine Davis

CPD officers reporting misconduct more often, COPA chief says, by WGNs Sam Charles

NASCAR: Elk Grove Village to sponsor driver in next years downtown Chicago race, continuing push to market itself as manufacturing hub, by Tribunes Robert McCoppin

Krishnamoorthi asks feds for new study of train merger that would include suburban crossings, by Daily Heralds Marni Pyke

Prosecutors dismiss domestic violence case against Cook County judge: The person who filed the complaint told prosecutors the incident was an accident and she did not want to proceed with the case, according to court records, by Sun-Times Sophie Sherry.

Boys and Girls Clubs CEO of NW Indiana had entitled attitude and BAC four times over legal limit, police report says, by Tribunes Amy Lavalley

We asked what theater scene startled you out of your seat:

Brian Bernardoni: "Anyone who remembers anything from the Annoyance Theatre in the 1990s should have a full list of shows to choose from. Mine included 'Co-Ed Prison Sluts.' If you know you know. I will leave it at that."

Lisa Brasch: Nothing compares to that hand reaching out of the grave at the end of Carrie.

Timothy Thomas Jr.: Felt like jumping (for celebration) at the Lyrics Fiddler on the Roof (took mom for her birthday) and seeing a commitment to colorblind casting with the outstanding performance of Melody Betts as the grandmother in the dream sequence. Pic!

Justin Kulovsek: Goodman Theatre's 2017 production of Gloria right before intermission ... IYKYK.

Rey Nonato: West Side Story.

John Straus: When the chandelier drops in Phantom of the Opera.

Mary Beth Hoerner: The live child burial scene in Martin McDonaghs The Pillowman at Steppenwolf, or the cat skinning/brain dripping scene in the same authors The Lieutenant of Inishmore at Northlight.

What would you ask President Barack Obama if hed stop to take your question? Email [emailprotected]

Q&A with Sen. Dick Durbin: He talks Ukraine, immigration and the upcoming midterm elections with WTTWs Paris Schutz

Future Democratic stars at risk of getting wiped out in the midterms, by POLITICOs Elena Schneider

Democrats midterm hopes fade: We peaked a little early, by POLITICOs David Siders

The legacy Nancy Pelosi never wanted, by POLITICOs Rachel Bade and The Washington Posts Karoun Demirjian

Bidens student debt relief draws 8M+ applications in first two days, by POLITICOs Michael Stratford

Thursday at 5:30 p.m.: Sen. Tammy Duckworth holds a Brews with Tammy fundraiser at an as yet undisclosed location. Details here

MONDAYs ANSWER: Congrats to Andy Shaw for correctly answering that University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Northern Illinois University have buildings named after former Gov. John P. Altgeld.

TODAYs QUESTION: Who was the Chicago mobster who counted congressmen, judges, federal and state prosecutors, park commissioners and aldermen as honorary pallbearers? Email [emailprotected]

Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, State Budget Director Alexis Sturm, staffer to state Sen. Rob Martwick J.C. Strzalka-Steil, MxDs Alyssa Anna Sullivan, University of Chicago professor Victor A. Friedman, comms consultant Jim Bray and Playbooker Steve Whitmer.

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