Hello, mates. The governor is in England so we’re speaking with an English accent this morning.

Democrats in Illinois are uneasy about this week’s election results, which showed their party couldn’t hold on to the suburban voters who abandoned former President Donald Trump last year.

An Illinois state legislator in contact with fellow Democrats, told us they share a “mutual frustration” that lawmakers in Congress are stumbling to pass President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, and that could in turn hurt candidates down the ticket in 2022. “Everyone feels right now that the outcome of the ‘22 races is incumbent on the congressional Democrats delivering to the American people,” the legislator said.

Democratic Party of Illinois executive director Abby Witt was more positive about what the election means for Illinois. “The results made it crystal clear that voters are hungry for leaders who will tackle the biggest challenges we all face,” she said in a statement to Playbook.

It’s about Democrats hammering home their “gains for working families on issues like ending the pandemic, growing good-paying jobs, investing in clean energy, expanding affordable healthcare, protecting a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, and more,” Witt said.

State Rep. Sam Yingling, a Democrat from Lake County, is in the camp that Illinois Democrats “are positioned much better” than those in other states because they’ve delivered “tangible results” such as minimum wage, reproductive health rights, and lower health care costs.

Behind closed doors, though, lawmakers say they’re worried about how those “progressive” results will sell with suburban voters. “Middle-class people feel ignored,” another suburban Democratic legislator told us. Suburban voters care about the economy, “not the four pillars or the abortion bill,” the lawmaker said, referring criminal justice reform measures and a law to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act.

Republicans “are salivating,” they added, at being able to use Democrats’ votes on progressive bills against them in political campaigns leading up to the midterm election.

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner even weighed in in a report by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern: “Democrats overreaching and mismanaging so badly it’s shaping up to be a terrific cycle for Republicans in ‘22.”

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Murphy reelected New Jersey governor by razor-thin margin, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman

Women in Chicago radio call out ‘toxic and sexist’ culture in male-dominated industry: “Struck by the number of high-profile women departing radio jobs, the Tribune interviewed three dozen women in Chicago radio over the past 10 months, finding both enthusiasm for their work and widespread frustration with what many described as a male-dominated business. Ten women said they left their jobs because they were not happy with the way they were treated, while other female voices were reduced or silenced because of cost-cutting efforts by radio companies — including during the pandemic.

“In Chicago, some station audiences can go hours without hearing a female host,” report Tribune’s Tracy Swartz and Christy Gutowski.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: [email protected]

In London, England, for meetings with British government officials and business leaders to advance the interests of Illinois.

No official public events.

In the county building at 10 a.m. Presiding over a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

— Chicago police union boss renews call for officers to disobey vaccine reporting mandate, but department compliance jumps to 76%: “There were 40 members of the Chicago Fire Department on no-pay status as of Wednesday afternoon, according to department spokesman Larry Langford. He said an additional eight members of the Fire Department initially went on no-pay status, then opted to enter their vaccine status in the portal and return to work,” by Tribune’s Alice Yin and John Byrne.

— Attorney accuses Pritzker of ‘judge shopping’ in try to move mask mandate suits to Cook County, Springfield courts: “The cases are now pending in Sangamon County, Vermilion County, Macoupin County, Kendall County and Montgomery County, along with one case in Cook County,” by Cook County Record’s Jonathan Bilyk.

— Illinois lawmakers eye quieter ’22 session: “State lawmakers are planning an abbreviated spring legislative session with a scheduled adjournment date of April 8, nearly eight weeks earlier than usual.” There’s policy and politics behind the decision, reports Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore.

— How McLean County could benefit from state electric vehicle legislation: “Just in the last 10 months, the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council has fielded 100 projects from businesses looking to move into the area, or existing properties wanting to expand. And, four of those are $1 billion potential investments in the area, said CEO Patrick Hoban,” by The Pantagraph’s Sierra Henry.

— SIU waiting on $2.5M in innovation funds promised by governor almost two years ago: “In a Feb. 12, 2020 announcement, the state said it was awarding $500 million in total to 15 institutions across the state — including SIU — to fund and expand the Illinois Innovation Network. The network is a collection of public universities and community colleges that work together for innovation, research and education,” by The Southern’s Les O’Dell.

— Illinois grew its teaching force last year. So why is there still a shortage? “Illinois added more than 2,000 teachers to its teaching force last school year. At the same time, the retention rate increased to 87.1 percent, which is the highest its been since the state board started publishing that data in 2014,” by Belleville News-Democrat’s Megan Valley.

New deputy governor for education vows to work on ‘making Illinois the best state in the nation to raise children’: “Pritzker promoted Martin Torres from his role as first assistant deputy governor for education to the top role Wednesday, to succeed Jesse Ruiz, who announced his plans to leave the public sector in August,” by Sun-Times’ Rachel Hinton.

With her district ‘at stake,’ Dem lawmaker seeks to intervene in IL redistricting: “Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, who represents the largely Latino 22nd District on Chicago’s southwest side, is arguing the composition of her district, and therefore her chances of reelection, could hang in the balance if the court decides to alter the map. A three-judge panel in the Northern District of Illinois is hearing the lawsuits challenging the new maps,” by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock.

Former Illinois lawmaker Luis Arroyo pleads guilty to wire fraud: “The Democrat who represented Chicago’s West and Northwest sides in the Illinois House for 13 years admitted to offering a bribe to an unnamed state senator to help advance a bill benefiting the sweepstakes industry. That senator, WBEZ and other media outlets have confirmed, was Terry Link, a Vernon Hills Democrat who left the Senate last year and later pleaded guilty to a federal tax charge,” by WBEZ’s Dave McKinney.

— “Can u call me?” the park district board president texted to Kim Foxx as lifeguard abuse scandal deepened: “Foxx firmly rebuffed [Avis] LaVelle’s request — quickly responding instead with a curt and formal letter, informing park district leaders that law-enforcement authorities had opened an active investigation into allegations of sex crimes and official misconduct,” by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos.

… Pressure mounts on Lightfoot to dump Park Board president: “Two of Lightfoot’s closest City Council allies — Scott Waguespack and Michele Smith — don’t buy Park Board President Avis LaVelle’s assertion that she relied on then-Supt. Mike Kelly to tell the truth about the investigation of complaints from two young women,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— McCormick Place casino proposal looks to change luck at ‘sparsely used’ Lakeside Center: “The proposal — one of two Chicago casino bids backed by billionaire Neil Bluhm — calls for “significant capital improvements” to the aging facility, which has only hosted a handful of large shows over the past few years, but has the “perfect” dimensions for a casino, developers say,” by Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout.

— Chicago will spend big on mental health services next year, but the fight over shuttered clinics goes on: “Every budget season the question is asked: Why is the city spending so much money on the Police Department, while public health gets squeezed? The most recent cycle was no different, as participants in budget forums across the city continued to press Mayor Lori Lighfoot’s budget team on the issue,” by WBEZ’s Claudia Morell

— Video of fatal police shooting of Michael Craig released by COPA: “Police oversight agency released body-worn camera video showing officer shooting 61-year-old after 911 caller reported Craig was being attacked with a knife by his wife,” by Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm and David Struett.

It’s CTA vs. Metra vs. Pace in a $1.5 billion battle: “The transit agencies are fighting over who gets how much from federal COVID relief funds doled out by the Regional Transportation Authority,” by Crain’s Greg Hinz.

— Heather Mack, Tommy Schaefer charged in U.S. indictment with conspiring to kill Mack’s mother: “Mack’s arrest at O’Hare Tuesday marks the start of a new chapter in Mack’s yearslong international drama — one that could take years more to play out and puts the welfare of Mack’s 6-year-old daughter, Stella, into question,” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Stefano Esposito.

… Do the new federal charges against Heather Mack constitute double jeopardy? Experts say not likely, by Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Annie Sweeney

— 88 people with convictions tied to a corrupt Chicago cop are hoping for a mass exoneration: “Judges have already vacated 110 Watts-related convictions of 87 people. All but one were drug felonies. [Police Sgt.] Watts and the tactical team he led were the subject of allegations and investigations spanning more than a decade. Authorities say the sergeant and his underlings planted drugs and false charges on people who refused to pay extortion fees at Ida B. Wells, a housing complex in Bronzeville,” by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell.

— Off-duty Chicago police officer fatally shoots husband, also an officer, during struggle over gun at Far NW Side home: “The shooting occurred Tuesday evening in the 8500 block of West Winona Street,” by Sun-Times’ Clare Spaulding and Emmanuel Camarillo.

— Ex-priest who admitted abuse released from Illinois prison, by The Associated Press

Village Of Dixmoor lifts boil order after more than two weeks: “The water pressure for the supply coming from the City of Harvey is now adequate, but still not at pre-Oct. 16 levels — which was a range of 35 to 36 pounds of pressure per square inch of service, the village said,” via CBS 2.

Illinois House Republican floor leader won’t seek another term in Legislature: ‘I’m choosing to move out’: “State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, announced his plans Wednesday on 1340 WJOL. After the radio show, Batinick told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter he ‘just felt it was time,’” by Sun-Times’ Rachel Hinton

— Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) is out of the gates with his re-election campaign now that boundaries are all but sown up for his district. The governor still needs to sign on to the newly released map. Bost has been endorsed by 20 Republican Central Committee leaders from across the newly mapped district, according to his campaign. Here are the 20 GOP leaders backing Bost.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry announced in a campaign video that he will seek re-election in 2022. First elected in 2018, Lowry represents the 3rd District which encompasses much of the lake from River North to South Shore and west to Asburn/Wrightwood. “Despite the challenges of my first term including a global pandemic, civil unrest, and the shuttering of local businesses, I’ve focused on my values of communication, collaboration, and action to deliver for my community,” Lowry says in his video.

— Appellate Judge Mary K. O’Brien formally kicks off her campaign for Illinois Supreme Court next week. Leading up to that she’s announcing more endorsements of elected officials, including a few who serve in Congress. Sen. Dick Durbin already announced his support. O’Brien, a former state legislator, is running in the 3rd District seat that includes DuPage and Will counties as well as Bureau, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, and LaSalle counties. She kicks her campaign off next week. Officials backing O’Brien

— Small business owner Maria Peterson has announced her run for the 26th District state Senate seat now held by Senate Republican Minority Leader Dan McConchie. Peterson, who lives in North Barrington, says she’s focused on “clean air, safe and affordable water, access to affordable health care including mental health, cleaner modes of transportation, and helping small businesses survive and thrive — the issues that impact the day-to-day lives of people.”

— FEELS LIKE A GOTCHA: Budzinski scrambles to restore suspended voter registration after relocating to Sangamon County, reports WCIA’s Mark Maxwell.

Opinion | Blago thinks he could oust the mayor: “The greatest takeaway from Hulu’s ‘Being Blago’ is our former governor should listen to his wife and leave politics behind,” writes Mark Konkol in Patch.

We asked college basketball or the NBA and why? Hands down, Playbookers like college ball (though a few would have picked WNBA if it were still in season). “Nothing compares to the heart of young players before they get to the league,” wrote Tyler Bohannon. “More teams with a realistic chance of winning the championship. The crowds are more passionate and the offense is more than pick and rolls and isolation plays,” said Brian Caminer. Ashvin Lad compares the two, saying “The sounds of college are the cheering of the student section. NBA games have turned into nightclubs with DJs playing deafening music all game.” Adds Brian A. Bernardoni: “As an Illinois State University alum who rushed the floor as an undergrad and as a graduate student when we made the NCAA tournament there is nothing more exciting.” And John McCabe gives a slight nod to the NBA, saying, “With the Bulls doing well, and adding and using hometown/Southside Hero Ayo Dosunmu so well, the pendulum will be swinging back to 60/40 college/pro.”

For tomorrow, Cher gave her two cents after this week’s elections. Which celebrity’s political opinion do you care about and why? Email to [email protected]

THE FIFTY: From crime to policing, Tuesday’s municipal elections tested some of Democrats’ most ambitious policies and candidates. Not everyone made the cut. POLITICO’s Maya King and Lisa Kashinsky have the details on the seven big cities that elected mayors.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday advanced Rahm Emanuel’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to Japan, but Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) voted no — while a few Republicans voted yes. That means Emanuel will likely have to look for support across the aisle to get through the full chamber, which he’s got, reports Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

WTTW’s Heather Cherone reports on the memo Merkley issued before the vote.

— Opinion | The revolution Joe Manchin (probably) can’t stop, by Zachary Carter in POLITICO magazine

— California schools: Get Covid shots or go back to distance learning, by POLITICO’s Mackenzie Mays and Isabella Bloom

— COP26’s key task: Stamping out climate cheating, by POLITICO’s Zia Weise in Glasgow

— Kyle Rittenhouse jury views videos showing shootings during protests, by Tribune’s Stacy St. Clair

Revere CEO Jay Porter dies after battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: “Porter spent 12 years at Edelman before taking on the role of CEO at DJE Holdings agency Revere,” via PR Week.

TODAY at 11:35 a.m.: Director of the Illinois Office of Broadband Matt Schmit will join a virtual panel discussion with FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel and leaders from Heartland Forward and LULAC to discuss efforts to increase Emergency Broadband Benefit participation in Latino communities in the heartland and close the digital divide.

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Playbooker Patricia Ann Watson and school board advocate and Brick Loot founder Parker Krex for correctly answering that Ulysses S. Grant took command of the 21st Illinois Regiment during the Civil War on May 9, 1861, in Mattoon, Ill.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Illinois State Fair? Email to [email protected]

Former state Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann, GOP political operative Michael Fontneau, Data Reporting Lab founder Darnell Little, National Equity Fund president and CEO Matthew Reilein, Gemini Builds It CEO Courtney Wright, and Tribune investigations editor Kaarin Tisue.

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• Shia Kapos @shiakapos

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