By Shia Kapos

Happy Thursday, Illinois. The big reveal of the butter cow means the Illinois State Fair begins today!

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican Dick Uihlein were on opposite sides of the Ohio ballot debate. | AP file photo and Uline industry screen shot

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker donated money and political might to help defeat an Ohio ballot initiative that was viewed as an anti-abortion effort.

On the losing side of that election was Dick Uihlein, the billionaire conservative political donor from Illinois, who gave $4 million to Protect our Constitution, the main group supporting Issue 1, as the ballot measure was called. That’s most of the $4.85 million raised in all by the group, according to CBS News.

Abortion wasn’t part of the Ohio ballot language, but passage was seen as a way to prevent future efforts to make reproductive rights part of Ohio state law. The measure called for raising the threshold of votes needed to change the constitution. Uihlein, an opponent of abortion rights, supported the measure.

Pritzker was on the other side: “What went on in Ohio leading up to the vote last night was solely an effort to stop pro-choice forces from passing an amendment to their constitution. That’s all it was about,” the governor said at an unrelated news conference in Springfield on Wednesday. “I’m proud to have supported the ‘vote no.’ That’s the side that supported choice. And it was a resounding victory.”

He wasn’t just watching from the sidelines: Pritzker made a $250,000 personal contribution to Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom PAC. It was the second largest donation by an individual this year, according to campaign finance records.

More interesting: The governor also assigned some members of his political team, including political adviser and former campaign manager Mike Ollen, to help with strategic support in defeating the Ohio ballot measure. Pritzker team members sat in on the steering committee meetings for Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom.

Sounds familiar: This isn’t the first time Uihlein has found himself on the losing side in a battle with Pritzker. In last year’s governor’s race, Uihlein poured $50 million into Darren Bailey’s campaign and a super PAC to defeat the governor, only to come out behind in that effort, too.

RELATED

— Anti-abortion movement clashes over crushing defeat in Ohio, by POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein

— Abortion rights activists set their sights on Arizona after Ohio win, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro

— As Illinois becomes hub for abortion care, new hotline connects people with complex cases to hospitals, by Block Club’s Kayleigh Padar

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, left, speaks with Cam Henderson of the Republican National Committee. | Jovanny Hernandez/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

RIGHT NEXT DOOR: Milwaukee’s Democratic mayor rolls out the welcome mat for the GOP: The irony “is not lost on me," Mayor Cavalier Johnson told your Playbook host in an interview.

“We’re going to be gracious hosts because that’s what you should be,” Johnson said. “We’re asking everyone to be on their best behavior.”

There’s teamwork: Johnson and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel have been working closely on planning for the Aug. 23 GOP presidential primary debate, which they see as a dry run for how to handle next year’s GOP convention. That’s in Milwaukee, too.

Out of the mayor’s hands is whether former President Donald Trump will be part of the debate.

— What we know about Trump’s debate decision: “Trump said it ‘could be stupid’ to join the stage but hasn’t completely ruled it out,” reports POLITICO’s Rachael Bade and Matt Berg.

— Trump also says he won’t sign RNC loyalty pledge ahead of first debate, by POLITICO’s Lucy Hodgman

— Who’s in the Aug. 23 debate, and who might be watching from home, via POLITICO

If you are Dick Uihlein, Playbook would (again) like to hear from you. Email [email protected].

At the Illinois State Fairgrounds main gate at 10 a.m. for the ribbon cutting to open the 2023 State Fair — At Conservation World at the fair at 11:15 a.m. for its opening — At the Director’s Lawn at 11:30 a.m. to give remarks at the county fair lunch.

No official public events.

At Provident Hospital at 1 p.m. for the 30th anniversary celebration of the hospital being part of the Cook County system. It was established in 1891 as the first African-American owned-and-operated-hospital in the country.

Before you line up to see the butter cow, send me a line: [email protected]

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— A Florida state official, not DeSantis, criticizes Pritzker over abolishing cash bail in Illinois, says it’s ‘pure insanity’: A Pritzker spokesperson says “take a gander at what’s happening in his own backyard,” by Florida Phoenix’s Mitch Perry.

— 160 years later, activist Elizabeth Packard honored in place of psychiatrist she exposed: “State’s McFarland Mental Health Center renamed to honor woman who publicized its former namesake’s abusive methods,” by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki and Molly Parker.

— Videos show longtime Tylenol murder suspect James Lewis discussing the crime with undercover agents, by Tribune’s Christy Gutowski and Stacy St. Clair

— Springfield homeless shelter likely to open in reconfigured space at juvenile detention center, reports State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie

— Keeping campaign promises will take time, top Johnson aide says: “The pace of progress will depend on the amount of new revenue Mayor Brandon Johnson can get and when he can get it, Chicago’s COO John Roberson said.” Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman reports.

— The top cop pick is a decision Johnson — and the city he runs — can't afford to blow: “He needs someone who can change CPD in the right way and restore their confidence in themselves,” Charles Beck, who formerly headed the Los Angeles Police Department and did a stint as interim superintendent in Chicago, told Crain’s Greg Hinz.

— Chicago will get smaller share of state’s increased K-12 education budget for second year in a row, by Chalkbeat’s Samantha Smylie and Becky Vevea

— Can classical music deter panhandlers? Walgreens blares Bach outside Chicago stores, by Sun-Times’ David Roeder

— Researchers say tens of thousands in Cook County have a high risk of flooding: “According to the First Street Foundation, 172,000 properties in Cook County — including 79,000 in Chicago — have a high risk of flooding,” by WBEZ’s Amy Qin

— Lengthy blocked train crossings are delaying ambulances and buses: “Many of the country’s worst rail crossings are located in diverse suburbs south and southwest of Chicago,” reports WTTW’s Jared Ruteck.

— The 15 local governments join program to become 'EV ready,’ by Daily Herald’s Jenny Whidden

— Pickwick Theatre is approaching City of Park Ridge about selling alcohol to patrons, by Pioneer Press’ Caroline Kubzansky

— Da Bears: The three school districts that lie within the former Arlington Park Racetrack property owned by the Bears have started a new website tracking the stadium plans.

— Defense of former top aide to Madigan in perjury trial begins with talk of high school reunions, old crushes and a faulty memory: Tim Mapes’ defense attorneys “argued that he did not lie to a grand jury in 2021 but didn’t know or couldn’t remember the answers to certain questions he was asked under oath,” reports Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.

— Mapes didn’t know anything because he had been frozen out by the speaker, attorneys say, via Tribune’s Ray Long and Megan Crepeau

— Jesse White, the former long-time Illinois secretary of state, is the 2023 recipient of the Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award.

— Vashon Jordan Jr., director of digital media and photography for Gov. JB Pritzker’s office, is on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Chicago list.

— Stephen Lyons, a local writer, has a new book of essays called “Searching for Home: Misadventures with Misanthropes.”

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We asked about the best food at the State Fair.

Stella Black: "Corn dog."

Steve Brown: “If you got a corn dog and lemon shake-up at Vose's you could consume it before hitting the pork producers. Then slide down to the Bud Light tent to wash it all down.”

Marilyn Canna Costenbader: “Had a deep-fried brownie there once ... no, twice, that day. Sure beat the corn dog.”

Mark Killion: “Fry up all the Snickers or pickles you want, but a Vose Korndog is THE go-to Fair Food for anyone who knows what's what.”

Joe Moore: “Pork on a stick.”

Jennifer Olaya: "Butter pecan ice cream at the Dairy Product Building, aptly housed where the butter cow is on display!"

Wayne Williams: “Fried s’mores.”

Phil Zeni: “Elephant ears,” as in fried dough.

What makes someone a machine politician? Email [email protected]

— Presidential candidate in Ecuador shot to death at campaign event, by The Associated Press

— Florida schools ‘hijacked by the left’ turn to anti-climate cartoons, by POLITICO’s Scott Waldman

— DeSantis suspends another elected prosecutor in move derided as ‘politically motivated,’ by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. REAX: Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx called it “desperate and pathetic" and "not only racist and sexist, but it laughs in the face of democracy and justice.”

— Carol Sharp has been named president and CEO of The Night Ministry, which provides housing support and health care to those who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. Sharp has had leadership positions at Youth Guidance, Girls Inc. of Chicago and Perspectives Charter Schools.

— Joining Blank Rome are partner Joel Sestito, of counsel Rachel Mather and associate Olivia Ortiz. They’re all part of the firm’s real estate group in Chicago.

— Leo Louchios, an adviser to Jesse White and Alexi Giannoulias and Greektown staple, dies at 66: “He was a behind-the-scenes giant in the Greek community and a staple in city, county and state politics for more than two decades,” writes Sun-Times' Mitch Dudek.

— Carol Steele, ‘queen of Cabrini-Green’ and longtime public housing activist, dead at 72, by Sun-Times’ Violet Miller

— Sports broadcaster Mark Krueger dies at 57, by Sun-Times’ Mike Clark

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Gene Daly for correctly answering that Trigger performed with Roy Rogers in 1946 at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand.

TODAY’s QUESTION: How do Chicago Police Department horses get their names? Email [email protected]

Former state Sen. Jim DeLeo, 42nd Ward business affairs director Joanna Angarone, Illinois Restaurant Association comms manager Kara Highfill, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives President David Doig and essayist Elaine Soloway.

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