By Shia Kapos

Happy Wednesday, Illinois. Is a daily corn dog at the State Fair really so wrong?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — We’re spanning the state to bring you a variety of news today. Call it the human drama of political competition.

State Rep. Lakesia Collins beat out fellow state Rep. Jawaharial “Omar” Williams in a showdown Tuesday afternoon for the open state Senate seat in the 5th district.

The  appointment had high interest among Democrats as it pitted progressives against the old-school pols. Collins was backed by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a union ally who called Democratic leaders urging them to support her.

Williams had his own cheer-leading section. It was led by his father, Ald. and Vice Mayor Walter Burnett Jr., who sat on the committee making the appointment and had the largest number of weighted votes on the panel.

Collins and her allies worked the phones to lock down support for the vote. It worked. When it came time to vote, it was clear Collins had it nailed, and she ultimately won by acclamation. Key players in her corner: Alds. Jason Ervin (28th), Emma Mitts (37th) and Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), and Committeewoman Lucy Moog (43rd).

A few hours earlier, drama unfolded during the Cook County Democrats’ slating for 2024 candidates.

The vote to endorse for Cook County Clerk of the Court pitted incumbent Iris Martinez against powerful Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s pick: Eira Corral Sepúlveda, a first-term water board commissioner.

Surprise move: The Democratic Party leaders didn’t choose either. Instead, they endorsed Mariyana Spyropoulos, a longtime water board commissioner who had locked up support from unions and other Democratic powerbrokers.

The big question: Will Corral Sepúlveda run for the clerk seat, even if she doesn’t have the party’s backing? She told Playbook: “I made a commitment that I wouldn’t run against the Democratic Party’s slated candidate, and I intend to honor it.”

A supreme decision: The county Dems also backed incumbent Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham in next year’s primary over Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes.

Latino leverage: That means the party won’t be backing any Latino for a countywide office. It’s a loss for U.S. Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Delia Ramirez, who had endorsed Reyes and Corral Sepúlveda.

A loss for Preckwinkle, too: But her real focus was on the Cook County state’s attorney’s race and getting an endorsement for former prosecutor and lobbyist Clayton Harris III to replace Kim Foxx. Harris got the endorsement over former Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke. But O’Neill Burke’s team was quick to respond that she would be running, even without the party endorsement.

That means more drama, and we can’t wait.

Here’s the list of the slated.

RELATED

— The slating event is often a strong indication of who will become a judge, report Injustice Watch’s Dan Hinkel and Alejandra Cancino

— Tribune's take: Amid party loyalty questions, Cook County Dems endorse for state’s attorney and go against incumbent for court clerk, by A.D. Quig

— Sun-Times' take: How the Cook County state’s attorney’s race is shaping up, by Mitchell Armentrout

Who’s in charge: The Democratic State Central Committee had a few new faces at Tuesday’s regular meeting in Springfield. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch sat at the table with the party bosses, including Committee Chair Lisa Hernandez. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon zoomed in. And representatives of Gov. JB Pritzker’s political team sat with party staffers.

The new additions come after a bill was passed earlier this year allowing the government leaders to be honorary members of the party since they also manage campaigns for their caucuses.

In years’ past, former House Speaker Michael Madigan and former Senate President John Cullerton also served on the party’s Central Committee. They both were integral in how the campaigns were run for their caucuses. Cullerton is still on the Central Committee, but Madigan is out. Committee leaders felt they needed voices who are managing legislative campaigns to be part of the mix. That includes Welch, Harmon and Pritzker.

“It just adds to the coordination of the campaigns,” Cullerton told Playbook.

If you are Michael Madigan, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected].

At the Director’s Lawn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds at noon for Governor’s Day festivities. Then at the Coliseum at 5 p.m. for the “Governor’s Sale of Champions.”

At Crane High School at 11:30 a.m. for its Back to School Bash.

No official public events.

I don’t care if you like ketchup or mustard on that dog, send me a line at [email protected]

A NEW PODCAST FROM POLITICO: Our new POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy around the world. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and cybersecurity, POLITICO Tech explores how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, innovations and industries that will matter tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY.

— A planned Illinois bill would require lawyers for kids in police interrogations: “Lawmakers are devising the measure after WBEZ obtained footage of a Waukegan cop leading a 15-year-old to falsely confess to a shooting,” by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell.

— Nuclear plant moratorium bill heads to veto session fight in Illinois, by WGLT’ Charlie Schlenker

— States that protect transgender health care now try to absorb demand, by The Associated Press’ Jeff McMillan and Hannah Schoenbaum

— Politics is taking the main stage at the State Fair, by WGN's Peter Curi and Mike Lowe

— Prosecutors begin playing Tim Mapes’ 2021 grand jury testimony in Madigan probe, offering rare glimpse into normally secret proceedings, by Jason Meisner and Ray Long

— As Madigan faced threat to his power, aide said it was time to ‘play hardball and quit doing this nicey/nicey stuff,’ by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Dan Wozniczka (pronounced Vah Nesh Kah) is running in the Illinois 5th congressional district as a Democrat. He’s an epidemiologist who worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Covid-19 pandemic. Wozniczka was “a federally protected whistleblower after detailing the role politics played in CDC decisions” and testified before Congress about the Trump administration’s actions during the pandemic, according to his team. Wozniczka faces Congressman Mike Quigley for the seat.

— President Biden declares federal disaster over June and July flooding in Cook County: “The move allows for federal funding to help with storm recovery efforts; including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help homeowners and businesses recover from the flooding,” via CBS 2.

— Highland Park, Deerfield high schools move up use of weapons detection system following weekend shooting death of 16-year-old, by Pioneer Press’ Steve Sadin and Alex Hulvalchick

— 2 Chicago-area people indicted with Trump, accused of trying to overturn Georgia election results: “Trevian C. Kutti, a publicist who worked with R. Kelly and Kanye West, and Stephen Cliffgard Lee, a Lutheran pastor, are accused of pressuring an election worker to make false claims of voter fraud,” by Sun-Times’ Kaitlin Washburn and David Struett.

— A man who set a fire at an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic sentenced to 10 years in prison, by The Associated Press

Laura Ricketts leads local group of women to buy Chicago Red Stars: ‘Unprecedented fan growth in women’s soccer globally’: Also among investors: TAWANI Enterprises’ Jennifer Pritzker, IDEO’s Angela E.L. Barnes, Traci P. Beck, Ventas CEO Debra Cafaro, smartly.io CEO Laura Desmond, Loop Capital’s Sidney Dillard, LaCrosse Milling Co. owner Megan Murphy, nonprofit exec Editha Paras, comms consultant Hilary Rosen and Impact Engine’s Jessica Droste Yagan, Tribune’s Shakeia Taylor reports.

DON’T MISS POLITICO’S TECH & AI SUMMIT: America’s ability to lead and champion emerging innovations in technology like generative AI will shape our industries, manufacturing base and future economy. Do we have the right policies in place to secure that future? How will the U.S. retain its status as the global tech leader? Join POLITICO on Sept. 27 for our Tech & AI Summit to hear what the public and private sectors need to do to sharpen our competitive edge amidst rising global competitors and rapidly evolving disruptive technologies. REGISTER HERE.

We asked what technology you could live without.

Steve Brown: Land lines.

Randy Bukas and Ted Cox could do without email.

Clark Chaplin: “Social media. The name is counterintuitive in that it actually causes people to be less social while in a face-to-face situation.”

Lucas Hawley: “My Apple airpods.”

John Kelly Jr.: “Baseball tickets on the phone. Paper is easier.” 

David Kohn: “Spell-check and its cousin, auto-complete. They undermine thoughtful writing and proofreading — and lead to sentences like ‘He took things for granite.’”

 Carol Lampard: “Could live without Chicago speed cameras.” (Can relate.)

Marilynn Miller: " My kitchen range because I use the microwave or eat it cold and radio because of TV."

Joan Pederson: “Display screens in cars that show anything other than the view from the back-up camera.”

Donovan Pepper: “Sleep By Number bed and sleep score. My wife swears by it. I could care less!”

David Schwartz: “Apple Watch — having a phone in my pocket is close enough access to my emails and texts.”

James Straus: The electronic kiosks that take your order at McDonald’s.

Claude Walker: Cell phone.

Phil Zeni: Electric can openers.

If you could time travel and alter one historical event, what would it be? Email [email protected]

— Russia expels POLITICO reporter Eva Hartog, by POLITICO’s Claudia Chappa

— Trump indictment forces a GOP reckoning on 2020, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison

— Uncertainty over Trump looms as he qualifies for the second debate, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro and Steven Shepard

— Sinema calls out top Dems for giving more border relief aid to N.Y. than Arizona, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett

— Nick Shields has been promoted to deputy chief of staff for communications for the Cook County Board President’s Office. He was comms director.

— Madison Olinger has joined CBRE, where she’ll support the tenant representation team run by Brad Serot and Paul Reaumond. She was deputy campaign manager for then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

— Marc Reiter is now legislative liaison for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. He was a senior policy associate for Unite Us.

— Today at 10 a.m.: Jim Nowlan, a former Illinois state representative, cabinet director and campaign manager, joins the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute to discuss his new book, “Politics: The Starter Kit — How to Succeed in Politics and Government.” The event is virtual.

Thursday at noon: The Partnership for College Completion is hosting a panel discussion on what’s next after the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action. The event is virtual.

TUESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Luis Narvaez and John Straus for correctly answering that O’Hare airport got its ORD designation because it was called Orchard Field Airport when passenger service began. In 1949, the Chicago City Council renamed Chicago O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare) to honor naval aviator Lt. Commander Edward “Butch” O'Hare, a Medal of Honor recipient from Chicago.

 TODAY’s QUESTION: Why does the Museum of Science and Industry have a coal mine? Email [email protected]

Chicago Vice Mayor and Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, Illinois Appellate Court Judge Cynthia Cobbs, former state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, Lt. Gov’s Office deputy chief of staff for external affairs and comms Janelle Gurnsey, BNSF Railway government affairs exec Peter Skosey, Illinois Democratic Party Digital Manager Valeria Ruiz and Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater.

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