By Shia Kapos

Happy Thursday, Illinois. Presidential candidates reveal the songs that stir their souls. Can you relate?

Darren Bailey's run for governor in 2022 was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. | Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

Darren Bailey is hosting a fundraiser next month featuring Donald Trump Jr. and giving away former President Donald Trump’s new book. Details here

It’s not a Trump endorsement, but the event offers Bailey an opportunity to rub elbows with the former president’s son, who helps influence his father's decision-making.

What’s at stake: Bailey is challenging veteran Congressman Mike Bost in the 2024 primary, and both Republicans are looking for a thumbs-up from Trump.

So far, lips are sealed. Trump has not stepped up for either candidate (He’s pretty busy these days. Ahem.).

Trump endorsed both Illinois Republicans last year. He appeared on stage with Bailey ahead of the high-profile primary for governor. And a few days later, Trump backed Bost in his congressional re-election.

There’s buzz that Trump was taken aback by Bailey not embracing Trump’s endorsement during the General Election against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.

Now, short of an endorsement, Bailey supporters are hoping Trump stays neutral in the race, and they’re rolling out the red carpet for Don Jr.

No one knows if it will help. Trump can be very unpredictable.

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is relinquishing his last bit of power ahead of a corruption trial he faces after the March 19 primary. The 81-year-old political legend is not running for reelection as committeeman of the 13th Ward, a position he’s held since he was 27.

Instead, Madigan will pass the baton to his protégé, Chicago Ald. Marty Quinn, who’s one of the last remaining members of the Irish machine that once ruled city government. Quinn, a force in the Southwest Side neighborhood having worked alongside Madigan for years, is already out gathering signatures to run for Madigan’s committeeman seat.

Teaming up: Quinn is also working alongside state Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, who has the House seat Madigan held for half a century until he stepped down two years ago in wake of a corruption probe. She shares her political office with Madigan’s committee office.

Eye on crime: Quinn and Guerrero-Cuellar have joined forces to create an additional police district to serve the neighborhoods they represent just south of Midway Airport.

They say the new district is needed to address an increase in crime. It’s the kind of project Madigan, a constituent-services king, would surely get behind.

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

At Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville at 10 a.m. for the groundbreaking for the new SIUE Health and Sciences Building.

At the Hilton Chicago at 6:10 p.m. to address the Economic Club.

At the George Dunne golf course in Oak Forest at 9 a.m. to deliver remarks at the 12th Annual Conservation Cup.

Before you start to unpack your sweaters, stop and send me a line: [email protected]

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— State Rep. John Egofske (82nd), appointed earlier this year to replace former Rep. Jim Durkin, who was the Republican leader, has decided not to run for election in 2024. Egofske cited his responsibilities serving in his other elected role: mayor of Lemont.

— Nicole La Ha Zwiercan, a former Homer Glen trustee and 2022 Mrs. America, is running for Illinois House for the 82nd District as a Republican, by Patch’s Andrea Earnest.

— Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is leading an Illinois delegation to Japan starting Saturday. She’ll represent Illinois at the 53rd Annual Joint Meeting of the Midwest U.S. – Japan and Japan-Midwest U.S. Associations Conference in Tokyo from Sept. 10-12. Stratton will address economic cooperation between Illinois and Japan and will “reinforce Illinois as a leader in corporate recruitment, retention and expansion through Illinois Foreign Direct Investment,” according to a statement from her office.

— Education secretary praises Springfield after-school program during visit, by The Associated Press’ John O’Connor

— Residents greet plan to house migrants at Greektown hostel with both applause and apprehension: “Up to 196 migrants will begin moving into the Parthenon Guest House, 310 S. Halsted St., Sept. 15. Some residents are concerned about safety and security,” by Sun-Times’ Kade Heather.

— Restaurant association offers alternative to ending subminimum wage for tipped workers, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman

— Aldermen, mayor set for a pay bump, by Tribune’s Alice Yin

— Nearly five years after pleading guilty to a felony, a Chicago cop remains on the force: “Joseph DeRosa pleaded guilty to resisting and obstructing police. It’s supposed to bar him from being a cop in Illinois,” by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell.

— Civilian oversight commission poised to bury CPD’s error-filled gang database, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba

— More questions raised about Mother Jones statue planned near historic Water Tower: ‘Why would we want any statue’ there? Tribune’s Gregory Royal Pratt reports

— 14 Chicago Public Schools employees, officials connected to PPP loan fraud, watchdog report finds, by WTTW’s Matt Masterson

— ‘There There’ by Native American writer Tommy Orange is 2023 pick for One Book, One Chicago, by WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde

— Harris Theater for Music and Dance marks 20 years, by Kyle MacMillan for Sun-Times

— Early risers: The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held its “State of Latino Businesses” breakfast meeting at the Union League Club on Wednesday. Mayor Brandon Johnson headlined a Q&A with Faegre Drinker’s Olivia Pantoja.

Spotted: Congressmembers Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Delia Ramirez, Danny Davis and Jonathan Jackson, state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, Ald. Jeylu Gutierrez, Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya and Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago and former Congressman Luis Gutierrez. 

— Prosecutors do not intend to call ex-Ald. Daniel Solis to testify in Ed Burke trial: “Prosecutors notified defense teams via a letter Wednesday about the tactical decision” to keep former Ald. Daniel Solis — “one of the most important government moles in Chicago political history” — from testifying, by Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Ray Long.

— Ex-Chicago Park District electrician gets more than 3 years for helping break through barricades on Jan. 6: “Daniel Leyden’s brother, Joseph Leyden, was also sentenced to six months in prison for his role in the rioting at the U.S. Capitol, court records show,” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.

— Appeals temper downtown tax hikes in Kaegi’s rematch with landlords: “Board of Review granted reduced valuations to most properties due in part to distress,” by The Real Deal’s Rachel Herzog and Adam Farence.

— Chicago suburbs, running out of water, will tap Lake Michigan, via Bridge Michigan

— New plan pitches ‘big, bold solutions’ to transform regional public transit in Chicago area, by WTTW’s Nick Blumberg

— Freedom Caucus wants Illinois GOP to ban campaign donations from teachers' unions: “Teachers' unions have a political foothold not only on Democrats, but some Republicans too," said Republican Rep. Chris Mille. WAND-TV’s Mike Miletich reports.

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We asked how you go about getting petitions signed.

Frank Calabrese: “I approach people who can’t run because they’re waiting at train or bus stations.”

Jim Nowlan opens with a line like, “Sorry to bother you. I could sure use your help. I am trying to help a friend of mine get on the ballot.”

What's it like being a delegate at a presidential nominating convention? Email [email protected]

— Why Nancy Pelosi might run again, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin

— Biden administration to China: Hands off our tech but we’ll take your tourists, by POLITICO’s Doug Palmer

— The Giuliani aide who ‘vanished,’ by POLITICO’s Betsy Woodruff Swan and Kyle Cheney

— Unions seek gains in hostile territory: ‘If you change the South, you change America,’ by POLITICO’s Olivia Olander

— Syd Terry has decamped for the BGR Group, where he’ll be vice president in the firm’s commerce and infrastructure practice. He’s been chief of staff to Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), who is chief deputy minority whip and the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee. Terry told POLITICO Influence that he expects to work on much of the same issue portfolio at BGR, which includes everything from antitrust and the Federal Trade Commission to online safety, data privacy, consumer protection, auto safety and tourism. h/t Daniel Lippman

— Gwendolyn Harrison named Lincoln Library director pending city council approval, by State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie

— After 41 years covering sports, ABC 7 Chicago’s Jim Rose to retire, by Sun-Times’ David Roeder

— John Gallo, CEO of Legal Aid Chicago and former head of litigation at Sidley Austin, announced he'll be stepping down "create a law firm whose mission centers on delivering the highest quality legal service in a flexible environment."

— Deborah Baker is now general counsel and deputy chief of staff for Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. She was an appointed commissioner (administrative law judge) for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.

— Natashee Scott is now assistant deputy mayor of community safety for the City of Chicago. She had been general counsel and deputy chief of staff for Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

— Jerome Pickett is joining McDonald’s as VP and global chief security and intelligence officer. He was a senior adviser at The Chertoff Group and is an alum of the NBA and CLEAR.

— Evan Keller, a public affairs principal at Kivvit/Subject Matter, and Lorna Gilmore, the manager at Foundation for Rural Service, tied the knot at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis over the weekend and followed it up with a reception at the Stifel Theatre. The Southern Illinois natives met in New York City and now live in Washington, D.C., though they’re frequent visitors to Chicago, southern Illinois and Champaign-Urbana, where they both attended University of Illinois for their undergrad degrees. Keller had worked for Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Gilmore for Sen. Dick Durbin. Their first date was at the 17th Street Barbecue in Murphysboro. Pic and Pic!

Spotted: State Rep. Carol Ammons and County Clerk Aaron Ammons, Duckworth Deputy State Director Loren Harris, governor’s press secretary Alex Gough, Duckworth Illinois comms director Courtney Jacquin McManus, Rep. Nikki Budzinski Metro East Director Kevin Brooks, Mike Quigley for Congress Political Director Riley Robinson, Illinois Senate Democratic Fund Digital Director Jack McNeil, Citizen Action Illinois Deputy Director Anusha Thotakura, OneNorthside Executive Director Jesse Hoyt, Comptroller’s Office digital comms manager Nassir Faulkner, CHIPS for America comms director Matt Hill, Durbin Deputy Legislative Director James Floyd, Energy Department Legislative Affairs Coordinator Yusuf Nekzad, Rep. Sean Casten Legislative Director Aaron Groce, Democratic Attorneys General Association deputy comms director Emily Trifone, Education Department press secretary Sean Sibley and Duckworth speechwriter Juliet Spies-Gans.

— Oct. 19: Diana Rauner, the former first lady of Illinois, is the honoree at the Lynn Sage Foundation fundraiser at Theater on the Lake. Details here.

— Nov. 5: Adam Kinzinger, the former Illinois congressman, headlines a conversation with Jonathan Alter at the Chicago Humanities Fall Festival at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts in Hyde Park. He'll talk about the Jan. 6 insurrection and his new book, “Renegade: What Defending Democracy Taught Me about Life, Liberty, and My Country.” Details coming here

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Robert Christie for correctly answering that Illinois secretary of State Paul Powell died at Springfield’s St. Nicholas Hotel in room 546, where authorities found $750,000 — some of it stored in shoeboxes.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What’s the one school that has left the Big 10 Conference? Email [email protected]

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, former state Rep. Peter Breen and public relations exec Maureen Schulman.

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