By Shia Kapos

TGIF, Illinois. OK, OK! New Jersey wins for outrageous corruption headlines.

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is challenging Congressman Danny Davis in the IL-07 Democratic primary. | Conyears-Ervin photo

SCOOP: Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is all in to challenge Congressman Danny Davis for what’s expected to be a heated primary in the 7th Congressional District.

Why she’s running: “Working families of this district are looking for a representative who will work as hard as they do on a daily basis for them,” Conyears-Ervin told Playbook in an interview. Launch video here

Conyears-Ervin is a lifelong resident of the district, having been raised in Englewood and on the West Side. She grew up with three sisters in a single-parent home, watching her mom make ends meet. “She’s the model that’s carried me,” Conyears-Ervin said of her mom.

She joins the race on the heels of controversy. Conyears-Ervin has drawn scrutiny for using city employees to run personal errands. The city settled with the employees, and Conyears-Ervin has since revamped how she operates her office.

Her response: It's old news, and there's been a settlement. “I do not believe it will be an issue in the race. The hard-working families of this district have more important issues to address,” she said. The question is whether Davis and other primary opponents feel the same way.

The race: Davis and Conyears-Ervin are two popular Black elected officials who pull from the same voting bloc. Davis has the power of incumbency, having served 14 terms. And Conyears-Ervin is a former state representative serving in her second term as city treasurer. Her husband is Chicago Ald. Jason Ervin, who heads the City Council’s Black Caucus.

Also in the race: Activist Kina Collins, who’s making her third run for the seat, and educator Nikhil Bhatia. Both will have a difficult time raising funds compared to Davis, who has $143,000, according to the most recent (June) federal election filings. (Still waiting for third quarter numbers.) Conyears-Ervin has $383,000, according to her campaign.

The intrigue: Conyears-Ervin announced her interest in the race after believing Davis was retiring. Conyears-Ervin was surprised when Davis jumped in the race after all. She created an exploratory committee anyway.

COUNCIL CLASH: Some progressives are grappling with how to speak out on Hamas' attacks on Israel. The issue will come up in today’s Chicago City Council meeting when Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th), the council’s only Jewish member, presents a resolution calling for the council to show its support for Israel. We’re expecting verbal fireworks.

It shouldn’t be such a fraught issue, says Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss who, like Gov. JB Pritzker, has been unequivocal in standing with Israel. Both men, once rivals in the 2018 governor campaign, are Jewish.

“I have found it disorienting and troubling to see some people and organizations address this situation without an unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ murderous attacks,” Biss wrote in an email to constituents. “Such a condemnation does not limit one’s ability to criticize Israel’s actions, past or future."

RELATED

— Missing from the debate: Ald. Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez, who opposes Silverstein’s resolution as it's now worded, is in Milwaukee for a meeting. “I hope my colleagues understand what it means to stand with Israel’s right wing [government] as they bomb civilians in Gaza,” she posted last night.

— State Treasurer Mike Frerichs announces $10M state investment in Israel Bonds, by WCIA’s Bradley Zimmerman

— The generational rift that explains Democrats’ angst over Israel, by POLITICO’s Steven Shepard and Kelly Garrity

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

At National Apparel Safety at 11 a.m. to tour its new manufacturing facility — At Venue SIX10 at 6 p.m. to deliver remarks at Illinois Action for Children’s annual A Time to Shine event.

At the Hilton Chicago at 8:30 a.m. to deliver remarks at the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago — At City Hall at 1:40 p.m. to preside over a special meeting of the City Council.

At UESCO Cranes at 8:30 a.m. for the Makers on the Move bus tour in celebration of Manufacturing Month.

Before you pop open the Pinot Noir, send me a line: [email protected]

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

— Gov. JB Pritzker criticized Donald Trump in a Biden-Harris campaign statement: The governor was responding to comments Trump made Wednesday at an event in Palm Beach, Fla., where he praised the terrorist group Hezbollah. “Donald Trump’s comments are disgusting, dangerous and underscore a simple fact: He is unfit to lead our country and would make the United States and our allies around the world less safe," Pritzker, a surrogate to the Biden campaign, wrote.

— Republicans slam Trump’s comments on Netanyahu and Hezbollah, too, by POLITICO’s Eric Bazail-Eimil

— Jesse Faber, a Pontiac community leader with deep agriculture roots, is running as a Republican in the state Senate’s 53rd District. The seat is now held by Republican state Sen. Tom Bennett, who has said he won’t seek reelection, via 25 News Now.

— Illinois leaders tepid about more quick funding for Chicago’s migrant crisis: “During an appearance with Gov. JB Pritzker, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said Chicago will not see a state grant for asylum-seekers in the fall veto session, when Springfield will have the option of designating additional funding for the fiscal year that ends June 30. That means the state might not provide more substantial financial help on migrants until legislators reconvene in the spring,” by Tribune’s Alice Yin and Dan Petrella.

— South Side state legislators Willie Preston and Cyril Nichols oppose new neighborhood migrant shelters, by Block Club’s Atavia Reed

— Illinois taxpayers help fund Pritzker administration's global trade missions, by State Journal-Register’s Patrick M. Keck

— Advocates urge passing of bill named for woman allegedly shot, killed by husband in Little Village, by ABC 7’s Diane Pathieu and Leah Hope

— HIGHER-ED: Struggling with enrollment and financing, Lincoln Christian University to close, by State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie

— POT POURRI: Audit of new Springfield cannabis grant program finds inconsistencies, by Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen

— What do recent Illinois corruption trials have in common? State Rep. Bob Rita as a witness: “Still unknown is whether the Blue Island Democrat will be called to testify at the upcoming trial of his longtime ally, former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan,” by Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth and Tim Novak

— Halfway built, the Obama Presidential Center is already a South Side landmark: “The signature under construction in Jackson Park already looms over the community,” by Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

— Mayor Brandon Johnson and nearly every alderman will see pay hikes next year, by Tribune’s A.D. Quig.

— Chicago is moving to an elected school board but half of voters aren’t aware, poll finds, by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp.

— Cook County residents get $200M in federal flood relief for summer rainstorms, by WBEZ’s Amy Qin

— Evanston may shift tax burden from booze to food, by Evanston Now’s Desiree Shannon

— Activists lose fight to save old oaks near Geneva, by Shaw Local’s Brenda Schory

— INTRIGUE: Board of Peoria’s WTVP to cut $1.5M from budget: The action follows "disclosures of financial improprieties" and the death of WTVP CEO Lesley Matuszak, “who was found dead in her home Sept. 28, one day after she resigned from her job, according to local news accounts,” by Currant’s Julian Wyllie.

— Tom Skilling, the WGN meteorologist, is retiring in February. Here’s a look back

— State Rep. Terra Costa Howard has been honored with the Ray Graham Association Monarch Effect Award for her advocacy work for Illinoisans with disabilities.

— Theaster Gates, has been awarded the Vincent Scully Prize by the National Building Museum. Gates is a renowned Chicago artist known for his urban designs and historic preservation work.

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

We asked when you’re too old for the job.

Jim Dunne: “When you need to take a day off from bricklaying the day before.”

Dennis Johnson: "Age isn't the problem. It’s old ideas and the same old leadership.”

Ed Mazur: “When you sit more than stand or when you’re wearing a narrow tie and everyone else has wide ones.”

Marilynn Miller: “When you cannot keep up with the physical demands.”

David Prosperi: “Never. It’s the person, not the number.”

Patricia Ann Watson: “If you’re requiring multiple surgeries for one health issue or another, then you’re too old.”

La'Mont Williams: “I'll take a sharp octogenarian with the passion for their job over a younger worker who doesn’t approach the job sincerely.”

What do you do to get back to nature? Email [email protected]

— Scalise drops out of speaker race, by POLITICO’s Congress team

— Trump simply watches while his party implodes, by POLITICO’s John Harris

— Why the White House decided not to put ‘boots on the ground’ to rescue American hostages, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire

— Jeannine Baker, matriarch of Chicago blues dynasty, longtime IRS manager, dies at 82: She “the glue” in one of Chicago’s greatest blues families — and she kept the books, writes Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek.

— FUN STORY: Meet David Meilahn, a suburban insurance agent, who 40 years ago won a contest to make the first commercial cellular call, by Tribune’s Robert Channick

THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Ella Flagg Young, the first woman to head Chicago Public Schools, was also the first woman to be paid $10,000 a year for a public service job.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Why did comedian Dick Gregory visit Mayor Richard J. Daley’s neighborhood? Email [email protected]

Today: Matteson Village Trustee Adam Shorter, City Club of Chicago Chair Emeritus Ed Mazur and Revv co-founder and former White House digital officer Gerrit Lansing.

Saturday: Cook County Circuit Court Judge Tiana Blakely, former state Rep. Patti Bellock, Verros Berkshire chief of staff Bill Kouruklis, Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition State Director Liliana Scales, Fenway Strategies founder and former Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan, Brightpoint executive VP Mario Perez, Crain’s reporter Danny Ecker and Kirkland & Ellis transactional associate Matthew Brandys, who turns the big 3-0!

Sunday: RNC Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Robert Harris, Comptroller’s Office assistant policy adviser Ted Cox, Allstate CEO Tom Wilson, Firstup co-founder Jim Larrison, Shatranj Capital Partners’ Jeremiah Green and Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette columnist Jim Dey.

-30-

Follow us on Twitter

Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family

Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook

View all our political and policy newsletters

Follow us