By Shia Kapos

Presented by the Save My Scholarship Coalition

Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Two more hostages have been released, via CBS News.

New Beginnings Church Pastor Corey Brooks, left, shows Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott the South Side neighborhood where he's building a community center on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. | Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITICO

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott campaigned Monday on Chicago’s South Side — not far from where former Democratic President Barack Obama calls home — in an effort to breathe life into his sputtering campaign.

His message: Democrats have failed Black Americans and the proof, he claimed, was in communities like the Woodlawn neighborhood where he spoke to 100 parishioners at New Beginnings Church.

The parish is headed by Pastor Corey Brooks, the Republican-leaning activist who famously camped out on a Chicago roof for nearly a year to raise $28 million for a new community center. Brooks gave the South Carolina senator a tour of the project, which is under construction.

In his speech, Scott blamed “the radical left” for the crime and poverty that has become synonymous with parts of the South Side of Chicago and other blue cities. Democrats, he said, have promoted a “valueless, faithless, fatherless America.”

Scott spoke for more than an hour, sprinkling his speech with Bible verses — to the delight of his crowd — and blaming societal ills on the lack of two-parent households and the rise of teachers unions.

Not everyone agreed: He answered a few questions from parishioners, including one who took issue with his rejection of the idea of systemic racism. More from New York Times’ Jonathan Weisman

Staying positive: Scott, the only Black GOP senator, dismissed a reporter’s question about his poor showing in the polls — under 2 percent — adding he plans to participate in the Nov. 8 GOP presidential debate in Miami. And he acknowledged that he wasn't going to win over a Democratic town like Chicago, though he still thinks its important to talk to people.

The other shoe drops: Yet just as he was promoting his message, Scott's team was shifting nearly all of their resources to Iowa in a bid to reenergize the faltering campaign. Details on that from POLITICO’s Natalie Allison

Check out NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern’s report, too

Former Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin is considering a run for Cook County state's attorney. | Photo from Durkin's camp

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Jim Durkin, the former House minority leader, is still mulling a run for Cook County state’s attorney — and he’s got polling that shows he’d have support against a Democrat.

The survey by Coefficient identifies Durkin, a former Cook County prosecutor, as being “tough on crime” but also backing the assault weapons ban. He was one of only two Republicans to do so when he served in the Illinois House.

By the numbers: The poll shows most people in Cook County support President Joe Biden. Then, it asks, “regardless of your vote for president, would you consider voting for a reform Republican like Jim Durkin?” The answers: 34 percent of women and 46 percent of men said yes.

Durkin would face the winner of the Democratic Party primary, which is a battle between Clayton Harris III, a lawyer and lobbyist who’s been handpicked by Cook County Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle, and former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O'Neill Burke.

An expert’s take: Political consultant Thom Serafin, who’s looked at the numbers, says “If he decides to run and is well-funded, he would be formidable.” Here are the cross tabs.

Tick-tock: Petitions are due the first week of December.

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

A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition:

Over 9,500 students are counting on the Illinois General Assembly to save the Tax Credit Scholarship Program. If they fail to act NOW, then students from low-income families will lose their scholarships, causing many to leave their best-fit schools. Most of these students are Black or Brown, and 100% are from households with demonstrated financial need. Additionally, 26,000 more students from low-income and working-class families sit anxiously on the waitlist. Do the right thing.

At the Carole Robertson Center for Learning at 10:30 a.m. to announce a new early childhood initiative.

At Navy Pier at 10:30 a.m. for the Chicago Scholars' Onsite College and Leadership Forum — At Gage Park High School at 4 p.m. for Chicago Halloweek's On the Block event.

At Malcolm x College at 2:30 p.m. to provide remarks at the county government hiring fair.

Turn around. Every now and then I get a little bit lonely, so email: [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.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Organizers of the Democratic National Convention next summer in Chicago are launching requests for proposals for key positions. The Democrats are also hosting an outreach summit today with the goal of recruiting diverse vendors to put on the big show.

These new RFPs are for oversight of key areas of the convention: event architect, event manager and exposition services teams.

All of the contracts support the convention's venue operations team and will help develop the infrastructure to get the convention off the ground at the United Center.

About the jobs: The event architect will oversee convention installations. The event manager will coordinate activity within the primary convention venue. And the exposition services contractor is responsible for all the temporary furniture, fixtures and equipment for the convention areas.

— Pritzker urges residents to unite ‘across religions, across ethnicities to renounce hatred’ and ‘alarming increase’ in hate crimes: “Illinois has seen an ‘alarming increase’ in anti-Arabism, Islamophobia and antisemitism, the Democratic governor said, noting ‘online hatred has skyrocketed’ on social media, and mosques, synagogues and places of worship are being targeted across the country,” by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles. It shows there’s angst in Democrats at the helm.

— Illinois tech hubs to focus on crop production, quantum computing, White House says, via NBC 5

— Springfield disburses $3M grant to address homelessness, by Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen

— Veto session begins today. Given both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly are run by Democrats, all eyes are watching how they'll approach the vetoes by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie and her deputies will be holding a presser to talk legislation.

WBEZ’s Alex Degman breaks down the issues here.

Oops: Apologies for misidentifying McCombie Monday.

A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition:

— Over protests, city officials confirm Brighton Park tent plan, pending final ‘assessments’: “The confirmation comes ahead of a community forum about the proposed base camp site Tuesday evening and after local Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th) released a letter distancing herself from plan,” by Sun-Times’ Michael Loria and Fran Spielman.

— Johnson asks City Council to reject part of deal he inked with police union amid uproar over discipline change: At issue is a decision allowing Chicago officers facing a one-year suspension or termination “to have their cases decided by an arbitrator behind closed doors rather than in public by the Chicago Police Board,” writes WTTW’s Heather Cherone.

— Chicago home sales down 11 percent in September, ending tepid summer housing market, by Tribune’s Lizzie Kane

— New federal program puts $12M toward school integration, including in Chicago, by Chalkbeat’s Kalyn Belsha

— No charges for man who fired gun in the air near pro-Palestinian protesters in Skokie: “Prosecutors said the 39-year-old man, who they declined to name, had no criminal history and acted in self-defense,” by Sun-Times’ Violet Miller.

— Chicago program that encourages drug treatment over arrest shows signs of success, research says: “The program is only available to about 5 percent of all drug offenders. Only those who have not been convicted of a crime in 10 years and are deemed to pose no threat to the public are eligible,” by WTTW’s Paris Schutz.

— Cook County on pace to surpass fatal opioid overdose record as fentanyl use spreads, by WTTW’s Paris Schutz and Andrea Guthmann

— Rahm Emanuel says Israel could see political fallout in wake of Hamas attack: “You’ve got to look at history in Israel,” said the former Chicago mayor now serving as ambassador to Japan, told the Sun-Times. “It’s pretty clear how the public reacts ... when it comes to protecting Israel.” By Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— Shobha Mahadev has been recognized by the American Bar Association as "Fearless Children's Lawyer of the Month." Mahadev is a clinical professor of law at the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Details here

PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

We asked how your life has improved in the past few years:

Steve Brown: “Watching my sons both graduate from SIUC and begin adult careers”

Lucas Hawley: “Earning my masters in public administration from DePaul during the Covid years.”

Fred Lebed: “Parker, Marigold and Simon, aka, my grandchildren!”

Timothy Thomas Jr.: “Losing 60 pounds — from 300 to 240 pounds — by eating right and exercise. I’ve eliminated pork and soda and only eat beef on weekends. And I exercise at the Union League Club every morning.”

Patricia Ann Watson: “Greening my household and protecting the peace of my spaces.”

Tiffany Yip-Melamed: “As a former New Yorker, I'd say moving out to Illinois!”

When did you get most animated at a protest or rally? Email [email protected]

— OPINION | ‘I’m not surprised today’s corrosive talk radio allegedly led to murder of Palestinian American boy,' writes longtime radio-man John Howell

— IN MEMORIAM: Harry Porterfield, Chicago TV news fixture remembered for his ‘Someone You Should Know’ features, dies at 95, by Tribune’s Bob Goldsborough

— House GOP speaker field drops to 8 hopefuls — but still has little hope of an easy endgame, by POLITICO’s Jordain Carney, Olivia Beavers and Daniella Diaz

— How Mitt Romney reckoned with his own complicity in Trump’s rise, by POLITICO’s Michael Kruse

— Trump presses ‘presidential immunity’ defense in E. Jean Carroll’s defamation suit, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden

A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition:

Voters are very clear: They support the Tax Credit Scholarship Program by an overwhelming margin of more than 2:1. What’s at stake is the best-fit education of thousands of low-income students who receive a Tax Credit Scholarship or are waiting for one. Over half of the recipients are Black or Brown, and all the recipients qualify based on financial need. We cannot fail these children and their families. The Illinois General Assembly needs to extend the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program during this fall veto session. In addition to the 9,500 students who currently receive the scholarships, 26,000 more students from low-income and working-class families sit anxiously on the waitlist hoping to receive the same opportunities as some of their peers. This commitment is an investment in poverty reduction and economic acceleration, so lawmakers should do the right thing: Extend the Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

— Wendy Abrams has joined Morreale Communications in the newly created position of VP for transportation, infrastructure and mobility. She had served in leadership roles at Metra, the Illinois Tollway and the City of Chicago Department of Aviation.

— Jon Kozlowski is now government affairs director for the Chicagoland Apartment Association. He was executive assistant to the mayor of Calumet City and earlier managed a non-profit advocacy trade association in addition to running numerous state legislative, city council and county board election campaigns in Illinois.

MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Andy Shaw for correctly answering that Marion Mahony Griffin Beach in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood is named after the first woman to be licensed to practice architecture in Illinois.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was known as “the voice of liquor” in Chicago? Email [email protected]

Mike Murphy, CEO of Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and John Hart of Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.

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