This time three years ago, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin had $50 million in backing, the Illinois GOP’s most successful (if not controversial) campaign team, and was likely the favorite to with the Republican nomination for Governor in 2022.

When Governor JB Pritzker’s office announced a trade delegation to Mexico, which began Sunday, there was a massive list of state officials, association executives, and business leaders as part of the delegation.

Some of the largest cities in the state hold mayoral elections Tuesday, but the money and attention paid to Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin’s campaign for re-election dwarfs other communities.

With well over 500 days remaining before the November 2026 General Election, many top Republicans around the state are already voicing concern, at least privately, about chances the party will continue to be embarrassed at the polls after a string of bad electoral years in the state.

Changing the way we fund infrastructure, roads, and bridges in this state is a long running discussion, but it appears a mileage tax may be getting more momentum than in previous years.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) hasn’t had a serious primary or general election challenger since she won the Democratic nomination for the seat in 1998.