THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Noem's Springfield adventure rankles some...Krishamoorthi/Kelly
May 8, 2025
Good morning, Illinois.
Busy day yesterday. Hopefully we’re a touch quieter today, or, at least, the DC chaos keeps itself out of Illinois.
I have something special coming for subscribers later this morning. You should join us to get access.
The House and Senate are in at noon. There’s nothing on the Governor’s public schedule today.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Illinois stop on immigration laws called ‘publicity stunt’ (Capitol News Illinois)
Two hours in the state capital was enough for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to criticize Illinois’ immigration laws and its governor while invoking the 2023 murder of a local progressive activist.
Her short Wednesday visit largely served as an opportunity for an official from President Donald Trump’s cabinet to take photos highlighting immigration policies in a Democrat-run state. Noem visited a DHS office where she briefly spoke with two people being processed for deportation and then held a news conference with family members of people murdered by noncitizens.
To illustrate her point, Noem held the news conference on the same block where Springfield progressive activist Emma Shafer was murdered in 2023. Shafer was allegedly stabbed by her partner at their Springfield home.
“She lost her life to an illegal alien that’s still out, at large, probably in this state,” Noem said at a news conference in Springfield. “We can’t confirm that because the local law enforcement and the state law enforcement are barred by state law, with the support of Gov. (JB) Pritzker, from sharing any information.”
The suspect in the case has not been arrested and Springfield police said last year the man, a Mexican national, may have fled the country.
Noem’s remarks appalled one of Shafer’s friends who was protesting near the news conference and said Shafer would be advocating for immigrants.
“Emma Shafer would have never supported Trump’s policies and would have never supported what Kristi Noem had to say,” Francesca Butler told Capitol News Illinois. “Emma would want Kristi to know we should lead with compassion and humility.”
Noem said she was not in contact with Shafer’s family and was unaware they were at another site protesting her visit.
It was really amateur hour.
Related: Emma Shafer’s family says Noem used her name to advance ‘heartless political agenda’ (WCIA)
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stops in Springfield to criticize state’s immigration policies (Chicago Tribune)
In Springfield visit, Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem takes aim at Gov. Pritzker's sanctuary policies (Chicago Sun-Times)
Protesters' message to Noem in Springfield: 'Your hatred is not welcome here' (Bloomington Pantagraph)
US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi joins increasingly crowded race to succeed Dick Durbin in Senate (Chicago Tribune)
Another contestant joined the still-emerging field of Democrats vying to succeed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin Wednesday as five-term northwest suburban U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi launched his bid, pitching himself as a “radical common sense progressive” to take on President Donald Trump.
“A president, ignoring the Constitution, out for revenge, acting like a dictator, claiming he’s a king, surrounded by billionaire backers and MAGA extremists, threatening our rights, rigging the rules to line their pockets,” the 51-year-old Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg says in his near 2½-minute video announcement released Wednesday. “Wrecking the economy, they profit and working people pay. It’s insanity. People want to know, at this moment in this time, where is the power to fight back?”
“I’ve spent my career standing up to bullies, whether they’ve gone after our kids, our families or our country,” he continues in the video. “So if you’re ready to turn anger into action and make America work for working people, join our campaign.”
Krishnamoorthi’s formal announcement had been expected and it comes two weeks after the 80-year-old Durbin announced he would not seek a sixth term. It also follows announcements by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson that they would enter the March 17 Democratic primary.
With his bid, Krishnamoorthi injects into the race a mix of moderate policy positions such as supporting small business initiatives — in line with the ideology of many voters in his suburban district — along with progressivism as one of 19 vice chairs of the Congressional Equality Caucus, a group that promotes equality for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“I see myself as kind of a radical common sense progressive,” the one-time small business security firm owner said in an interview before his announcement.
Related: 'First-generation kid' and fundraising leader Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi launches Senate bid (Chicago Sun-Times)
U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi running for Durbin’s Senate seat (Daily Herald)
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi jumps into Illinois Senate race (Bloomington Pantagraph)
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi announces Senate candidacy (Capitol News Illinois)
US Rep. Robin Kelly jumps into US Senate race to replace retiring Dick Durbin (Chicago Tribune)
Robin Kelly enters U.S. Senate primary (Daily Herald)
Rep. Robin Kelly jumps into race for Durbin's Senate seat (Bloomington Pantagraph)
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly joins Democratic primary to fill Durbin’s Senate seat (Capitol News Illinois)
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs declines US Senate bid (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: JB Pritzker should stop trying to make Juliana Stratton the inevitable successor to Dick Durbin (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Three Black women may vie for US Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat. Will they split the vote? (Chicago Tribune)
TOP STORIES SO FAR THIS WEEK ON THEILLINOIZE.COM
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
State revenue projections improve as economic uncertainty grows (Capitol News Illinois)
Gov. JB Pritzker to testify before Congress on Illinois’ ‘sanctuary’ immigration policies (Chicago Tribune)
Bill to end senior road tests for 86 and younger, allow reporting of unsafe drivers clears Senate committee (Daily Herald)
Pritzker seeks to keep autistic Illinoisans out of RFK Jr.'s database (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Illinois regains access to $77M in federal education funds following judge’s order (Capitol News Illinois)
Illinois Democrat Schakowsky won’t seek Congress reelection in 2026 after 14 terms (Associated Press)
Glenview state Sen. Laura Fine joins race to replace US Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Chicago Tribune)
The TikTok Candidate (Chicago Magazine)
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins 19 counterparts in trying to stop Trump election order (WBEZ)
REAL ID enforcement begins at O’Hare, airports nationwide (Daily Herald)
Editorial: Let health care volunteers help ease the worker shortage (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Municipal pensions are not the problem (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Opinion: State revenues up big for April, only marginally for year (Champaign News-Gazette)
Opinion: Expanding housing access to recently incarcerated Illinoisans is a worthwhile investment (Chicago Sun-Times)
Opinion: FOID survives another legal challenge in 4th Appellate District (Shaw Media)
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