FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— DuPage Co. Sheriff James Mendrick to run for governor of Illinois
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-elections-2026-dupage-county-sheriff-james-mendrick-announces-candidacy-governor/15959495/
— Audit finds Illinois’ noncitizen health care programs far outstripped original cost estimates
https://abc7chicago.com/post/audit-finds-illinois-migrant-health-care-programs-far-outstripped-original-cost-estimates-pritzker-has-proposed-cutting-1/15959981/
NBC5
— DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announces run for Illinois governor. Mendrick is the first candidate to officially declare his candidacy in the 2026 race.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/dupage-county-sheriff-james-mendrick-announces-run-for-illinois-governor/3685170/
— Chicago mayor among those quoted in video ahead of hearing on sanctuary city status. Johnson preparing to testify about sanctuary city status.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-mayor-among-those-quoted-in-video-ahead-of-hearing-on-sanctuary-city-status/3685037/
FOX32
— DuPage County sheriff announces run for Illinois Governor
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dupage-county-sheriff-james-mendrick-illinois-governor
— Duckworth lays into Trump over veteran layoffs: ‘middle finger to our heroes’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/duckworth-trump-veteran-layoffs
WGN9
— Musk dominates, disparages federal workers at first Trump Cabinet meeting (COMMENT: What is your attitude toward federal employees and retirees? I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for more than 27 years.)
https://wgntv.com/news/musk-dominates-disparages-federal-workers-at-first-trump-cabinet-meeting/
— This salary is needed to be ‘upper-middle class’ in Illinois, study says
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/this-salary-is-needed-to-be-upper-middle-class-in-illinois-study-says/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to GoBankingRates, an individual living in Illinois needs to make a salary of at least “$127,092” to be considered upper middle class. The study determined the state’s middle-class income range to be $54,468 to $163,404. Anything lower is presumably considered working-class, while anything higher is presumably considered upper-class.
WTTW
— Audit Finds Illinois’ Noncitizen Health Care Programs Far Outstripped Original Cost Estimates
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/27/audit-finds-illinois-noncitizen-health-care-programs-far-outstripped-original-cost
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick seeking GOP bid for Illinois governor in 2026
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/27/dupage-county-sheriff-james-mendrick-running-for-governor/
— As Trump’s deadline to eliminate DEI nears, few schools openly rush to make changes
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/27/trump-dei-schools/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Mendrick made the announcement early Thursday morning via social media. He added he will not run for his third term as DuPage County sheriff next year. “We need a secure future for our state and we will make Chicago and Illinois safe again,” he said on social media. The next Illinois gubernatorial election will be held in November 2026.)
— Chicago faith and civic leaders encourage people to participate in nationwide ‘Blackout Friday’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/27/chicago-faith-leaders-blackout-friday/
DAILY HERALD
— DuPage sheriff James Mendrick announces he will run for governor in 2026
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250227/illinois-state-politics/dupage-sheriff-announces-he-will-run-for-governor-in-2026/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Prompted by what he calls “radical” changes in Illinois’ criminal justice system, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick is skipping a potential third term as the county’s top cop and setting his sights instead on the governor’s mansion. Mendrick, a Republican from Woodridge, announced Thursday he will run for Illinois governor in the 2026 election. He’s the first candidate to formally declare for the race. In a phone interview Thursday, Mendrick said he’s been thinking about running for about two years, as he’s watched legislation like the state’s SAFE-T Act — which eliminated the cash bail system in Illinois — have what he sees as negative impacts on law and order. “It’s been very frustrating to me to see how many people (charged with a crime) are being let go, and the judges are saying they can’t do anything about it because of the law,” he said. “I’ve been in law enforcement 29 years — it will be 30 when I end my term as sheriff — and I’ve seen a lot of changes, but nothing as radical as the last four years.” Besides putting potentially dangerous people back on the streets, Mendrick said the law deprives defendants of opportunities to take part in his jail’s rehabilitation efforts, such as a gang tattoo removal program that’s received national acclaim. Mendrick first announced his intentions Thursday in an interview on WLS-AM’s Ray Stevens show and a Facebook post. He took aim at Gov. JB Pritzker in the latter, accusing the two-term Democrat of imposing policies that conflict with federal law and make communities less safe. “My family and I have decided that we want our State back,” he wrote. “We don’t like being fearful of crime that is randomly occurring now in our streets, homes and our retail stores due to soft on crime legislation. We don’t want to move out of Illinois like so much of our population. “Our culture is being eliminated by senseless laws created by our current government that persecutes cops and empowers criminals,” he added. “I’m here to stop the bleed.” Pritzker has not said whether he will run again in 2026. With a growing national profile as an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump, his name also has been floated as a possible Democratic nominee for president in 2028. Press secretary Alex Gough said via email Thursday that nothing has changed regarding Pritzker’s reelection plans, and declined to comment on Mendrick’s announcement. Mendrick acknowledges that running for governor is a costly proposition, especially if he ultimately faces off with a self-funded billionaire like Pritzker. Even so, he said he didn’t make much effort to contact Republican leadership to line up support and fundraising before Thursday. “I think my message is strong enough that it will draw support,” he said, adding that he’s already been inundated with calls and messages from people offering support. “It’s overwhelming, but overwhelming in a good way.” DuPage GOP leaders said they’re excited about Mendick’s campaign and optimistic about its prospects. “It will be exciting to have one of our own from DuPage County on the top of the ticket,” said Kevin Coyne, chair of the DuPage County Republicans. “Crime is a top concern for Illinois voters, and no one can speak to that better than Sheriff Mendrick,” he added. “I think he has the ability to make it a competitive race.” Jim Zay, a longtime DuPage County Board member and former chairman of the DuPage GOP, said the decision to run for governor is something that Mendrick is “not taking lightly.” “I know Jim and many of us have been frustrated with the direction of Illinois for a while,” said Zay, a Carol Stream Republican. “He felt strongly enough with his views that he can make a difference and change the direction in which the state’s going. With his plans to leave the sheriff’s office next year, Mendrick said he will support Undersheriff Eddie Moore as his successor. “He has no equal in a race for DuPage County Sheriff,” he wrote on Facebook.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250227/illinois-state-politics/dupage-sheriff-announces-he-will-run-for-governor-in-2026/
SOUTHERN
— DHS registry for migrants in US illegally raises alarm from immigration advocates (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs are illegal immigration advocates.)
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/02/27/dhs-registry-for-migrants-in-us-illegally-raises-alarm-from-immigration-advocates/
— Economists say Trump tariff threats, DOGE job cuts are ‘chilling’ the economy
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2025/02/27/economists-say-trump-tariff-threats-doge-job-cuts-are-chilling-the-economy/
JOURNAL COURIER
— Lawsuit threatens Illinois minority teachers scholarship (COMMENT: My critics/opponents have always used my not getting any scholarships against me.)
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/pritzker-minority-teacher-scholarship-lawsuit-20189556.php
NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Illinois lawmakers debate gun insurance requirement
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/illinois-lawmakers-debate-gun-insurance-requirement
CAPITOL FAX
— DuPage County sheriff says he’s running for governor
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/27/dupage-county-sheriff-says-hes-running-for-governor/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/27/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-257/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
JOIHN BIVER
— Searching for Willie Brown
https://johnbiver.com/searching-for-willie-brown/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would decriminalize prostitution
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2025/02/illinois-lawmakers-consider-bill-to-legalize-adult-services-industry.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump endorses DOGE, email as Musk dominates Cabinet meeting
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/26/donald-trump-defends-elon-musk-email-doge-cabinet-meeting/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Americans Overwhelmingly Support Israel’s Right to Defend Itself, Poll Finds. Eighty-two percent of U.S. adults also believe that Hamas should be removed from power.
https://freebeacon.com/israel/americans-overwhelmingly-support-israels-right-to-defend-itself-poll-finds/
DAILY SIGNAL
— 71% of Americans Favor Removing Illegals From Medicaid, Adding Work Requirements
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/02/27/71-americans-favor-removing-illegals-medicaid-adding-work-requirements/
HOT AIR
— Trump Ending Benefits to Illegals Is a Game Changer
https://hotair.com/headlines/2025/02/27/trump-ending-benefits-to-illegals-is-a-game-changer-n3800234
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
YAHOO NEWS
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote Duckworth.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/sen-tammy-duckworths-lived-experience-142350169.html
FLORIDA POLITICS
— Who will run for Byron Donalds’ seat in Congress?
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/723169-who-will-run-for-byron-donalds-seat-in-congress/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Former Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis could also jump in. The investment manager and frequent CNBC guest now lives in Southwest Florida and could bring an opportunity to self-fund. Catalina Lauf, another former Illinois congressional candidate who worked in the Commerce Department under Trump, has also moved to Florida and been suggested as a possible candidate.)
