Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (2/9)

February 9, 2026

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Pritzker’s new budget report could set tone for conservative 2027 spending plan 

“With Gov. JB Pritzker’s annual budget address less than two weeks away, a new report from his office is setting the table for a speech that’s likely to be bleak in tone. And it’s likely to serve as a warning to lawmakers and advocates that the state doesn’t have room for new spending programs in the upcoming 2027 fiscal year,” by Capitol News Illinois. 

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Illinois GOP urges early, mail voting despite Trump’s baseless fraud claims and calls to nationalize elections 

“The head of the Illinois Republican Party is urging GOP primary voters to cast ballots early and vote by mail despite President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that those methods lead to election fraud and spurred his recent calls for elections to be nationalized,” by the Chicago Tribune. 

Pritzker backs longtime political ally Margaret Croke for comptroller

“Gov. JB Pritzker is backing one of his longtime Statehouse allies, Rep. Margaret Croke, to be Illinois’ next comptroller. Croke has represented an Illinois House district on Chicago’s North Side since 2021, but her relationship with Pritzker dates back to 2017 when she helped lead Pritzker’s first campaign for governor,” by Capitol News Illinois. 

What to know about the open U.S. Senate seat to replace Dick Durbin 

“U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s announcement last year not to seek a sixth term sparked a high stakes political shuffle and a contentious open race among top Illinois Democrats to replace him,” by the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Judge blocks Trump’s $10B child care funding freeze that targeted blue states, including Illinois 

“A federal judge on Friday granted a preliminary injunction in the case concerning the Trump administration’s freeze on $10 billion in child care and family planning funding to five blue states, including Illinois,” by Capitol News Illinois. 

 

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

County’s top prosecutor calls Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ICE executive order ‘wholly inappropriate’

“Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke told her staff Friday that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s executive order targeting federal immigration agents is inappropriate and could jeopardize criminal prosecutions,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.  

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s public market plan slows to a crawl

“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s marquee plan to increase access to fresh groceries on the city’s South and West sides — a plan that initially called for a city-owned grocery store and later evolved into a proposed year-round market — appears to have slowed to a crawl,” by the Chicago Tribune. 

Ald. Beale says Johnson team is working behind the scenes to repeal video gambling

“The prime mover behind lifting the Chicago ban on video gambling terminals said Friday Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is working behind the scenes to repeal it,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.   

Chicago moves to buy, renovate $50 million Greyhound station

“It appears the city is now making moves for a permanent bus station, owned by Chicago, involving millions of dollars in tax money. Leaders from the department of planning and development held a public meeting last week,” by CBS News.  

City Hall faces another $29.1 million in settlements tied to corrupt Chicago police Det. Reynaldo Guevara

“Chicago City Council members on Wednesday are weighing another $29.1 million in settlements linked to allegations of police misconduct committed by now retired Chicago police Det. Reynaldo Guevara. All four proposed recipients were framed for murders they did not commit,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.  

 

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents: How Trump Plays the Great Game

In times past, the world revolved around oil. Global power still does but it is increasingly entwined with other forms of power that feed both the grid and the technology that drive the Information Age. 

Normally, the enactment of all 12 annual appropriations bills is the end of the road for federal spending negotiations in any given year, but in Trump 2.0, it’s only just the beginning of the process. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will expire this September so lawmakers will have to consider a new surface transportation reauthorization bill. Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing: Spanberger’s Virginia: Can the Moderate Line Hold?

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to hold the office, is just weeks into her first term and already facing a high-velocity legislative session under unified Democratic control. As lawmakers move quickly on long-standing priorities, can the self-described moderate governor hold Virginia’s political “purple” center, or will progressives pull the state left? As the 2026 midterms approach, could Virginia offer an early preview of how governing realities collide with electoral politics? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), Julia Hammond (VA), and Heidi Hertz (VA). Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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