Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (5/4)

May 4, 2026

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Illinois lawmakers punt remap amendment after SCOTUS Voting Rights Act ruling

“Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, told Capitol News Illinois that Senate Democrats decided not to call an amendment that passed House last week after the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a hefty blow the federal Voting Rights Act. If approved by voters, it would have rewritten the state’s redistricting rules,” by Capitol News Illinois. 

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Gov. Pritzker urges criminal investigations of federal immigration agents after Illinois panel releases report 

“A state commission scrutinizing the Chicago-area immigration crackdown this past fall sent its findings to law enforcement Tuesday, with some members and Gov. JB Pritzker pushing for investigations they said could lead to criminal charges against federal agents involved in violent episodes during the notorious Operation Midway Blitz raids,” by the Chicago Tribune. 

Bears deal enters tougher phase as Senate digs in on taxes 

“The House approved an amended megaproject bill last week that could help the Bears move to Arlington Heights, but the Bears organization and Gov. JB Pritzker have said further tweaks are needed to prevent the team from moving to Indiana,” by Crain’s Chicago Business. 

Gov. Pritzker’s affordable housing plan tests his relationship with local leaders 

“But in the midst of a reelection campaign, and a potential 2028 presidential run on the horizon, Pritzker’s plan throws the governor into the ring in an unusual, non-partisan fight against local officials, mayors, and some members of Chicago’s powerful City Council,” by the Chicago Sun-Times. 

 

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Former Chicago Watchdog Deborah Witzburg Tapped by Illinois Attorney General as New Chief of Staff 

“Fresh off a four-year stint as Chicago’s inspector general, Deborah Witzburg has landed a new job as chief of staff for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul,” by WTTW. 

Ald. Knudsen proposes banning city employees from using inside info to bet on prediction market apps 

“Knudsen is following the trail blazed by Gov. JB Pritzker and his counterparts in six other states by introducing an ordinance that would prohibit present and former city employees — and elected officials — from using insider information to bet on prediction markets,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Supreme Court won’t block Chicago’s suit over guns tied to crime scenes

“The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear the appeal of a Gary, Ind., firearms retailer in a lawsuit brought by the city of Chicago, which alleges the retailer was for several years the largest out-of-state supplier of guns recovered at Chicago crime scenes,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.  

Brandon Johnson’s budget director pays up after getting years of illegal property tax breaks 

“Two months after a Chicago Sun-Times Watchdogs investigation revealed that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s city budget director Annette Guzman had taken illegal property tax breaks for five years, she’s paying back the rest of what she should have paid,” by the Chicago Sun-Times. 

 

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents: Regime Change at the Fed

Kevin Warsh’s path to Fed chair confirmation is clear, but questions about his ability to defend the institution’s independence will follow him there. 

The Californian gubernatorial race has been rocked by two recent developments: the endorsement of the leading Republican candidate by President Trump and the abrupt dropping-out of a leading Democratic candidate. 

House Republicans’ division over reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act underscores the challenges in legislating with their narrow majority. Read the Cozen Currents here.

The Beltway & Beyond: The Road to 2028 Starts Now

With 36 gubernatorial seats up for grabs, the 2026 elections will shape policy outcomes and political momentum heading into 2028. Key battlegrounds like Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Kansas highlight how issues such as affordability, energy costs, and economic conditions are likely to drive voter behavior. National dynamics—from presidential politics to tensions in the Middle East—add another layer of influence, underscoring the growing importance of governors in voters’ everyday lives. Public Strategies’ Pat Carey (IL), John Dunn (IL), and Julia Hammond (VA). Listen 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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