Topspin The latest $7 million Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker gave to his campaign puts him at more than $56 million for the primary, surpassing the $50 million "first installment" Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner pumped into his re-election bid in late 2016. Pritzker reported his latest self funding over the weekend, his eighth deposit of exactly $7 million. Playing off Pritzker's total, fellow Democratic candidate state Sen. Daniel Biss said on Monday he'd write his campaign a $56 check. Biss recently reported raising $758,500, including a pair of $250,000 contributions. One came from Charles Ashby Lewis, a retired investment banker from Evanston. The other came from Stephen Schuler, an Oak Park trader and investor. And Chris Kennedy's campaign on Monday said it was notified that a March 5 debate in central Illinois has been canceled and blamed Pritzker's decision not to participate. "Somewhere in this state, hiding behind more than $30 million in TV ads, J.B. Pritzker is breathing a sigh of relief that he's no longer obligated to face voters during what was to be the only televised debate happening outside of the Chicago market," a statement from Kennedy's campaign said. The bevy of campaign cash has fueled speculation that a Pritzker vs. Rauner match up would be the most expensive campaign for governor in U.S. history. Rauner's $50 million was buttressed by $20 million from Chicago hedge fund founder Ken Griffin. But one of Rauner's former big donors has defected to his primary opponent, state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton. Ives has a new TV ad out, too. Read a roundup of Monday in the governor's race here. What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will speak at Harvard University. Some students have signed a letter protesting him over his new police academy plans. *Gov. Rauner has no public events scheduled. *The City Council Finance Committee meets to talk about sexual harassment at a Ford plant and in the hospitality industry. *The Illinois Senate meets in Springfield, and the House has two committee hearings at the Bilandic Building in Chicago. *U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth will visit the state-run veterans home in Quincy, which saw three new cases of Legionnaires' disease last week. *Kennedy will host his nephew U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts for a rally at the University of Chicago. *The week ahead: On Wednesday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski and primary challenger Marie Newman will be at a forum, and the City Club of Chicago hosts the presidents of Millikin University and Knox College. And City Council committees meet. On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will be in Chicago to support Jesus "Chuy" Garcia for Congress, and more City Council committees meet. From the notebook *Sexual harassment pledge: A statewide Democratic group has released a zero tolerance sexual harassment policy and a pledge for candidates, sent out as state party Chairman Michael Madigan continues to get heat over the issue. "All Democratic candidates and campaigns should have a meaningful and legitimate policy on sexual harassment," said Illinois Democratic County Chair's Association President Doug House. "This is a strong template that has already, as of this morning, been embraced and signed by a number of Democratic candidates throughout Illinois." Pritzker said in a statement he'd sign the pledge. Last week, Madigan released a letter saying he shoulders "responsibility" for failing to do more to ensure equality in the statehouse and on the campaign trail. Days before, he announced 13th Ward political operative Kevin Quinn was cut loose. Campaign worker Alaina Hampton shared text messages that detail a relentless series of entreaties from Quinn, her supervisor. Quinn also commented on her appearance, calling her "smoking hot." Then over the weekend, Madigan sent out another letter. This one went to members of the Democratic State Central Committee and named U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and state Rep. Carol Ammons "to take the lead on facilitating a statewide discussion about the role of women in the Democratic Party of Illinois." "Their mission is to develop a plan for elevating the status of women in the party and a strategy for making the party and campaigns more inclusive," the letter reads. By Monday night, Madigan was parting ways with another longtime operative. And Biss was calling for Madigan to step down as Illinois Democratic Party chairman. *Raoul playing Obama card: Two TV ads from Democratic state Sen. Kwame Raoul in the crowded attorney general primary have reminded people how he arrived in Springfield. "I've seen gun violence outside my home. Like any parent, I worry about my two kids," Raoul says in his ad released Monday. "So when I was asked to fill Barack Obama's seat, I started our work." Raoul was appointed in November 2004 to the Illinois Senate seat Obama vacated. Raoul won the spot over, among others, former Obama aide and eventual alderman Will Burns. At the time, the future president already had some celebrity thanks for his 2004 Democratic National Convention speech and recent U.S. Senate victory. A spokesman at the time said Obama "remained out of the process" to fill his spot. Who did have a say? Then-Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, who controlled a big part of the weighted vote needed to fill the seat. Raoul twice had run for alderman against Preckwinkle and lost, but he still got the nod over Burns. "We were trying to find the most electable candidate, as well as the candidate who we felt would best represent the district. There isn't any point in us appointing someone who can't get elected in March of 2006," Preckwinkle said at the time. "The fact that he had raised a lot of money and secured a lot of support was an important factor." In the eight-way contest for the Democratic attorney general nomination, Nancy Rotering launched an ad that begins as a biographical spot before taking on perhaps her best-known primary rival, former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. "When Pat Quinn failed to ban assault weapons to protect our cities, I took action and fought the NRA all the way to the Supreme Court and won," Rotering says in the ad, citing her municipality's gun control ordinance. "You want an attorney general unafraid to push a real progressive agenda? I'm your woman." What we're writing (long holiday weekend edition) *Speaker Madigan parts ways with second operative in a week after state Rep. Deb Conroy alleges "abuse of power" by Shaw Decremer. *Ives, Kennedy airing new TV ads in governor's race. *Speaker Madigan: "I take responsibility" for not doing enough on sexual harassment issue. *Berrios' bad week provides momentum to challenger in assessor's race. *Rauner's guest at State of the State speech among the latest Legionnaires' cases at troubled veterans home. *Slain police commander laid to rest with stories of selflessness, harsh words for suspect. *Chicago ID card would be valid voter identification. *Rauner wants lawmakers' help to cut state workers' health insurance by $470 million. *Rauner's budget cuts raise concerns among advocates for children, people with disabilities. *Sen. Bernie Sanders coming to Chicago to back "Chuy" Garcia for Congress. *State wraps up case for stripping Lincoln Towing's license, citing "pattern and practice of unauthorized towing." *Proposed state legislation targets water rates, crumbling infrastructure. *Politics, funding impede Pullman restoration as monument approaches 3rd anniversary. Here's a brief history of the historic district. *In Englewood, cherished Abe Lincoln statue is broken, vanishes, then resurfaces. What we're reading *Chicago Reader editor out after controversial cover. *Appellate court rules Drury can stay on March primary ballot. *Original Picasso print stolen from Milwaukee art gallery. Follow the money *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Trump favors background check bill. *How a Russian troll farm made lots of content. *A heart attack changed Tom Ridge. *Pennsylvania gets a new congressional map. | 
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