Topspin Gov. Bruce Rauner has won the endorsement of the Cook County Republican Central Committee over challenger state Rep. Jeanne Ives, just as her campaign has been gaining money and recognition. Cook County was important in the 2014 Republican governor primary, when Rauner prevailed by more than 27,000 votes over his nearest competitor, then-state Sen. Kirk Dillard. Rauner won the nomination by fewer than 24,000 votes statewide. Though the county is a Democratic stronghold in statewide elections, it also had the most Republican primary voters in Illinois that year. More than 168,000 people in Cook County voted for a GOP candidate for governor in the 2014 primary. Compare that to a little more than 92,000 in DuPage County, traditionally home turf for Republicans. (It's also the home county of Dillard and Ives. Last time, Rauner won there too.) The March 20 primary election's dynamics are different this time, of course — it's a one-on-one battle instead of a four-candidate field. On Tuesday, the Cook County GOP announced Rauner got 66 percent of its endorsement vote to 15 percent for Ives. Its statement didn't elaborate on the remainder. "Bruce Rauner has shown a fierce commitment to fighting against the entrenched bureaucracy and special interests that have controlled Springfield for decades," county Republican Chairman Sean Morrison said in a statement. Morrison is a suburban Cook County commissioner, just like Tim Schneider, the Illinois Republican Party chairman and Rauner ally. Ives' campaign put out a statement late Tuesday noting the candidate's numerous collar county GOP township endorsements. "The taxpayers will defeat Rauner in March, the Democrats in November. And they will do that behind the charge of Rep. Jeanne Ives," the statement read in part. The Cook endorsement announcement came as Rauner's campaign for the first time unveiled a TV ad attacking Ives. In response, Ives called him "an unrepentant liar." What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will take part in a panel discussion at a UNCF luncheon with Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson and City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado. *Gov. Rauner will speak at a banker's event in Springfield in the morning and then meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the University of Chicago in the afternoon. *The Illinois House and Senate meet at the Capitol, including another committee hearing about a deadly outbreak of Legionnaire's disease at the state-run veterans home in Quincy. Lawmakers are expected to delve into a report the Rauner administration released Tuesday about potential projects to replace piping and prevent further transmission. Rauner also sought to get ahead of the hearing, releasing the names of some members of a new task force he is assembling to come up with recommendations. *Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will preside over a board meeting. From the notebook *Line change: Senate President John Cullerton has named two lawmakers to his leadership team to fill vacancies after Sen. Donne Trotter retired and Sen. Ira Silverstein lost his leadership post following allegations of sexual harassment. Those spots in Cullerton's inner circle now go to Chicago Sens. Iris Martinez and Mattie Hunter. Last month, the General Assembly's watchdog determined Silverstein did not engage in sexual harassment while working with a victims rights advocate to pass a bill but "did behave in a manner unbecoming of a legislator." (Monique Garcia) *Endorsements: Equality Illinois, an advocacy group for the LGBTQ community, has endorsed J.B. Pritzker for the Democratic governor nomination. Pritzker on Saturday attended the group's gala reception. He and wife Mary Kay were $15,000 donors. Also attending was Rauner and wife Diana, who were $25,000 donors. ... Democrat Sol Flores has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's political organization in her bid to succeed U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez in Congress. ... The Chicago Federation of Labor endorsed Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios in his re-election effort over challengers Fritz Kaegi and Andrea Raila. What we're writing *Pritzker apologizes for remarks on African-American politicians, says he wasn't "my best self" in conversations with Blagojevich. Foes say the remarks make him unelectable. *Rauner campaign changes strategies, attacks Ives as "Madigan's favorite Republican."
*Supervisor in Emanuel administration's Law Department loses job after city's latest failure to turn over evidence in police misconduct cases. *Attorney General Madigan: "Outrageous" proposed rule change on tipping would hurt workers. *Universities ask the state for $254 million more. *Cook County judge goes on trial on mortgage fraud charges. What we're reading *Sen. Duckworth pushes back on Trump calling Democrats "treasonous" for not clapping during his State of the Union address. *No, there will not be Doritos designed for women, CEO says. *Welcome back, DNAinfo alumni. Follow the money *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Trump plans military parade. *Stocks bounce back up after steep drop, causing market watchers neck strain. *Lawmakers close to a deal to avoid a shutdown, but Trump says he'd "love to see" one. *Trump chief of staff said DACA deadline likely won't be extended. *Billionaire shoots sports car into space, safely lands part of the rocket. | 
