>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT THE RED WAVE REPUBLICANS PREDICTED DIDN'T QUITE MATERIALIZE.

WE HAVE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MIDTERMS.

>>> ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS WHO RAN FOR SEATS IN CONGRESS HAD A PRETTY GOOD ELECTION NIGHT.

WE HEAR FROM SOME OF THOSE WINNERS.

>> WOW, WHAT A NIGHT.

>>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AFTER HIS RESOUNDING REELECTION.

>>> PLUS VOTERS REELECT INCUMBENTS IN OTHER STATEWIDE OFFICES.

WE CHAT WITH ILLINOIS' COMPTROLLER, TREASURER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>>> DEMOCRATS CLAIM VICTORY IN TWO STATE SUPREME COURT CASES.

>>> >>> FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLS THE MIDTERM RESULTS A GOOD TIME FOR DEMOCRACY.

DEMOCRATS APPEAR TO HAVE DEFIED EXPECTATIONS OF A RED WAVE IN.

A LENGTHY NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, BIDEN CELEBRATED THE BETTER THAN EXPECTED PERFORMANCE OF DEMOCRATS BUT MADE IT CLEAR HE SAYS HE WANTS TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> OUR DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN TESTED IN RECENT YEARS, BUT WITH THEIR VOTES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND PROVEN ONCE AGAIN THAT DEMOCRACY IS WHO WE ARE.

WHILE THE PRESS AND PUNDITS WERE PREDICTING A GIANT RED WAVE, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FINAL TALLY IN THESE ELECTIONS SHOW AND THERE'S STILL SOME COUNTING GOING ON, I'M PREPARED TO WORK WITH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM WELL HAVE MUCH MORE ANALYSIS OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

>>> ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKIN IS DONE WITH LEADERSHIP.

DURKIN ANNOUNCES HIS DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION AS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER AFTER A DISAPPOINTING ELECTION NIGHT FOR ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS.

IN A STATEMENT DURKIN REFERENCED THE PORE POOR GOP RESULTS AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER EASILY DEFENDING OFF HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER DARREN BAILEY.

DURKIN SAYS IT HAS BEEN, "THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO LEAD THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

WHILE I'M NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS, I WILL ACCEPT THEM.

I BEGAN THIS JOURNEY AS A VOICE OF MODERATION AND CONCLUDE THIS JOURNEY THE SAME WAY I STARTED, A VOICE OF MODERATION."

>>> CHICAGO POLICE SAY AN OFF-DUTY OFFICER WAS INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING IN BELMONT CRAGIN THIS MORNING.

IT'S UNCLEAR IF ANYONE WAS SHOT.

IN A STATEMENT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE SHOOTING OCCURRED AT 8:16 ON NORTH LARAMIE AVENUE.

THE STATEMENT GOES ON TO SAY, "THE OFF-DUTY OFFICER WAS TRANSPORTED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION AND THEN RELEASED.

AT THIS TIME IT'S UNKNOWN IF THERE WERE ANY INDIVIDUALS INJURED IN THIS SHOOTING INCIDENT."

THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS INVESTIGATING AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE OFFICER INVOLVED WILL BE PLACED ON ROUTINE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES FOR 30 DAYS.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, SOME OF LAST NIGHT'S ELECTION WINNERS.

>>> BUT FIRST HE'S WON ANOTHER FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE AS ILLINOIS GOVERNOR, BUT WHAT WILL J.B. PRITZKER DO THE ENTIRE TERM?

WE DIVE INTO THAT AND MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WINS ANOTHER FOUR YEAR TERM AND IT WAS A DECISIVE VICTORY AMONG OTHER DEMOCRATIC WINS LAST NIGHT, BUT WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO WITH THIS NEXT TERM AND WILL HE FINISH IT OUT?

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH A LOOK AHEAD.

AMANDA, A LOT OF PRESSING QUESTIONS HERE.

>> YEAH, PARIS.

PRITZKER DIDN'T JUST WIN.

HE WON BEEN A DECENT MARGIN WITH NEARLY BUT NOT ALL PRECINCTS REPORTING TOTALS AHEAD BY MORE THAN TEN POINTS OVER REPUBLICAN NOMINEE DARREN BAILEY, NOT JUST PRITZKER, DEMOCRATS DOMINATING WINNING EVERY STATEWIDE RACE BECAUSE OF LAST NIGHT ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SET TO HAVE MORE DEMOCRATS.

THE PARTY IS POISED TO INCREASE ITS CONTROL OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND THOUGH SOME RACES ARE TO CLOSE TO CALL, IT'S CERTAIN DEMOCRATS WILL HOLD THE MAJORITY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

PRITZKER IS ALSO A BILLIONAIRE WHO THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS SPENT AT LEAST $150 MILLION ON HIS AND OTHER DEMOCRATS' CAMPAIGNS.

>> ILLINOIS IS WORTH IT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD TWO MAGA BILLIONAIRES WHO WERE COMING AGAINST US ATTACKING EVERYTHING THAT WE STAND FOR.

THEY SPENT OVER $100 MILLION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT AND GET PUMMELED BY THEM.

WE'LL DEFEND OURSELVES AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE STAND FOR.

>> THE $150 MILLION QUESTION, WHAT DOES HE PLAN TO DO IN HIS SECOND TERM?

>> IT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

PRITZKER SAYS IT MAY BE BORING, BUT HE WANTS TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE STATE'S FINANCES.

HE ALSO ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TALKED ABOUT MAKING COLLEGE FREE FOR ANY STUDENT WHOSE FAMILY IS AT OR BELOW THE MEDIAN INCOME.

LOOK FOR MOVEMENT ON BOTH OF THOSE DOWN THE ROAD.

THERE'S A MORE IMMEDIATE AGENDA THAT COMES FIRST AND HIGH ON THAT LIST, THAT MAJOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW THAT WAS THE CENTERPIECE OF GOP ATTACKS THIS ELECTION SEASON.

VOTERS DID NOT END UP PUNISHING DEMOCRATS FOR IT, BUT ABOUT HALF OF THE ILLINOIS STATE'S ATTORNEYS ARE STILL SUING TO STOP IT FROM TAKING EFFECT AND PRITZKER HIMSELF HAS SAID IT NEEDS FIXES.

IN A VICTORY LAP NEWS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, PRITZKER DIDN'T GET INTO SPECIFICS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF MONTHS IN WORKING GROUPS.

SO THEY'LL BRING THAT TO THE VETO SESSION.

I'LL BE WATCHING CAREFULLY.

I'VE MADE MY THOUGHTS CLEAR AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE DURING THE VETO SESSION TO ADDRESS THE CHANGES THAT WE OUGHT TO BE MAKING.

>> THAT VETO SESSION THAT HE MENTIONED IS SET TO BEGIN ON TUESDAY.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER REALLY LEANED IN ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION DURING HIS CAMPAIGN.

WHAT'S COMING UP IN THIS TERM IN TERMS OF ABORTION LEGISLATION?

>> PARIS, YOU MAY RECALL THE DAY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT CAME OUT WITH THE DOBBS DECISION, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE WOULD CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO PASS MEASURES LIKE GIVING OUT STATE RESIDENTS PROTECTIONS IF THEY RECEIVE ABORTIONS IN ILLINOIS.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT WILL BE ADDRESSED, BUT GIVEN THE NATIONAL DYNAMIC AND UNCERTAINTY OVER ABORTION LAWS, HE WAS ASKED IF ILLINOIS SHOULD CONSIDER A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT GUARANTEEING THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

>> IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD THINK ABOUT.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THINGS ONTO THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS I THINK, BUT HERE'S THE THING.

WE ARE A PRO CHOICE STATE.

CERTAINLY AS GOVERNOR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND WITH A DEMOCRATIC GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I THINK WE WILL SUCCESSFULLY EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOW FACING ILLINOIS BECAUSE EVERY STATE AROUND US HAS BECOME AN ANTI-CHOICE STATE.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAYS HE WANTS ILLINOIS TO PASS A STATEWIDE BAN ON ASSAULT-GRADE GUNS, BUT HE COULDN'T GIVE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT TAKE THAT UP.

THE BIG QUESTION OVERRIDING ALL THIS?

HOW LONG WILL PRITZKER BE AROUND TO PURSUE THIS AGENDA?

THERE IS CHATTER HE'LL MAKE A PLAY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IF PRESIDENT BIDEN DOES NOT RUN FOR REELECTION.

THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS REPEATEDLY.

>> I COMMIT TO YOU THAT I'M PLANNING TO BE THE GOVERNOR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

WE HAVE TOO MANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY IS UNTRUE, I WAS NOT TALKED TO ANY STAFF OUTSIDE OF MY OWN STAFF.

SO NO, THERE'S NO PLAN TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN BE GOVERNOR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> NOW REGARDLESS OF HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS, IT IS CLEAR THAT PRITZKER'S FEELING CONFIDENT EVEN IF HIS OPPONENT OBVIOUSLY BELIEVES PRITZKER HAS NO REASON TO BE.

BAILEY DID GIVE THE GOVERNOR A CONGRATULATORY CALL LAST NIGHT, BUT BAILEY ENDED HIS CONCESSION SPEECH WITH A VERBAL SLAP.

>> ILLINOIS MUST BE BETTER.

OUR LEADERS MUST BE BETTER AND J.B. PRITZKER, YOU NEED TO BE BETTER.

>> NOW BAILEY WON'T BE RETURNING TO THE LEGISLATURE, BUT HE SAYS HE'S NOT GETTING OUT OF ILLINOIS POLITICS.

HE CALLED ON REPUBLICANS TO STEP UP AS LOYAL OPPOSITION TO DEMOCRATS.

PRITZKER FOR HIS PART CALLED BAILEY A DISCIPLE OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND IMPLORED THE GOP TO CHANGE.

>> I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THAT ESPECIALLY INCLUDES THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO NOMINATED DARREN BAILEY THAT THEY STAND FOR THE MAGA REPUBLICAN IDEAS, DONALD TRUMP.

THAT PARTY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER ENTIRELY CLEARLY AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR WHAT I STAND FOR.

THAT'S ALL.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THE GOP WANTS ANY ADVICE FROM PRITZKER, BUT IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO BE HAVING SOME VERY CONTENTIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PARTY'S FUTURE.

>> YEAH.

ILLINOIS GOP CHAIRMAN DON TRACY, A LOT OF DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSIONS HE'LL PROBABLY BE HAVING IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>>> UP NEXT, HEAR FROM SOME OF THE CONGRESSIONAL WINNERS IN LAST NIGHT'S ELECTION.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> THOUSANDS OF PUERTO RICANS ARE TAKING TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST MASSIVE BLACKOUTS.

>> OVER THE YEARS MEXICAN CULTURE FROM FOOD TO MUSIC HAS BECOME WOVEN INTO THE CITY'S TAPESTRY.

>> MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SHARE THE LATEST RECOMMENDATIONS ON COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS.

>> DACA RECIPIENTS HAVE BEEN FACING LONGER DELAYS THAN NORMAL IN THEIR STATUS RENEWAL.

>> THIS NEIGHBORHOOD COMES TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE SUCH AN IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR CULTURE.

>>> DESPITE THE PREDICTIONS AFTER PREDICTION A SO-CALLED RED WAVE, ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS HAD A GOOD NIGHT.

RAMIREZ, THE WINNER IN THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, PREVIOUSLY AN ILLINOIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

CONGRESSMAN BILL FOSTER WHO WAS FIRST ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE 11th DISTRICT IN 2012 AND CONGRESSWOMAN LAUREN UNDERWOOD FIRST ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE 14th DISTRICT IN 2018.

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONGRATS ON YOUR SUCCESS LAST NIGHT.

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT DAHLIA RAMIREZ, LET'S START WITH YOU AND TALK ABOUT THAT WIN LAST NIGHT.

YOU ARE THE FIRST LATINA IN ILLINOIS AND THE MIDWEST TO HEAD TO CONGRESS.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR DISTRICT?

>> IT'S STILL SURREAL AND FOR MY MOM WHO IS GETTING CALLS FROM GUATEMALA AND FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, EVERY FAMILY MEMBER THAT SHE'S EVER MET, IT IS AN EMOTIONAL VICTORY AND AN HONOR HONESTLY.

I HAVE GRATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT AND TO BE THE FIRST LATINA IN THE MIDWEST AND ALSO IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT I MUST DO TO CONTINUE TO CREATE A SPACE FOR MORE WOMEN TO LEAD.

>> IT WASN'T A CAKEWALK FOR YOU.

THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CAME TO HELP YOU AND OTHER CANDIDATES CAMPAIGN LAST WEEKEND, BUT TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BEATING WHAT WAS PREDICTED TO BE A RED WAVE.

I SHOULD MENTION WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS THAT CAME IN LAST NIGHT SHOWING 54% FOR YOU, 46% FOR YOUR OPPONENT.

IT SAYS 79% OF PRECINCTS REPORTING.

WE'RE ACTUALLY LEARNING NOW IT'S 95% OF PRECINCTS REPORTING, BUT SORRY, CONGRESSWOMAN UNDERWOOD.

>> WE SAW A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FROM VOTERS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS RELEASED AND WE KNOW THAT ILLINOIS REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM WAS A KEY ISSUE IN THIS ELECTION.

I WAS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH SO MANY VOTERS DESPITE THE DISTRICT BEING COMPLETELY REDRAWN.

WE SHARE VALUES IN ILLINOIS AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY.

>> CONGRESSMAN, FOSTER, WE STILL DON'T KNOW YET THE BALANCE OF CONGRESS, BUT TALK ABOUT YOUR WIN AND WHAT THE NEXT TWO YEARS MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS.

>> I'M VERY GRATIFIED FOR MY WIN.

THERE'S SO MANY NEW PEOPLE TO MEET WHEN YOUR DISTRICT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY LIKE THIS.

ONE OF MY FIRST PARTIES WILL ACTUALLY BE A SHOW DEALING AROUND FREMULAB.

WE GET TO SEE ALL THE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS WITH THE ACCELERATORS AND FACILITIES AND EVERYTHING.

UP NORTH YOU SEE IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF THE DISTRICT THINGS LIKE BELVEDERE WHICH IS BEING CHALLENGED BY THE POSSIBLE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CHRYSLER ASSEMBLY PLANT AND SO THOSE RISE RAPIDLY TO YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO SHIELD AND GIVE YOUR DISTRICT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR YOU IN WASHINGTON, MORE BIPARTISANSHIP OR COMPROMISE?

>> THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO NOT SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND A GOOD WORKABLE SET OF COMPROMISES TO MAKE CONGRESS OPERATE PROPERLY.

I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT REPUBLICANS ARE ALREADY THREATENING TO USE THE THREAT OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OR THE THREAT OF DEFAULTING ON OUR DEBT TO ON BASICALLY GET LEVERAGE TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.

SO THIS IS A REAL THREAT AND I HAVE A VERY STRONG MEMORY OF TEN YEARS AGO WHEN THE TEA PARTY WAVE CAME IN AND THREATENED TO DEFAULT ON THE FEDERAL DEBT.

THAT JUST COLLAPSED THE ECONOMY.

THE STOCK MARKET WENT DOWN.

MORE THAN $1 TRILLION WAS WIPED OUT OF THE WEALTH OF THIS COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO AVOID THAT SORT OF IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR.

>> DAHLIA RAMIREZ, YOUR HUSBAND COULD NOT VOTE FOR YOU BECAUSE OF DACA STATUS.

WHERE IS IMMIGRATION REFORM ON YOUR LIST OF PRIORITIES?

>> IT'S ONE OF THE TOP THREE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

IT'S HIM, HALF OF HIS SIBLINGS AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN MY OWN FAMILY, BUT IT'S THIS DISTRICT.

THIS DISTRICT IS A LATINO-INFLUENCED DISTRICT AND IT WAS CREATED TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GROWTH OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND THE GROWTH OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO TO THE NORTHWESTERN SUBURBS.

>> WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO OR TO WORK ON OR TO SEE HAPPEN?

>> WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION PACKAGE AND WE NEED TO ALSO PROTECT SERVICES.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS TO DO.

I THINK ONE PERFECT EXAMPLE IS HOW DO WE BEGIN A PROCESS OF A PATHWAY TO GET DACA RECIPIENTS INTO A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP?

HAVING TO LIVE EVERY SINGLE YEAR WORRIED ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO RENEW DACA IS NO WAY TO LIVE.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN UNDERWOOD, WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS?

>> I SHARE CONGRESSMAN FOSTER'S PRIORITY OF MAKING SURE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T SHUT DOWN.

I SERVE ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND WE ARE WORKING HARD ON A FEDERAL FUNDING PACKAGE FOR THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN THERE THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES HERE TO OUR COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE RESOURCES FLOW EXPEDITIOUSLY.

>> DAHLIA RAMIREZ, CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS AND NEW ILLINOIS CANDIDATES LIKE YOURSELF DID WELL LAST NIGHT, BUT REPUBLICANS IN OTHER STATES DID WELL.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT AMERICAN VOTERS WANT?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM AMERICAN VOTERS IS THEY WANT SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO DELIVER FOR THEM, SOMEONE THAT IS RELATABLE, SOMEONE THAT LISTENS AND WILL UNEQUIVOCALLY GO TO CONGRESS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE DEFENDING MEDICARE, DEFENDING SOCIAL SECURITY, BRINGING THOSE RESOURCES AS CONGRESSWOMAN UNDERWOOD HAS SAID.

I HEARD THAT IN DISTRICT.

MY STATEHOUSE BACKGROUND AND WHAT I'VE DONE THERE IS AN EXAMPLE THE PEOPLE KEPT USING AS SHE'S GOING TO BUILD ON THE WORK SHE'S DONE IN ILLINOIS AND SHE'S GOING TO DO THAT WITH THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

>> CONGRESSMAN FOSTER, IF REPUBLICANS TAKE THE HOUSE, THEY VOWED TO INVESTIGATE DR. FAUCI, HUNTER BIDEN AND OTHERS.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THIS POSSIBILITY?

>> I SERVE ON THE CORONAVIRUS COMMITTEE AND I THINK IT'S VERY LONG ON RHETORIC AND NOT LONG ON FACTS.

AS A CHAIR OF A SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE, I AND MY REPUBLICAN PARTNER HAD I THINK THE ONLY REALLY COMPREHENSIVE RATIONAL SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSION OF THE ORIGINS OF THE CORONAVIRUS AT THE SAME TIME REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WERE MAKING UP AND ECHOING ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT WERE CIRCULATING ON THE INTERNET.

SO I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE COMMON GROUNDS THAT WE CAN HAVE.

THE OTHER THING THAT STRUCK ME IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S ACTUALLY IN TROUBLE.

AND OUR DEMOCRACY IS IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF THE HYPER PARTISANSHIP AND I THINK ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY NIGHT IS THE VOTE IN EVANSTON TO GET RID OF PARTISAN PRIMARIES BECAUSE THAT I THINK IS THE PATH FORWARD FOR ILLINOIS AND FOR OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP GETS ALL OF HIS POWER FROM THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES AND MANY OF THE MOST EXTREME MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES COME IN ONLY HAVING TO ANSWER TO A PRIMARY ELECTION AND NOT TO THE GENERAL ELECTORATE.

AS A RESULT OF THE SYSTEM WE HAVE, THERE JUST IS NO WAY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS TRULY IN THE MIDDLE TO GET THEIR 51% OUT OF THE MIDDLE.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I SEE TAKEN UP FOR GROUPS LIKE CHANGE ILLINOIS AND SO ON ARE COMING TO THIS AS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN REALLY ACCOMPLISH.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN UNDERWOOD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY PUT DEMOCRATS OVER THE TOP, ECONOMY, CRIME, ABORTION?

>> I THINK THAT WE HAD VERY STRONG EXCELLENT CANDIDATES AND, QUITE FRANKLY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO CONSTITUENTS, TO VOTERS, ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE WERE NOT DENYING THE FACTS OF JANUARY 6th.

WE WERE NOT THE ONES THAT WERE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

WE HAD ACTUAL CREDIBLE SOLUTIONS AND IDEAS FOR HOW TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND HOW TO TACKLE INFLATION AND LOWER COSTS FOR PEOPLE.

SO I THINK THAT WE JUST HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AND WERE ABLE TO CONNECT AROUND THE SHARED VALUES THAT WE HAVE WITH PEOPLE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

>> DAHLIA RAMIREZ, IS THE FUTURE OF ABORTION A TOP ISSUE FOR YOU AND WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT?

>> FOR THOSE OF US IN OUR LATE 30s WHO HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MISCARRIAGES, A BAN ON ABORTION WOULD ALSO PUT AT RISK MY ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH FERTILITY TREATMENT AND SO HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION OF WHAT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS MEANS IS GOING TO BE A CRITICAL ISSUE AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK OF EDUCATING PEOPLE AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS WHEN THERE WOULD BE POTENTIALLY A FEDERAL BAN AND WHY CODIFYING ROE V. WADE MUST BE AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.

>> STARTING WITH BROADENING THAT DEFINITION LIKE YOU SAID.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 15 SECONDS LEFT.

CONGRESSMAN FOSTER, YOU'VE BEEN IN DAHLIA RAMIREZ'S SEAT SOME TIME AGO.

ADVICE TO A FRESHMAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS?

>> SPEND A WHILE GETTING TO KNOW YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY AND THE INVESTMENT YOU PUT IN WHEN YOU HAVE POWER AND URINE ABLE TO HELP THEM IS SOMETHING YOU GET BACK IN SPADES WHEN YOU'RE NO LONGER IN THE MAJORITY.

>> ADVICE YOU'RE FILING AWAY, I'M SURE.

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU.

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECTORAL >>> UP NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM STATEWIDE WINNERS.

STAY WITH US.

>>> IT WASN'T JUST ILLINOIS' GOVERNOR WHO WON BIG LAST NIGHT.

ALL THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES REMAINED BLUE AFTER VOTERS APPROVE ADDITIONAL TERMS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL AND CONTROLLER SUSANA MENDOZA WILL BE ELECTED FOR A THIRD TERM AND ALEXI GIANNOULIAS WAS ELECTED TO TAKE OVER AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE WILL TALK NOW ABOUT THEIR VICTORY AT THE POLLS AND WHAT THEY ENVISION THEIR NEXT FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE.

THANKS TO ALL YOU OF FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL, A BIG VICTORY FOR YOU.

WHAT PUT THE PARTY OVER THE TOP, DO YOU BELIEVE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CAMPAIGNING FOR US WASN'T OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT WAS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES, IN THEIR CASE OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

IT'S A PERFORMANCE WE DEMONSTRATED IN THE JOB AND IF YOU'RE DOING IT WELL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THERE'S NO NEED TO REMOVE YOU.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S STARK DIFFERENCES IN THE POLICIES THAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES EMBRACE VERSUS THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES.

THERE'S LASER FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT WE'RE AN OASIS FOR WOMEN WHO WANT ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION.

THERE WAS STARK DIFFERENCES IN OUR APPROACH TO PROTECTING WORKERS IN THE WORKPLACE.

ON A BROAD RANGE OF POLICIES, THERE WAS A CLEAR CHOICE TO BE MADE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.

>> CLEAR CHOICE IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE, BUT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES THAT RAN CLOSE TO YOU, WHAT PUT YOUR RACE OVER THE TOP?

>> I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES DID EMBRACE DARREN BAILEY, BUT I THINK THE RESULTS MATTER.

I THINK VOTERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUDGE US IN MY CASE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS WHEN I WALKED INTO THE WORST FISCAL CRISIS IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY AND THEN FOLLOWED UP BY A GLOBAL PANDEMIC TO BOOT AND HOW I WAS ABLE TO TURN AROUND THE STATE'S FINANCIAL DISARRAY AND WE'VE NOW HAD SIX CREDIT UPGRADES ON MY WATCH.

WE ELIMINATED THE BUILD BACKLOG ON MY WATCH AND WE'RE PAYING BACK VENDORS FASTER THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR PAYS.

I THINK PEOPLE FEEL THAT, THEY PAY ATTENTION AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.

VOTERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS TICKET THAT HAS REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB ADVOCATING FOR THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

>> TREASURER FRERICHS, DEMOCRATS AGAIN HAVE ALL THE POWER IN THIS STATE.

WILL THEY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE SAY THERE'S AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN AND THAT BUILD BACKLOG STARTS TO RISE AGAIN PERHAPS?

>> I THINK THAT'S THE CASE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.

DEMOCRATS WERE SUCCESSFUL AND WERE THE ONES THAT ACCOMPLISHED THOSE THINGS.

IT'S REALLY EASY FOR SOMEONE TO SAY WORDS, TO MAKE PROMISES, BUT AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF GOOD INVESTMENT RETURNS, HELPING RETURN RECORD AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO PEOPLE IN THE STATE, STANDING UP TO WALL STREET FIRMS AND CUTTING FEES FOR FAMILIES TRYING TO GO TO COLLEGE, THESE ARE THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.

PEOPLE ARE WORRIED CAN I SEND MY KID TO COLLEGE?

CAN I AFFORD TO RETIRE?

WE FOCUS ON THOSE ISSUES.

DEMOCRATS DO REALLY WELL.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL, THERE WAS A BIG FOCUS ON THE SAFE-T ACT FROM YOUR CHALLENGER TOM DEVORE.

YOU HAVE SAID MANY TIMES YOU'RE OPEN TO LAWMAKERS TWEAKING THIS ACT.

THE ELECTION IS OVER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT EXACTLY NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED HERE?

>> YEAH.

I'M NOT GOING TO THE EXACT, BUT I THINK ON THE BROAD RANGE FIRST OFF, I EMBRACED THE PHILOSOPHY THAT THE WAY OUR DECISION MAKING ON DETAINING PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE MADE BASED UPON HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT.

IT SHOULD BE MADE ON THE LEVEL OF RISK THEY ARE TO HARMING SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC OR THE LEVEL OF RISK THEY ARE OF BEING A FLIGHT RISK.

THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HONE IN ON, MAKING SURE WE CLARIFY THAT JUDGES CAN DETAIN SOMEBODY WHO IS EITHER A FLIGHT RISK OR A RISK OF HARMING SOMEBODY.

ALSO THERE WAS QUESTION AND THERE'S BEEN DEBATE AROUND THE TRESPASSING PROVISION WITHIN THE SAFE-T ACT.

I THINK WE CAN CLARIFY THAT AN OFFICER CAN REMOVE SOMEBODY WHO IS TRESPASSING ONTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY AND IF THEY'RE NOT COOPERATING, AN OFFICER CAN ARREST THEM.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS BOTH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE SHOW WITH ME HAVE SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THEY KNOW.

WE ALL THREE WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE MET EVERY YEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IS WE REVISITED LAWS THAT HAD BEEN PASSED AND WE'VE AMENDED THEM.

SO IT SHOULD HAPPEN AS IT WILL NEXT WEEK AND A COUPLE WEEKS AFTERWARDS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, BUT NOT THROUGH FEAR MONGERING AND MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE FROM THE ELECTION RESULTS, THOSE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF REPUBLICANS DIDN'T REALLY MAKE MUCH DENT IN THE OUTCOME.

CONTROLLER MENDOZA, YOU MENTIONED THE BUILD BACKLOG IS DOWN TO ABOUT 2 BILLION.

IT HAD BEEN UP TO 17 BILLION UNDER FORMER GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER.

THE LAST COUPLE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN PROPPED UP BY SOME OF THIS COVID FEDERAL FUNDING.

CAN YOU KEEP BRINGING THAT BACKLOG DOWN NOW THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDING WON'T BE THERE?

>> TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS NO MORE BACKLOG.

WE NOW HAVE AN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.

MY OLDEST BILL TODAY IS 11 DAYS OLD.

>> IT USED TO BE FOR CONTEXT SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS.

>> IT USED TO BE 210 BUSINESS DAYS, THE AVERAGE.

SOME PEOPLE HADN'T BEEN PAID TWO YEARS WHEN I WALKED IN THAT OFFICE.

THE IMPORTANT FACT HERE WHICH I THINK VOTERS RECOGNIZE IS THAT I PAID DOWN THE BUILD BACKLOG AND ELIMINATED IT OVER A YEAR AGO BEFORE, IF I CAN PUT IT IN ALL CAPS, I WOULD, BEFORE A PENNY OF THE FEDERAL ARPA EVEN GOT TO ILLINOIS.

SO I DIDN'T USE A PENNY OF ARPA FUNDS TO PAY DOWN THE BILL BACKLOG.

THAT TOOK FIVE YEARS OF METICULOUS STRATEGIC PAYING DOWN, MATCHING FEDERAL DOLLARS, ESSENTIALLY CREATING A COUPON OPPORTUNITY EVERY TIME I COULD.

I'D PAY A BILL $1 IN MEDICAID AND GET 50 CENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU HAVE TO STRETCH THE VALUE OF A DOLLAR WHEREVER YOU CAN.

THESE ARE WORKING WITH TREASURER FRERICHS ON BORROWING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE I COULD BORROW FROM HIM AT 3.5% INSTEAD OF THE MARKET AT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE AND PAYING BACK THE ILLINOIS TREASURY INSTEAD OF WALL STREET REALLY CREATED STRATEGIC THINKING OVER FIVE YEARS, GOT US TO PAY DOWN THE BUILD BACKLOG A YEAR AGO WITHOUT FEDERAL FUNDS.

WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE AND I HAD LESS THAN $60,000, PARIS, WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE IN THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND.

TODAY WE HAVE 1,047,000,000 AND COUNTING AND THAT'S THE LEGISLATION I'LL BE PUSHING HARD TO ADD EVEN MORE.

>> TREASURER FRERICHS, YOU'RE CHARGED WITH MANAGING THE STATE'S INVESTMENTS.

IT'S BEEN A TOPSY -TURVY MARKET.

HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU?

>> WE'VE MADE OVER $1.2 BILLION SINCE TAKING OFFICE.

IF ANYTHING, THE RISING INTEREST RATES WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO RAISE MORE MONEY, BUT THAT STILL PROVIDES A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR FAMILIES OUT THERE, FAMILIES LOOKING TO REFINANCE A HOME OR BUY A HOME ORDEALING WITH INFLATION.

I THINK WE CAN PLAN FOR THE LONG TERM.

WE CAN HELP PEOPLE SAVE FOR THEIR RETIREMENT, SAVE FOR THEIR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES AND MAKE IT EASIER AND NOR COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO SAVE TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE.

IF WE CAN GIVE KIDS A GOOD EDUCATION AND THEY CAN GET GOOD JOBS, IT BENEFITS THEM AND OUR ENTIRE STATE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL, ANOTHER BIG TASK FOR YOUR OFFICE IS CONSUMER PROTECTION.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES YOU HAVE FOR THIS TERM IN THAT AREA?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TOWER WORK WITH OPIOID CRISIS BECAUSE THAT HAS DEVASTATED EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE.

WE'VE DONE WELL HOLDING MANY OF THE BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SORT OF WORKING TOWARDS FINISHING THAT OFF.

ONE OF THE AREAS I THINK THAT HAS DONE DAMAGE BOTH TO ADULTS, BUT ALSO TO YOUNG PEOPLE IS ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND ONE OF THE THINGS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL IN A DO AS I WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, SOMETIMES ON A PARTISAN BASIS, BUT WITH THE FOCUS ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WE ARE WORKING ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS TO MAKE SURE THESE PLATFORMS ARE POLICING THEMSELVES AND NOT ALLOWING SORT OF DANGEROUS BULLYING TO TAKE PLACE.

THE SALE OF COUNTERFEIT PHARMACEUTICALS SOMETIMES LACED WITH FENTANYL THAT CAN BE ONE AND DONE TYPE OF DRUGS THAT CAUSES FATALITIES, SALE OF ARMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHERE WE CAN ON MISINFORMATION AND DANGEROUS MISINFORMATION.

>> THOSE ARE CERTAINLY BIG TASKS.

WE'RE REALLY OUT OF TIME, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU BOTH, THERE'S BEEN TALK IN THE PAST ABOUT COMBINING THE OFFICES OF COMPTROLLER AND TREASURER.

DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD SOMEDAY HAPPEN OR ARE YOU HAPPY TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE?

>> I THINK THE TWO OF US WORK TOGETHER VERY WELL, BUT IT'S PROBABLY ONE PLACE WE HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

>> I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD HAPPEN.

THERE'S TWO FACTS THAT MATTER TO ME.

THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE BOTH OFFICES SEPARATE.

THE TWO LARGEST GOVERNMENT EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEMES IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BOTH HAPPENED IN ILLINOIS UNFORTUNATELY IN THE POSITION WHERE THE COMPTROLLER AND TREASURER FUNCTIONS WERE HELD BY THE SAME PERSON.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CREDIT RATERS HAVE ALREADY SAID IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS IF WE WERE TO CONSOLIDATE BOTH OFFICES, THEY WOULD SEE IT AS A CREDIT NEGATIVE AND COST US HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS DOLLARS.

>> I THINK IF THE VOTERS WANTED TO DO THIS, WE COULD DO IT IN A WAY THAT SAVED MONEY AND I THINK I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK ON THAT.

>> BUT NOT WITHOUT LOWERING OUR CREDIT, THOUGH.

THAT'S A BIG NO.

EVEN THOUGH I LOVE THIS GUY.

>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION OUT THERE.

WE SAVE THE TAXPAYERS SOME MONEY, THAT'S AN OPTION WE SHOULD EXPLORE.

>> THAT MIGHT BE A DEBATE FOR A FUTURE SHOW, BUT FOR NOW, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

>>> NOW, BRANDIS, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT," LABOR ADVOCATES CELEBRATE WHAT THEY ARE CALLING A VICTORY IN A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

WE DIVE INTO THAT AND TWO ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT RACES.

COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE WINS HER SEAT A FOURTH TIME.

>>> AND J.B. PRITZKER WINS REELECTION HANDEDLY, BUT WHO CONTROLS THE U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE STILL UNCLEAR, THAT AND NOR FROM OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

>>> BUT FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, A BIG UNION ENDORSEMENT IN THAT OTHER ELECTION, YOU KNOW THE ONE I'M TALKING ABOUT, THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

LOCAL 73 ANNOUNCES THEY'RE BACKING BRANDON JOHNSON JOINING THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION IN SUPPORTING HIS BID TO DENY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT A SECOND TERM.

SCIU LOCAL 73 INCLUDES 16,000 CHICAGO PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS AMONG ITS MEMBERSHIP, POSSIBLY COMPLICATING MATTERS FOR PROGRESSIVES, THOUGH, CONGRESSMAN JESUS GARCIA ALSO PUBLICLY CONSIDERING A BID FOR MAYOR.

>>> THE SALE OF THE ABANDONED DAMEN SILOS PROPERTY ALONG THE SOUTH BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO RIVER HIT A SNAG.

THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER M.A.T.

'S INVOLVEMENT HAS DRAWN IRE OF LOCAL ACTIVISTS CALLING ON POSTPONEMENT OF THE SALE PENDING MORE COMMUNITY INPUT AND SAYING THE ASPHALT PLANT IS A CONSISTENT SOURCE OF POLLUTION.

THE OWNER REFUTES THAT CHARACTERIZATION, BUT NEIGHBORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SAY, "IT IS ASTONISHING THE STATE WOULD SELL THE OWNER MORE PROPERTY AND CLAIM IT AS A WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT," AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LOSING CAUSE, BUT CHICAGO -- IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN A LOSING CAUSE, THAT IS, BUT CHICAGO BEARS QUARTERBACK JUSTIN FIELDS HAS BEEN NAMED THE NFC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK RUSHING FOR 178 YARDS INCLUDING THIS 68-YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN IN THE BEARS 35-32 LOSS TO THE MIAMI DOLPHINS ON SUNDAY.

FIELDS ALSO THREW THREE TOUCHDOWNS AND NO INTERCEPTIONS PASSING FOR 123 YARDS.

>>> DEMOCRATS STRENGTHEN THEIR GRIP ON THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT AND LABOR ADVOCATES CELEBRATE AN APPARENT VICTORY ADDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION.

MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WINNERS OF THE SUPREME COURT RACES?

>> RESULTS WERE TRICKLING IN SLOWLY LAST NIGHT, BUT BY THE END OF TUESDAY, DEMOCRAT ELIZABETH ROCHFORD DECLARED VICTORY OVER HER OPPONENT MARK CURRAN.

THIS RACE HAD ARGUABLY THE MORE EXPECTED RESULT AS ROCHFORD WAS THE HIGHLY ENDORSED CANDIDATE AND CURRAN HAD NEVER WORKED AS A JUDGE BEFORE.

IN THE SECOND RACE DEMOCRAT MARY KAY O'BRIEN TRAILED EARLY BUT EVENTUALLY DEFEATED JUSTICE MIKE BURKE, REPUBLICAN RUNNING TO KEEP HIS POSITION IN THE COURT AFTER BEING APPOINTED IN 2020.

BURKE, REPUBLICAN, HAD SOME EXPERIENCE ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND ACTUALLY HAD A SLIGHTLY HIGHER RATING THAN O'BRIEN.

BURKE WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE BAR WHILE O'BRIEN WAS ONLY RECOMMENDED, BUT VOTERS PULLED IN THE DEMOCRATS FAVOR IN THE END.

>> MATT, WHAT DO THESE RESULTS MEAN FOR THE MAKEUP OF THE COURT?

>> GOING IN TUESDAY, REPUBLICANS HAD A CHANCE TO FLIP THE HIGH COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME MANY DECADES.

THEY COULD HAVE PULLED THE DEMOCRATS 4-3 JUSTICE ADVANTAGE TO A 4-3 REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE, BUT THAT REQUIRED BOTH CURRAN AND BURKE TO WIN AND WITH BOTH THOSE CANDIDATES LOSING, THE COURT HAS SHIFTED EVEN FURTHER IN THE LEFT'S FAVOR WITH DEMOCRATS NOW HOLDING A 5-2 ADVANTAGE ON THE HIGH COURT.

>> YOU'VE ALSO BEEN FOLLOWING THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS THE FIRST QUESTION ON VOTERS BALLOTS.

REMIND US WHAT THAT CALLS FOR.

>> RIGHT.

ESSENTIALLY INSURES WORKERS ACROSS ILLINOIS WILL HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN AND THIS ALSO BARS ANY LAWS FROM BEING PASSED IN THE STATE THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH THOSE RIGHTS.

UNIONS ACROSS ILLINOIS HAVE PUSHED VERY, VERY HARD FOR THIS CHANGE SAYING IT WOULD HELP EMPOWER WORKERS IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY, THINGS LIKE THAT WHILE OPPONENTS HAVE SAID IT COULD LEAD TO HIGHER TAXES STATEWIDE.

>> VOTES ARE STILL BEING COUNTED, BUT IT APPEARS TO HAVE PASSED.

REMIND US HOW THIS GETS APPROVED.

>> RIGHT.

SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THIS AMENDMENT COULD BE APPROVED.

IT EITHER NEEDED 60% SUPPORT FROM THOSE WHO VOTED ON THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION OR MORE THAN 50% SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO VOTED IN GENERAL, WHETHER THEY VOTED FOR THIS QUESTION OR NOT.

AS OF WEDNESDAY, THE AMENDMENT HAS FALLEN BELOW THAT 60% MARK, ON THE QUESTION ITSELF HOVERING AROUND 58 OR 59%, BUT IT COULD CLEAR THAT SECOND HURDLE.

WHILE THE RESULT HASN'T BEEN FULLY DEFENDED, ADVOCATES FOR THE AMENDMENT HAVE ALREADY DECLARED VICTORY SAYING THIS IS GOING TO PASS EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE STILL SOME VOTES TO COUNT.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> YOU CAN READ MATT'S COVERAGE OF BOTH ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT RACES AND THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT ON OUR WEBSITE NEWS.WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> NOW TO PARIS WITH ANOTHER WINNER FROM LAST NIGHT'S ELECTION.

>> COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE DEFEATED REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER BOB FIORETTI MAKING HER ONE OF THE LONGEST TENURED OFFICEHOLDERS IN THE STATE, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN FOR THE COUNTY INCLUDING CRIME, NONPANDEMIC BUDGETS AND HEALTHCARE COSTS.

JOINING US NOW IS TONI PRECKWINKLE, COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> YOU WANTED TO FLIP TWO REPUBLICAN SEATS ON THE COUNTY BOARD TO DEMOCRAT.

LOOKS LIKE REPUBLICANS WILL RETAIN THOSE SEATS.

YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HOW THE PARTY DID OVERALL IN COOK COUNTY?

>> I'M REALLY PLEASED.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS FOR SUPPORTING ME A FOURTH TERM AND SUPPORTING DEMOCRATS PRETTY MUCH GENERALLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

THERE WERE 15 DEMOCRATS AND TWO REPUBLICANS IN THE PRECEDING BODY AND NOW WE'LL HAVE MAYBE 15 AND TWO AS WELL.

>> YOU'RE READY TO GET TO WORK WITH THAT RATIO.

>> YES.

>> YOU'RE USED TO THAT.

HISTORY SAYS THE PARTY IN POWER SUFFERS BIG DURING MIDTERMS.

DEMOCRATS IN ILLINOIS NOT ONLY DIDN'T SUFFER, BUT THEY SWEPT THE STATEWIDE RACES AND LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK DID THE TRICK FOR YOUR PARTY IN ILLINOIS?

>> WE'RE A BLUE STATE IN THE MS. MIDST OF PURPLE AND RED STATES.

WE SAW SOME VICTORIES IN THE MIDWEST MORE BROADLY AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> WAS IT ABORTION THAT DROVE THIS?

WAS IT FEARS ABOUT DEMOCRACY, FEARS ABOUT TRUMP OR ELECTION DENIERS?

>> HAD I THINK ALL OF THE ABOVE.

I'M A HISTORY TEACHER AND A BIG BELIEVER IN MULTIPARTY, AT LEAST TWO-PARTY GOVERNMENT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONTEST OF IDEAS, BUT THE PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT IS ALL THE REASONABLE PEOPLE ARE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

YOU TALK ABOUT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE, REASONABLE GUN LAWS, IF YOU TALK ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND RESPECTING PEOPLE'S CHOICES, WHETHER THEY GO TO CHURCHES OR MOSQUES OR SYNAGOGUES OR TEMPLES, WE'RE IN A PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY UNFORTUNATELY WHERE, AS I SAID, IN MY VIEW THE REASONABLE PEOPLE ARE PRETTY MUCH ALL DEMOCRATS AND I DIDN'T FEEL THAT MOST OF MY LIFE.

I BELIEVED THERE WERE GOOD PEOPLE, REASONABLE PEOPLE, IN BOTH PARTIES, BUT THE WAY IN WHICH TRUMP HAS MANIPULATED AND CONTROLLED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS REALLY SCARY TO ME.

>> SPEAKING ABOUT BEING A PARTY OF IDEAS, YOUR BIGGEST PRIORITIES THIS TERM IN OFFICE?

>> THREE THINGS.

ONE IS INCREASING OUR INVESTMENTS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE PANDEMIC SHOWED US WAS NOT JUST THAT WE NEEDED TO RAMP UP OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO MEET PHYSICAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, BUT THAT WE NEEDED TO INVEST IN OUR HEALTH SYSTEM IN TERMS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

SO WE'LL DO THAT.

WE'LL CREATE A DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT -- HAVE AN ASSET INVENTORY AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE HAVE.

WE'VE GOT A GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT, 42 MILLION, THE BIGGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

TWO YEARS $500 A MONTH FOR 3,250 FAMILIES IN COOK COUNTY AND A LOTTERY WILL BE COMING UP SHORTLY.

WE'VE HAD MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE APPLY.

SO THERE'S GREAT NEED OUT THERE.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE PART OF A NATIONAL MOVEMENT THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN MY LIFETIME, ENCOURAGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO A GUARANTEED INCOME.

WE NEED IT NATIONALLY, NOT JUST IN ILLINOIS.

>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT, 200,000 PEOPLE APPLYING, ONLY 3,250 SPOTS, 42 MILLION FUNDED LARGELY FROM COVID RELIEF FUNDS.

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROGRAM IS A SUCCESS AND WORTHY OF CONTINUING?

>> WE'LL HAVE ACADEMIC PARTNERS AND A CONTROL GROUP THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD TEST MEDICATION, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY WHO GET THE MEDS AND THOSE WHO GET A PLACEBO.

WE'LL COMPARE THE OUTCOMES.

>> WILL IT BE A CHALLENGE TO FIND FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS WHEN THIS COVID MONEY RUNS OUT?

>> WE'VE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING IT.

WE'VE DEDICATED CANNABIS REVENUES AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO SUPPORT IT ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CRIME IN COOK COUNTY, A LOT OF HEAT THROWN MOSTLY FROM REPUBLICANS ON THINGS LIKE THE SAFE-T ACT, BAIL REFORM IN GENERAL AND ALSO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS THROWN SOME SHADE AT THAT AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S CONTRIBUTED TO INCREASED CRIME, NAMELY, ALLEGED OFFENDERS WHO ARE OUT AND THEN REOFFEND.

HAS IT BEEN AN UNFORTUNATE BY-PRODUCT, THIS INCREASED CRIME, OF BAIL REFORM?

>> THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

IN 2016 WE HAD AN UPTICK IN MURDERS AND THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT GOT TOGETHER AND STARTED INVESTING MORE IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, ANTI-RECIDIVISM AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORK.

2017 THROUGH 2019 WE SAW REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME.

THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, IN MARCH 2020 WHEN WE STARTED SEEING SHUTDOWNS AND CLOSURES, WE SAW A VERTICAL INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME.

IN THE 35 LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, WE'VE HAD SPIKES IN MURDERS AND SHOOTINGS.

THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT'S UNIQUE TO CHICAGO OR COOK COUNTY OR ILLINOIS.

THIS IS A NATIONAL CHALLENGE.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT RESULTED FROM ECONOMIC INSECURITY.

IT RESULTED FROM THE ISOLATION, THE DEPRESSION, THE ANXIETY THAT PEOPLE SUFFERED.

OUR SOCIETY STARTED FRAYING AT THE EDGES EDGES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE UPTICK IN VIOLENCE.

IT'S A TERRIBLE CHALLENGE.

EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE SAFE IN THEIR HOMES, TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES.

I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING UNIQUE TO US AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SAFE-T ACT WHICH HASN'T EVEN BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET.

>> AT THE SAME TIME DEMOCRATS ACKNOWLEDGED THEY'RE GOING TO TWEAK THE SAFE-T ACT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THOSE TWEAKS SHOULD BE?

>> MY STATE SENATOR WAS ONE OF THE PROPONENTS AND STRONG SUPPORT CERTIFICATES OF THE SAFE-T ACT.

HE'S PART OF NEGOTIATIONS AROUND THE TWEAKING.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW THEY'LL COME OUT.

>> IT MIGHT COME DOWN TO A GENERAL LANGUAGE.

VOTERS APPROVED THE FOREST PRESERVE REFERENDUM.

IN YOUR ROAM AS ROLE, YOU OVERSEE FOREST PRESERVE.

>> I'M THANKFUL FOR PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE REFERENDUM SAYING I'LL PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE IN MY TAXES TO HAVE A BETTER FOREST SYSTEM.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE MORE PROPERTY, DO MORE RESTORATION WORK, GET OUT THE BUCKTHORN AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO MAINTENANCE.

SO WE'VE GOT ACQUISITION, RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE WORK.

11% OF THE LAND IN COOK COUNTY IS IN FOREST PRESERVES.

WE'RE BLESSED.

THERE'S VERY FEW PLACES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE SO MUCH LAND DEVOTED TO RECREATION AND ECOLOGICAL CONSERVATION.

>> THAT IS BEAUTIFUL LAND.

PRESIDENT PRECKWINKLE, FOUR YEARS AGO YOU RAN FOR MAYOR.

LOOKS LIKE THIS FIELD IS WIDE OPEN THIS YEAR.

HOW COME YOU DIDN'T WANT TO ENTER THE FRAY THIS TIME?

>> IT WAS A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE AND THEY CHEWED UP MY CHILDREN.

>> YOU DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT?

>> AS I SAID, IT WAS A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE VISITS HERE IN THE STUDIO IN PERSON AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AGAIN, OUR THANKS TO TONI PRECKWINKLE.

>>> UP NEXT, ANALYSIS OF THE MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> THE RESULTS ARE MOSTLY IN FROM THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAKS DOWN WHAT WE DO AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT YESTERDAY'S ELECTION.

THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY PARIS SCHUTZ, AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER SHERONE.

I DID NOT FORGET YOUR NAMES.

IT'S THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION.

WE'RE ALL A LITTLE PUNCHY.

GOVERNMENT PRITZKER WAS ASKED ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT THIS MORNING.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> I AM NOT FOCUSED ON THAT AT ALL.

I AM FOCUSED ON SERVING AS GOVERNOR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

IT'S REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS WE WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT ILLINOIS NEEDS TO OVERCOME.

WE HAVE TO WORK HARD ON THAT AND I'LL BE DOING THAT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> IT'S NOT A DEFINITELY NOT, OF COURSE NOT.

HE HAS NO PLANS AT THIS POINT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE HAS PLANS TO RUN AGAIN, BUT HE'S NOT SAYING I'M DEFINITELY DOING IT AND -- >> THE SPECULATION IS GOING TO GO AWAY, IF IT WILL, CLEARLY PRITZKER DOES HAVE THE MEANS, THE CONNECTIONS, THE CAPABILITY TO MAKE A RUN ON THE NATIONAL STAGE AND THE AMBITION.

LIKE YOU SAID, HE DID NOT OUTRIGHT REJECT THIS NOTION, BUT IT'S CLEAR HE'S A LITTLE EXASPERATED BY CONSTANTLY BEING ASKED AND I'M NOT EXPECTING HIM TO ANSWER DIFFERENTLY UNTIL AND UNLESS BIDEN DOES STEP AWAY FOR SURE.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.

>> HIS VICTORY SPEECH LAST NIGHT WAS 99% FOCUSED ON A NATIONAL AUDIENCE.

HE CERTAINLY MENTIONED ILLINOIS ISSUES, BUT HE REFERRED TO SORT OF THE MAGA NATION AS SOMETHING THAT WAS RENDING THE FABRIC OF DEMOCRACY.

THAT SPEECH WAS TARGETED ALMOST AS AN AUDITION, HEY, YOU NEED AN UNDERSTUDY, I'M RIDE OVER HERE IN ILLINOIS AND I AM A HAPPY WARRIOR, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN ON HIM DO BEFORE WHEN HE'S ON THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

AFTER THE HIGHLAND PARK MASSACRE, HE GOT A LOT OF SPOT FOR FLASHING THAT ANGER THAT IT SEEMED PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANNEL AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID LAST NIGHT, WHICH IS WHY HE GOT ALL THESE QUESTIONS.

>> PARIS, A LOT OF CONCERN OVER THE SAFE-T ACT.

ONE OF THE BIG CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CYCLE WAS MONEY, PAYING FOR ADS FOR PEOPLE WHO PLAY BY THE RULES PAC.

HOW DID THAT TURN OUT?

>> THE BAILEY CAMPAIGN SPENT MONEY AND PUT OUT ADS TO TRY AND MAKE THE CASE FOR BAILEY AND THEN THE GUY IN CHARGE OF THE PAC MADE ALL THE ADS.

IT DID NOT WORK OUT.

EVERY TIME THERE WAS A BEARS GAME ON OR SOMETHING, YOU SAW THIS AD.

IT WAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON CRIME AND THEY WENT ALL IN ON THAT ISSUE WHEN THERE WERE OTHER THINGS GOVERNOR PRITZKER WAS VULNERABLE ON LIKE LET'S SAY UNEMPLOYMENT.

DCFS, PROBLEMS THERE OR LA SALLE VETERANS HOME OR HIGH TAXES.

THE ECONOMY, WHICH WAS THE NUMBER ONE POLLING ISSUE ESPECIALLY AMONG INDEPENDENTS, THEY FOCUSED ON NONE OF THAT AND USED $53 MILLION TO MAKE THIS CASE AND IT DIDN'T MAKE A DENT.

A TERRIBLE NIGHT FOR THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> TERRIBLE NIGHT.

HOWEVER, INTERESTING TO ME AS WELL IS THE SUCCESS OF RUNNING ADS ON BROADCAST TV AND HOW MUCH THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> USUALLY MAKES A DENT.

>> A LOT OF THESE LEGISLATIVE RACES AND IN PART GOVERNOR PRITZKER GAVE A LOT OF HIS PERSONAL WEALTH TO THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO SEND DOWN TO THEIR CANDIDATES IN THEIR RACES.

THEY WERE UP ON TV FOR MONTH.

YOU SAW A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC SUCCESSES THERE.

IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO FOCUS ON, BUT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON MONEY BECAUSE IT CAN CHANGE THE TIDE OF THESE RACES.

>> THAT'S WHY THE DEMOCRATS STILL HAVE SUPER MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND NATURE WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT IN A YEAR WHERE IT'S TRADITIONALLY HARD FOR THE PARTY IN POWER TO STAY THERE.

>> THESE RESULTS SHOW THAT IT MADE NO DENT AT ALL.

>> DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.

HEATHER, WE JUST HEARD FROM DEMOCRAT BILL FOSTER.

HE WON AGAINST HIS OPPONENT CATALINA LOUTH.

>> SHE'S YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE AND ALWAYS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SORT OF PUNCHING BACK AND SORT OF SPREADING DISINFORMATION, MISINFORMATION.

NOW BILL FOSTER IS A VETERAN CONGRESS PERSON.

HE IS A SCIENTIST.

I DON'T THINK HE'D BE OFFENDED IF I SAID THAT HE'S MAYBE NOT THE MOST EXCITING CANDIDATE ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET, SO SHE REALLY TRIED TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT SOCIAL MEDIA CELEBRITY.

IT DIDN'T WORK.

HE WON PRETTY MUCH GOING AWAY IN A RACE THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT WOULD BE A LOT CLOSER, AN INDICATION OF WHAT WE SAW ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT THESE MAGA CANDIDATES MAKE IT THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND FACE REAL HEADWINDS.

>> THAT WAS PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY IN ILLINOIS AND PLACES LIKE PENNSYLVANIA.

SPEND A LITTLE MONEY BOOSTING THOSE CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY BECAUSE THEY'RE UNELECTABLE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THEY GOT A LOT OF HEAT FOR THAT STRATEGY, ALTHOUGH FROM A STRATEGIC STANDPOINT IT WORKED.

THOSE CANDIDATES PROVED TO BE UNELECTABLE IN PLACES LIKE ILLINOIS.

IN PENNSYLVANIA THE GOVERNOR, JOSH SHAPIRO, WON HANDILY AND THAT'S A SWING STATE.

>> THESE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AGAIN DRAWN BY DEMOCRATS IN ILLINOIS BECAUSE THEY CALLED THE SHOTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE POWER AND IN REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATES THE OPPOSITES IS TRUE AND DISTRICTS ARE GERRYMANDERED TO THEIR ADVANTAGE, BUT WHY DID WE SEE IN PART SOME OF THESE SUBURBAN SUCCESSES?

A LOT OF REASONS, AMONG THEM ABORTION, ALSO THAT THE BOUNDARIES WERE DRAWN TO THEIR BENEFIT.

>> GERRYMANDERING AT ITS BEST IF YOU ASK THE DEMOCRATS.

>> OR WORST.

>> DEPENDING WHO YOU ASK.

AMANDA, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JIM DURKIN SAYING HE WILL NOT RUN AGAIN FOR LEADERSHIP AFTER THE GOP LOSS LAST NIGHT.

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR THE GOP?

>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO ASK THIS.

REPUBLICANS ARE PRESUMABLY DOING THE SAME.

THERE IS VERY MUCH A SKIS SCHISM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, SEEING IT PLAY OUT WITH THE MORE ESTABLISHED REPUBLICANS AND THOSE WITH BAILEY, THOSE WHO TIED THEMSELF WITH TRUMP.

IT APPEARS MODERATES WITH DURKIN STEPPING DOWN ARE REALLY RECOGNIZING THAT THE PARTY IS A DIFFERENT ONE THAN WHEN HE CAME IN.

IT HAS CHANGED OVER AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE GOP LONG TERM I THINK REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN THREE MAIN FUNDERS OF THIS PARTY.

BRUCE RAUNER FUNDED EVERYTHING WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR.

THEN IT WAS KEN GRIFFIN ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIMARY HERE AND DIG EULINE.

IT SEEMS THEY'VE GONE WHEREVER THE MONEY IS AND I BROUGHT UP LAST NIGHT GARY BRASSO SAID WHAT ABOUT MODERATE REPUBLICANS?

WHY CAN'T THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THIS PARTY?

THEY CAN'T WIN PRIMARIES.

THIS IS A CLEAN SWEEP IN ILLINOIS.

YOU'RE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ILLINOIS GOP, YOU HAVE A LOT OF THINKING TO DO.

I WANT TO GET MONEY, BUT I WANT TO HAVE CANDIDATES THAT CAN BE ELECTED.

>> WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ONE BECAUSE WE'VE PLAYED POLITICAL FOOTBALL AROUND THE NEWSROOM TODAY WITH THIS ONE.

THE ELECTION COMING UP, BRANDON JOHNSON GETS A UNION ENDORSEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, THE U.S. HOUSE, STILL IN LIMBO, BUT WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR FROM GARCIA ON WHETHER OR NOT HE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

>> THE ELECTION IS OVER.

THE ELECTION IS JUST BEGINNING.

BRANDON JOHNSON ROLLED OUT A BIG ENDORSEMENT AT SCIU, A GOOD VOLUNTEER BASE.

THEY CONTRIBUTE TO CAMPAIGNS.

THEY WILL GET THE JOB DONE.

EVERYONE IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT GARCIA DOES EVEN WITH THE BALANCE OF THE HOUSE IN QUESTION.

>> THESE ELECTIONS ARE SO CLOSE AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT'S GOING TO MEAN VERY LOW TURNOUT WITH ALL THESE CANDIDATES, LOW TURNOUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THIS, BUT WHY IS IT SET UP LIKE THIS WHERE ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE THREE, FOUR MONTHS AWAY?

>> EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE TIRED.

>> NOT ME.

>> NOT US, VOTERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOUR MONTHS APART, THREE MONTHS APART, IT'S CLOSE TOGETHER.

THAT'S SPOTLIGHT.

THANKS, YOU ALL.

>>> WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

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