Tina Sfondeles
Chief Political Reporter
Tina Sfondeles is the chief political reporter, covering all levels of government and politics with a special focus on the Illinois General Assembly, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration and statewide and federal elections. Sfondeles spent much of the pandemic in Washington, D.C. — covering the White House and co-authoring the West Wing Playbook for Politico. She also covered the White House and Democratic politics and policy as a politics correspondent for Insider. Sfondeles joined the Sun-Times in 2007, covering politics, transportation, crime and sports — and returned to the newspaper in 2022.
Illinois already mandates insurance coverage for infertility, but state Democrats are working to further expand fertility access and coverage. “We’re protecting your rights in so many ways, but specifically regarding IVF,” Pritzker said, reacting to the Alabama decision.
First elected to Congress in 2008, Foster is a former Fermilab physicist known to fellow Democrats as the “science guy.” Rashid is a Naperville human rights lawyer.
Unions have already contributed more than $500,000 to support Rep. Mary Flowers’ opponent, Michael Crawford in the 31st District Illinois House Democratic primary March 19.
Bailey, a former GOP candidate for governor, is calling the 12th Congressional District GOP primary a battle of “America First vs. D.C. Swamp.”
A state report last year revealed Black women in Illinois were three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white women. “All these years later, we still haven’t figured out how Black women can have safe pregnancies, birthing experiences, and a healthy first-year postpartum,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said. “But now, Illinois is taking action.”
The Democratic governor also said a new $1.2 billion South Loop stadium isn’t high on his priority list.
There will undoubtedly be sticking points for some of the governor’s priorities, including about $182 million in funding for newly arriving migrants and more than $600 million in health care costs for the undocumented.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker will include the $10 million ask in his budget proposal for the next fiscal year to erase Illinois residents’ $1 billion in medical debt — and the investment would mark the first in a multiyear plan.
Rep. Mike Bost called Trump’s endorsement “a tremendous honor” and vowed to help Trump win back the White House. Darren Bailey’s campaign downplayed the endorsement as an example of the former president’s support of GOP incumbents, but they reiterated Bailey “proudly stands” with the former president.