Tina Sfondeles

A voter's guide to the confusing world of super PACs influencing 2026 Illinois primary races Super PACs, dark-money and special interest groups — some with unassuming names that do not reflect their true purpose — have pumped more than $50 million into Chicago-area congressional races. Voters...

Voters...and reporters are confused! Here's a voter's guide (an A-Z glossary) of the world of super PACs influencing 2026 Illinois primary races.

chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...

DHS head Noem claims she doesn't know about Marimar Martinez, Chicago woman shot 5 times by federal agent Martinez released a statement on Tuesday saying Kristi Noem's claims of not knowing her case comes as "the evidence we released in my case demonstrates otherwise." She said text messages prove the age...

"I don’t know the situation or the case.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claims not to know about Marimar Martinez, the woman shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago.

@tinasfon.bsky.social reports: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

DHS head Noem claims she doesn't know about Marimar Martinez, Chicago woman shot 5 times by federal agent Martinez released a statement on Tuesday saying Kristi Noem's claims of not knowing her case comes as "the evidence we released in my case demonstrates otherwise." She said text messages prove the age...

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified today that she didn't know about Marimar Martinez, the Chicago woman shot 5 times by a Border Patrol agent.

It's a claim Martinez doesn't believe: “The evidence we released in my case demonstrates otherwise.”

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Federal prosecutors agree to clarify, narrow 'Broadview Six' protest conspiracy case The high-profile case involves a group of activists and Democratic politicians who were arrested during the height of Operation Midway Blitz. The concessions come as prosecutions tied to the deportati...

Federal prosecutors agree to clarify, narrow 'Broadview Six' protest conspiracy case

From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

Exactly. And unclear.

In fiery meeting, Rep. Delia Ramirez issues demands, reminds DHS head Noem of plans to pursue her impeachment Ramirez came equipped with specific requests, including barring federal agents from churches, schools and hospitals — and revoking a controversial policy that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enfor...

Rep. Delia Ramirez met face to face with Secretary Noem on Wednesday in a fiery closed-door meeting and reminded her of her plans to pursue impeachment. She also came with "bare minimum" requests, including to bar DHS agents from churches, schools and hospitals.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Durbin to bring original Dreamer to Trump's State of the Union speech, as several Illinois Dems boycott it Sen. Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky and Eric Sorensen, say they won't attend the annual address, with Duckworth calling it "another cam...

Sen. Dick Durbin will bring the Chicago woman who inspired him to introduce the Dream Act 25 years ago to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday, as several Illinois Democrats plan to boycott it.

chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...

Frustrated Illinois congressional candidates call super PAC influence 'buying a seat' The 2nd Congressional District is especially hit hard by super PAC influence, with Fairshake, a pro-crypto PAC funded primarily by Trump megadonors and business partners Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowi...

Super PACs benefitting cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and Israel are actively working to influence Illinois congressional races — and candidates in four already competitive and crowded districts aren’t happy.

chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...

I wrote this story 😎

As Stratton airs ad with anti-Trump expletive, Krishnamoorthi launches first negative TV ad attacking her The final weeks of a heated U.S. Senate race have proven to be feisty during live forums and debates, but a bit tamer on television — until now. Krishnamoorthi's campaign framed a new negative ad as a...

As Juliana Stratton runs a campaign ad uttering the words “F*** Trump, her U.S. Senate rival Raja Krishnamoorthi is airing the first negative TV ad targeting her. Krishnamoorthi’s campaign framed it as a response to “six months of repeated attacks..."

chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...

Speaker Johnson denies Rev. Jackson family request to lie in honor at U.S. Capitol There is still a push for a viewing — possibly in another part of the U.S. Capitol — and the Congressional Black Caucus is actively pursuing options.

Speaker Johnson has declined a request by Jesse Jackson’s family to have the civil rights leader lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol, but alternative Washington locations are being discussed and the push for a Capitol viewing isn’t quite over.

chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Rep. Jan Schakowsky pulls Donna Miller endorsement in 2nd Congressional District over AIPAC support Schakowsky on Thursday told the Sun-Times she "cannot support any candidate running for Congress who is funded by these outside interests."

Rep. Jan Schakowsky has pulled her Donna Miller endorsement in 2nd Congressional District over AIPAC support.

Schakowsky on Thursday told the Sun-Times she “cannot support any candidate running for Congress who is funded by these outside interests.”

chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...

Trump administration cutting millions in Illinois HIV prevention grants, citing 'agency priorities' In a first wave of cuts, at least $29 million in Illinois grants are on the chopping block, including city, state and other health centers' HIV prevention programs, according to a list of grants obtai...

The Trump administration is cutting at least $29 million in Illinois public health grants, including city, state and other health centers’ HIV prevention programs, according to a list obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...

Illinois appeal for summer storm disaster relief denied by Trump administration In two letters sent to President Donald Trump last year, Gov. JB Pritzker said the intense rainfall overwhelmed Chicago’s sewer system on the Southwest Side as well as in Cicero and other suburbs, hur...

The Trump administration has officially denied an appeal from Illinois for disaster relief funds from summer storms last year that affected 438,000 residents in five Illinois counties.

Gov. JB Pritzker is calling the denial “a politically motivated decision."

chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-gov...

Duckworth, Illinois Democrats blast Vice President JD Vance for likening senator to 'Forrest Gump' Vance wrote on X, "Watching Tammy Duckworth obsessively interrupt Marco Rubio during this hearing is like watching Forest Gump argue with Isaac Newton." Illinois Democrats are calling the comparison a...

Sen. Tammy Duckworth and top Illinois Democrats are denouncing Vice President JD Vance over “ableist” comments he made on Wednesday likening the Illinois senator to “Forrest Gump.”

chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Illinois Democrats join growing calls to 'Abolish ICE' Once a dicey political proposition, an increasing number of established Democrats are calling for a dissolution of the federal Immigration and Customs and Enforcement agency.

Rep. Delia Ramirez, Senate candidates Raja Khrishnamoorthi and Juliana Stratton, congressional candidates Dan Biss, Kat Abughazaleh and Patty Garcia are pushing to abolish ICE — a movement again gaining traction after the shooting death of Renee Good.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Trump administration freezing $10 billion in social service funding for Illinois, four other blue states The pause in funding comes about a week after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was freezing child care funds in Minnesota, and asking for an audit of day care centers amid alle...

The Trump administration plans to halt $10 billion in federal funding for child care assistance, low income and social service funds in Illinois and four other Democrat-led states, alleging unspecified “massive amounts of fraud.”

chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

Durbin, Duckworth seek criminal probe of Chicago's immigration blitz — even after Trump leaves office The senators cited at least 50 documented instances of immigration agents breaking car windows, entering private property and pepper-spraying and body-slamming U.S. citizens.

Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department over alleged constitutional violations — including warrantless arrests and the use of excessive force — by federal immigration agents during “Operation Midway Blitz.”

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

In dueling DC hearings, Rep. Ramirez calls Noem a liar and Sen. Duckworth questions Trump troop deployments U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez also penned a letter on Wednesday that asked House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan “to conduct a complete investigation into Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s “unl...

Rep. Delia Ramirez and Sen. Tammy Duckworth went face-to-face with top Trump administration officials in Washington hearings Thursday, with Ramirez calling for an investigation into Noem’s “potentially impeachable actions” and repeatedly calling her a liar.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Krishnamoorthi donates campaign cash from Trump adviser Shyam Sankar to immigrant rights groups A campaign spokesperson confirmed that U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi, a candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, donated $29,300 to "immigrant rights groups," although his campaign did not disc...

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has donated $29,300 — the entirety of campaign contributions from Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Sankar — to immigrant rights groups, his Senate campaign said on Wednesday.

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Appearing on @cnn.com just now about the
@chicago.suntimes.com story, Krishnamoorthi was asked if the Sankar contribution gives him "pause" or is something he'd "revisit." He said, simply, "yes."

Krishnamoorthi rails against Trump, but takes money from MAGA donors U.S. Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi's campaign downplayed the contributions, calling them just .2% of the millions of dollars he’s amassed.

Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi is running a TV ad about his plans to “stop” President Donald Trump, but he has also accepted more than $90,000 in contributions from key Trump and MAGA donors, including Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar.
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood tours Broadview ICE facility and warns deportation blitz isn't over The Democratic congresswoman said staffing for Chicago-area ICE facilities is expected to triple in coming months.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood tours Broadview ICE facility and warns deportation blitz isn't over

@tinasfon.bsky.social reports, via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Chuy Garcia blasted on House floor by fellow Democrat for leaving seat to chief of staff Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., read aloud her "privileged resolution," which says "Garcia's actions are beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the Constitution."

Rep. Chuy Garcia was publicly criticized on the House floor Wednesday by a fellow Democrat who wants to adopt a resolution claiming Garcia undermined “the process of a free and fair election” by helping his chief of staff take his place on the ballot.

chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...

'We will win': Six Broadview protesters plead not guilty to conspiracy, decry attack on First Amendment Chicago has long been a town where the whiff of a federal indictment is the kiss of political death. Now, three politicians charged in the case, including social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh, seem...

'We will win': Six Broadview protesters plead not guilty to conspiracy, decry attack on First Amendment

UPDATED @chicago.suntimes.com story w/ @tinasfon.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

U.S. Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino, fellow agents to soon leave Chicago but could be back four-fold in March Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin insists “we aren’t leaving Chicago,” but the feds' immigration campaign is expected to begin winding down. One source said 1000 agents could ret...

U.S. Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino, fellow agents to soon leave Chicago but could be back four-fold in March

UPDATED @chicago.suntimes.com story w/ @tinasfon.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/public-safet...

U.S. Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino, fellow agents expected to leave Chicago soon Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin insists “we aren’t leaving Chicago,” but the feds' immigration campaign is expected to begin winding down. However, one source said they could b...

"Another source with direct knowledge said the number of Border Patrol agents currently operating in the Chicago area will go from 250 down to 100. But in March, that number could increase to 1,000 agents."

chicago.suntimes.com/public-safet... w/ @jonseidel.bsky.social

Sen. Dick Durbin facing backlash once again for joining GOP in measure to end government shutdown Three candidates vying for Durbin's seat had strong words, including Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who directly criticized the senator's vote. "We need fighters in D.C.," she said, "not folders."

Sen. Dick Durbin is once again under fire for voting to advance a Republican-led House measure that would help end the government shutdown — angering Democrats who say the extension of health care subsidies must be part of any deal with Republicans.

chicago.suntimes.com/us-senate/20...

Indian IDOT employee stopped by ICE agents, questioned if he was 'aware' of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Gov. JB Pritzker is speaking out about the incident, which happened Friday morning, calling it another example of President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem "continuing to question U....

An Illinois Department of Transportation employee was stopped by ICE agents while working on a Park Ridge construction project Friday morning — and questioned about incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani before being released.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

With Chuy out, Ald. Sigcho-Lopez explores independent bid for Garcia's Congressional seat Sigcho-Lopez confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday that he has formed an exploratory committee, after being encouraged to run by community members following U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's s...

With Chuy out, Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez explores independent bid for Garcia's Congressional seat
chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...