Dems’ slow immigration shift
2017 is back, sort of.
This week, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a sweeping measure aimed at further limiting federal immigration officials’ ability to operate in the state. Among the provisions:
A prohibition on immigration officials within 1,000 feet of a courthouse
Hospitals and daycares are further restricted from disclosing health data to federal officials
Daycares must now have a plan for federal law enforcement stops
Citizens can now sue for up to $10,000 if they are arrested incorrectly or in violation of state or federal law
Other blue states have enacted laws to undercut the Trump administration’s efforts this year, but none have gone quite this far. It’s a fitting move for Illinois, which is already a sanctuary state and has been the site of some of the most aggressive and, in some cases, blatantly illegal federal action. It also makes political sense for Pritzker, who has tried to position himself as a clear progressive. There are, however, real questions around how much of it will stand up in court.
Notably, Pritzker is still not sprinting to first-term Trump language. He told NBC this week that “we need secure borders” and “you don’t have a country unless you have a secure border.” But it’s a notable marker of just how much Democrats’ political footing on immigration has changed since the beginning of this year, when Trump’s win spurred 43 House Democrats (including two from Illinois) and 13 Senate Democrats to vote for the Laken Riley Act. And it’s part of a broader shift in the party on immigration: NBC News reported this week that calls to “Abolish ICE,” which were pushed out of mainstream Democratic circles after 2020, have returned to some primaries.
Booking It
Gavin Newsom announced his new book, “Young Man in a Hurry,” this week, adding to the glut of political memoirs coming early next year. Newsom’s book hits shelves on February 27th — a month after Josh Shapiro’s memoir, “Where We Keep the Light.” They’ll be followed by Cory Booker’s “Stand,” coming in March. Recall that Gretchen Whitmer’s “True Gretch” was released in July 2024. Kamala Harris’s “107 Days” was, of course, published this Fall.
Flashback: Memoirs are one of the most telltale signs of a politician’s presidential ambitions and we’re in prime book territory — maybe even a little behind, relative to the 2020 primary contest. Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Bernie Sanders all put out books in 2017. Sanders published another in 2018, joined by Julian Castro and Tim Ryan. Pete Buttigieg’s and Kamala Harris’s came in early 2019.
One thing I’m still waiting for: Joe Biden’s post-presidency book, which he’s been reported to be working on but still has no release date.
Watch New Jersey
U.S. Senator Andy Kim is continuing his regime change war in New Jersey, announcing a new effort to oust members of the state legislature opposed to anti-corruption efforts. This isn’t new territory for Kim: He became a senator by shattering the state’s unique election system (if you’re interested in an explainer of that, I’d recommend here). Kim helped deal that style of politics a big blow in 2024, but it still survives: his new effort was spurred by the legislature recently voting to weaken a state corruption agency.
The Garden State is home to arguably the last vestiges of old-school, 20th-century machine politics — where elected officials can hold multiple offices at the same time and bosses control primary elections like puppeteers. For political junkies, that has sometimes created some fun and fascinating storylines. For citizens, it creates an objectively corrupt system. From a good government perspective, Kim’s effort is laudable. But for incoming Gov. Mikie Sherrill, it could be a headache to deal with.
Pollodex
Pan Atlantic Research has Maine Gov. Janet Mills leading progressive insurgent Graham Platner in the primary for Senate by 10 points, 47%-37%. In the general election, both candidates are in a dead heat with incumbent Sen. Susan Collins — Mills ties her at 43%, Platner leads 43%-42%.
Emerson finds Amy Acton up one point on Vivek Ramaswamy in the race for Ohio governor, 46%-45%. Acton, the former Director of the Ohio Department of Health, and Ramaswamy, the former DOGE staffer, conservative pundit, and 2024 presidential candidate are basically guaranteed their party’s nominations. It’s just one poll, but it adds to the whispers among some Dems that Ramaswamy’s profile and vulnerabilities could make this more of a real race than people think.
The Public Policy Institute of California finds former Rep. Katie Porter leading the jungle primary for California governor with 21%. She’s trailed by Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, both at 14%, and Republican Chad Bianco at 12%. Big asterisk: The poll did not include Rep. Eric Swalwell or billionaire Tom Steyer, the race’s newest entrants.
By the way: if you’re noticing similarities week to week in the races polled, so am I. To the pollsters reading this, start polling other races — we’re eager.
Finally, a worthy watch
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox sat down with CNN’s Dana Bash this week for an interview largely focused on condemning political violence. Both men have a personal connection to the issue: Shapiro was attacked in the governor’s mansion in an antisemitic attack in April, and Cox’s state was the site of Charlie Kirk’s murder in September. Notably, Cox answered that he felt Shapiro would be a “great president.”
Both governors have shown an interest in this kind of tone-it-down persona — even as they both have largely governed as standard partisans. Whatever you may feel about either of them, it’s worth a watch to see how that messaging is evolving.
CNN
That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy your weekend.
As always, I welcome your feedback, thoughts, or annoyances. Email me [email protected]