Association News IVCA Feature: New Member Profile of Gresham Partners CFO SUMMIT RECAP: IVCA CFO Summit Brings Together Finance and Operations Leaders AWARDS DINNER - Awards Season Is Here: Celebrate Illinois' Top Private Capital Leaders SCHOLARS PROGRAM: Applications Open for the 2027 IVCA Scholars Program IVCA Academy: Discover Careers in Private Equity and Venture Capital Through IVCA Academy Legislative News IVCA Provides Updates for State Legislative Issues 10/28/2026 IVCA Events November 11, 2026 - IVCA AI Education Series - Intro to AI for PE & VC Investors Presented by Vokal December 7, 2026 - IVCA Awards Dinner - SAVE THE DATE! Other Events of Interest October 28 - 18th Annual Invest For Kids Conference November 12 - Midwest BioBuilders Summit December 8, 2026 - BDO’s Annual Private Equity Fund CFO Roundtable Industry News Frontenac Completes Sale of Motion & Control Enterprises Shore Capital Partners Announces Sale of Texas MedClinic to HCA Healthcare ARCH Venture-Backed City Therapeutics Announces Closing of $230.0 Million Upsized Initial Public Offering, Including Full Exercise of Underwriters’ Option to Purchase Additional Shares Prairie Capital Partners with Medefil WILDE Raises $40 Million from S2G Investments to Accelerate Its Rise in Protein Snacking Cressey & Company Promotes Janie Pelisek to Principal RiverGlade Capital Announces Promotion of Colin McBride to Principal GTCR Leads $200 Million Second Lien Term Loan for Sophos Monroe Capital, PM Alpha and EBW Capital Launch Exchange Traded Note Linked to Monroe Capital’s Direct Lending Strategy Thoma Bravo Port Co Proofpoint to Acquire Varonis in a $6.3 Billion Transaction Wynnchurch Port Co ORS Nasco Acquires Techniweld & PowerWeld and Three Essendant Brands Professional Advisor News Ropes & Gray Advises Bluegem Capital Partners on its Acquisition of Rispo Group, a Leading Italian Platform of Premium Frozen Specialties Delaware Court of Chancery Holds That Sale of a Buyer’s Indirect Parent Was Not a Change of Control Triggering a Contingent Payment Sidley Represents MidOcean Partners in Joint Venture With Idea Financial to Fund Up to US$225 Million in Small Business Loans Ropes & Gray Advised Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in Approximately $2.8 Billion Sale of Equity Stake in CenterWell Senior Primary Care Joint Ventures Evolution and Regulation of Private Fund Expense Practices: From Gross to Net-of-Expense Performance Sidley Advises Churchill Asset Management on Lead Investment in Continuation Fund for Whitsons Culinary Group Ropes & Gray Advised Heartland Dental in its Affiliation with Foundation Dental Partners Troutman Pepper Locke Advises Wood Smith Henning & Berman on Formation of WSHB Support Services MSO With Charlesbank Capital Partners Investment Sidley Represents Carlyle in US$7.7 Billion Personal Loan Portfolio Acquisition from Truist Ropes & Gray Advised Silgan MCC on $5.88 Billion Financing for Acquisition of Trivium Packaging Sidley Represents Nous Research in US$90 Million Series B Financing Ropes & Gray Advised Musixmatch in its Acquisition of Music Reports Sidley Represents Strategic Partnership Between Silgan and AIP in US$7.3 Billion Transaction to Create Diversified Global Metal Packaging Business Ropes & Gray Advised Clinical ink and GI Partners in Strategic Investment from Ardan Equity and GI Partners Sidley Advises Inspired Capital on New US$450 Million VC Fund Ropes & Gray Advised Surgery Partners in $5.7 Billion Acquisition by HealthSpan Partners Ropes & Gray Wins Two Deal of the Year Awards at the 2026 IFLR Americas Award Ropes & Gray Advised Vitruvian Partners in $600 Million Angle Health Investment 2nd Annual Healthcare and Life Sciences Leadership Summit: Healthcare at an Inflection Point Job Postings Please view the full details for each Job Posting listed below, on our website HERE . Once at Job Postings please scroll down the pages to view the jobs. They are listed chronologically as received, most current first. NEW! Pritzker Alternative Strategies - Investment Analyst / Associate NEW! 50 South Capital - Analyst, Investments NextGen Growth Partners - Senior Analyst, Investments Decasonic - AI Operations Manager TechNexus Venture Collaborative - Sr. Accountant

Private equity and venture capital offer exciting career opportunities, but many students never learn about the industry during their undergraduate experience. IVCA Academy was created to help bridge that gap. Designed for students from all academic backgrounds, IVCA Academy introduces participants to the fundamentals of private capital, explores career pathways within the industry, and provides exposure to professionals working across private equity, venture capital, consulting, operations, finance, and entrepreneurship. No prior finance experience is required. Through educational programming, industry insights, and networking opportunities, participants gain a better understanding of how private capital firms operate, the role they play in supporting businesses and innovation, and the many career opportunities available within the ecosystem. Whether you're studying business, liberal arts, engineering, communications, economics, or another discipline, IVCA Academy can help you explore an industry that impacts companies and communities throughout Illinois and beyond. Applications are now open. Learn more at www.illinoisvc.org .

Help Build the Next Generation of Illinois Private Capital Talent The search is underway for the next class of IVCA Scholars. For nearly two decades, the IVCA Scholars Program has connected high-potential undergraduate students with Illinois private equity and venture capital firms, providing meaningful industry exposure while helping firms build relationships with emerging talent. The results speak for themselves. IVCA Scholars alumni have gone on to careers at leading investment firms, investment banks, consulting firms, and portfolio companies across the country. Many remain in Illinois, contributing to the strength and growth of our state's private capital ecosystem. The program combines a paid summer internship at an IVCA member firm with professional development programming, industry education, networking opportunities, and financial modeling training designed to help students succeed in competitive finance and investment careers. Applications for Summer 2027 are now open. Students interested in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, consulting, finance, entrepreneurship, or corporate strategy are encouraged to apply. Know a standout student? Please share this opportunity with your network. Applications and program details are available at: www.illinoisvc.org

The votes are nearly in. Over the coming days, IVCA will announce the recipients of the 2026 IVCA Awards, recognizing the firms, investors, and industry leaders who have made an extraordinary impact on Illinois' private equity and venture capital ecosystem. For 25 years, the IVCA Awards have celebrated the individuals and organizations driving innovation, investment, job creation, and economic growth across our state. The Awards Dinner has become the premier gathering of Illinois private capital leadership, bringing together more than 400 investors, executives, advisors, and ecosystem partners for an evening of recognition and connection at the IVCA Awards Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. As award announcements begin, sponsorship opportunities remain available for firms seeking to elevate their visibility before an audience of senior decision-makers and industry leaders. Sponsors receive recognition before, during, and after the event, along with unparalleled access to the private capital community that shapes investment activity across Illinois. Several premier opportunities have already been secured, including the Presenting Sponsorship and Cocktail Reception Sponsorship, with a limited number of sponsorships still available. The exclusive Dessert Reception Sponsorship remains available and includes a podium speaking opportunity, premium recognition throughout the event, and reserved seating for guests and clients. Whether you're looking to strengthen existing relationships, connect with prospective clients, or demonstrate your commitment to Illinois' private capital ecosystem, the IVCA Awards Dinner offers a unique platform to do so.  Join us on December 7 as we celebrate this year's outstanding award recipients and the continued growth of Illinois' private equity and venture capital industry. Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Christie Pruyn at cpruyn@illinoisvc.org

IVCA recently hosted its 2026 CFO Summit, bringing together finance, operations, compliance, and accounting leaders from private equity and venture capital firms across Illinois for a day of education, networking, and peer-to-peer discussion. The program featured timely conversations on the economic and regulatory environment, fund operations, tax considerations, cybersecurity, technology, and best practices for managing and scaling investment management firms. Attendees also had the opportunity to connect with industry peers and service providers supporting the private capital ecosystem. Thank you to our speakers, attendees, and sponsors for helping make this year's event a success. Special thanks to our sponsors: Presenting Sponsor: EY Hosting Sponsor: Northern Trust Content Sponsor: Kirkland & Ellis LLP Exhibiting / Content Sponsor: Alter Domus Exhibiting Sponsors: NFP, an Aon Company; Valuation Research Corporation; and 7 Layer Solutions Inc. We appreciate the ongoing support of our sponsors and the engagement of the IVCA community in making this one of the industry's premier finance and operations events. 

Throughout 2026, new member participants in the Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA) will keep it expanding. These new members also will give the current membership new opportunities for networking … in addition to optimizing advocacy and partnerships … which leads to guidance and new ideas for Venture Capital, Private Equity and the support industries. The latest new member is investment management firm Gresham Partners, with services to maximize opportunities, and a commitment to anticipatory service which aims to deliver the highest levels of oversight, accountability and personalized attention. The following is a Q&A profile with Gresham Partners , which explores the firm’s background and their expectations for interacting with the IVCA. New Member: Gresham Partners Representative: Leisa Storbeck, Partner & Chief Client Officer IVCA: What is a brief history of and background of Gresham Partners ? Gresham Partners: Gresham Partners was founded in Chicago in 1997 and was purpose-built to serve ultra-high-net-worth families, many of whom were first-generation wealth creators. Approximately 25% of our clients are or were professional investors, primarily in the Private Equity, Venture Capital or other private investment field. From the beginning, the firm recognized that families with significant, complex wealth needed more than investment management alone. They needed an advisor that could integrate investing, wealth planning and family office services around the family's broader goals and circumstances. Those capabilities have remained Gresham's sole business since its founding. Nearly 30 years later, the basic principles on which Gresham was founded remain largely unchanged. We have grown organically, without acquisitions, and remain independent and 100% employee-owned, with no outside investors or Private Equity ownership. Ownership transitions internally among active professionals, a structure intended to preserve our independence and keep the firm focused on the families we serve. Today, Gresham serves a select group of ultra-high-net-worth families across the country, bringing together investment management, sophisticated wealth planning and family office capabilities within an integrated advisory relationship. As of June 30, 2026, Gresham managed nearly $15 billion for over 125 client families. IVCA: Why did the firm decide to join the Illinois Venture Capital Association? Gresham: We joined IVCA because there is a natural connection between its community and the families Gresham has served for nearly 30 years. Many of our clients are entrepreneurs, business owners and professional investors who have spent their careers creating value and building significant wealth. As a Chicago-based firm, we wanted to be more engaged in the local venture capital and private equity community. IVCA gives us the opportunity to build relationships, learn from its members and share insights drawn from our experience advising professional investors and wealth creators. We hope to contribute useful perspectives while becoming more closely connected to the people shaping Chicago’s business and investment community. IVCA: As an Investment and wealth management Firm, what options are you offering your clients for maximizing their holdings and opportunities? Gresham: Our objective is to help families maximize long-term, after-tax wealth , not simply investment returns. We begin with the family's full balance sheet, including operating businesses, concentrated stock positions and investments. We then build a portfolio around the family's objectives, liquidity needs, tax circumstances and existing exposures, with each investment intended to serve a defined role in the overall portfolio. Gresham's portfolio construction framework considers Growth, Risk Reduction and Economic Hedges, allowing investments to be evaluated by the purpose they serve rather than simply by traditional asset-class labels which are often used as a means of selling additional products. In public equities, we combine a tax-managed core with actively managed “satellites ,” bringing together two complementary sources of value: tax efficiency and investment skill. The core provides broad market exposure while seeking to generate tax losses that can offset gains elsewhere in the family's portfolio. Active strategies are used selectively where we believe differentiated managers and concentrated investment approaches provide attractive opportunities to generate excess returns. The objective is to preserve more of the value created by those investments after taxes. IVCA: What about private investing? Gresham: We complement public markets with private investments, including Private Equity, Venture Capital, and real assets for families and investing entities with the appropriate time horizon and liquidity. An important part of our approach is access: Gresham's Access Vehicles allow clients to invest collectively with highly selective, capacity-constrained managers whose strategies may not be widely available. Tax efficiency also extends beyond individual investments to where assets are held across the family’s balance sheet. Different pools of capital, including personal accounts, dynasty trusts and charitable assets, can have different tax characteristics, investment horizons and liquidity needs. We consider those differences when determining where investments are most effectively located, while coordinating with the family’s estate planning and tax advisors so that portfolio decisions support broader wealth-transfer, charitable and tax objectives. The goal is to optimize not only what the family owns, but how those assets work together to preserve and compound wealth across generations. Ultimately, we are not trying to maximize any single investment. We are seeking to maximize the effectiveness of the family’s entire balance sheet, coordinating investment opportunity, tax efficiency, liquidity and risk to compound wealth over generations. IVCA: The firm has four areas of expertise ... Investment Management, Wealth Management, Family Office Services and Trust Solutions ... what are the common purposes within those areas? Gresham: The common purpose across all four areas is to help families make thoughtful, coordinated decisions about their wealth. Significant wealth creates interconnected responsibilities, and decisions about investments, taxes, estate planning, liquidity, philanthropy, trusts and family needs are most effective when they are considered together rather than in isolation. Each area contributes a different piece of that picture. Investment Management puts capital to work in portfolios aligned with the family's objectives. Wealth Management connects those resources to the family's broader priorities, including wealth transfer, tax considerations, philanthropy and family needs. Family Office Services helps execute and administer the plan through areas such as cash and liquidity coordination, private investment administration, reporting and coordination with outside providers. Trust Solutions helps families address fiduciary selection and trust administration while coordinating those responsibilities with the family's broader wealth strategy. IVCA: How do the different categories exist to help the other categories? Gresham: The value comes from how those capabilities work together. Consider a family preparing to sell a business. Before the transaction, wealth planning can identify potential wealth-transfer and philanthropic strategies in coordination with the family's legal and tax advisors. Investment planning can consider how the anticipated proceeds, continuing business exposure, spending needs and taxes affect the family's portfolio and liquidity needs. Family Office Services can help coordinate the financial and administrative details, while trust considerations can be incorporated where appropriate. Our client service team brings these disciplines together. We coordinate Gresham's specialists and the family’s outside advisors, help establish priorities, and follow decisions through implementation. The result is not four separate services, but one coordinated approach that helps the family move from advice to action and adapt the plan as its circumstances evolve. IVCA: With wealth an issue in every family, how do you transaction the different priorities of different people in those families, to keep to a minimum the conflicts of interests and needs? Gresham: We begin by understanding what wealth means to the people involved. Family members may share core values while having different spending needs, ambitions, responsibilities and comfort with investment risk. Recognizing those differences creates a constructive basis for planning. Family meetings and education help people articulate intentions and understand their choices. Wealth-transfer policies and letters of wishes can clarify expectations. Education for the rising generation may range from financial literacy and investment principles to preparation for managing family wealth. Those conversations inform financial arrangements. Assets supporting a parent’s spending may warrant a different portfolio from a trust for grandchildren or a charitable entity. We consider each pool’s purpose, tax characteristics and liquidity needs while coordinating exposures and obligations across the family. The goal is to support informed choices, reduce misunderstandings and allow the plan to evolve as circumstances change. IVCA: The firm lists three ways of being 'different' ... Continuity, Preferred Partnerships and Creative Solutions. How were those distinctive characteristics developed as client management has evolved? Gresham: These characteristics describe Gresham’s Trust Solutions offering and address recurring needs as wealth moves across generations. Continuity means planning for who will carry out fiduciary responsibilities over time. A family may prefer individual trustees while naming a corporate successor. Preferred Partnerships means working with independent corporate fiduciaries, allowing trust administration to be selected separately from investment management. This avoids the conflict of interest that might arise were we to form our own trust company. Creative Solutions means accommodating complex holdings such as closely held businesses and concentrated stock positions. Gresham assists with fiduciary selection, succession planning and coordination, while the selected fiduciaries provide trust administration. This gives families flexibility in organizing responsibilities while supporting continuity as trustees, beneficiaries and assets change. IVCA: What does Gresham Partners hope to achieve in their interaction with the VC/PE community within the IVCA? Gresham: We hope to be an educational resource to the IVCA community, drawing on Gresham’s extensive experience advising entrepreneurs, professional investors and other wealth creators. These individuals often spend their careers focused on building businesses, investing capital and creating value, but significant wealth can introduce a new set of interconnected decisions for themselves and their families. We hope to share practical insights on issues that frequently accompany wealth creation, including planning before and after a liquidity event, managing concentrated wealth, tax-efficient investing, estate and wealth-transfer planning, philanthropy, family governance and preparing the next generation for the responsibilities of wealth. Just as importantly, we want to learn from IVCA members and better understand the issues they are facing. By exchanging ideas and sharing lessons from our experience working with families confronting similar decisions, we hope to become a trusted educational resource to IVCA members and their families. For the website of Gresham Partners click here . The 2026 IVCA Awards Dinner is Monday, December 7th, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. For more information, click here .

ILLINOIS VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE REPORT David Stricklin / Stricklin & Associates Wednesday, October 28, 2026 VOTERS VERDICT WILL COME QUICKLY TUESDAY Big picture, Democrats are poised to retain or even slightly increase their considerable majorities in the Illinois General Assembly and keep all the statewide offices. The Democratic legislators being elected are In most instances more “progressive” than the outgoing Democrats they are replacing and are certainly more “progressive” than the Republicans they may defeat. This puts a premium on IVCA members being engaged with their local legislators to ensure we can communicate effectively at the local level the value of a vibrant private investment ecosystem in Illinois. After the polls close Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. the networks and news agencies will call the race at 7:01 p.m. in favor of Democratic incumbent Governor JB Pritzker in his rematch against former legislator Darrin Bailey. Bailey might do less well than four years ago, and Illinois Republicans continue to face a dilemma wherein their primary voters nominate candidates who have a difficult time statewide. Also, at 7:01 p.m. the speculation on when Governor Pritzker announces he’s running for president will kick into overdrive. Some might suggest there’s time to wait, maybe see how the 2027 legislative session goes, but the governor has been aggressively making campaign contributions in battleground races across the country, and it seems more likely that he’ll announce sooner than later. In the Illinois General Assembly, we are particularly watching for the results in Lake County where appointed Senator Darby Hills faces a challenge from State Rep. Nabeela Syed for the 26 th Senate District. There is also a spirited contest for one of the House seats in the 26 th , the where incumbent Rep. Marty McLaughlin faces Democratic challenger Maria Peterson. Peterson is making her third try for office in the region and is in a rematch from 2024 with McLaughlin. McLaughlin vs. Peterson in the 52nd Democrats are defending a pair of seats in the far west suburbs and in a district which includes DeKalb where the issues of misconduct by former or current members are driving the campaigns of Republican challengers against State Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman and State Rep. Amy "Murri" Briel .

Association News IVCA Feature: EY Shares Insights Ahead of the 2026 IVCA CFO Summit on October 22 IVCA Launches New AI Education Series for PE & VC Professionals  Applications are now being accepted: 2027 IVCA Scholar Program Introducing the IVCA Academy: Expanding Access to Careers in Finance and Investing NEW MEMBER RESOURCE: IVCA Scholar & Alumni Directory Legislative News IVCA Provides Updates for State Legislative Issues 10/14/2026 IVCA Events October 22, 2026 - IVCA CFO Summit November 11, 2026 - IVCA AI Education Series - Intro to AI for PE & VC Investors Presented by Vokal December 7, 2026 - IVCA Awards Dinner - SAVE THE DATE! January 13, 2027 - IVCA AI Education Series - AI in Due Diligence: What Actually Matters vs. What's Hype - Andersen February 10, 2027 - IVCA AI Education Series - AI in Portfolio Support & Operations Presented by Thrive March 10, 2027 - IVCA AI Education Series - Pending confirmation April 14, 2027 - IVCA AI Education Series - AI's Impact on Software Economics & What It Means for Investors - Andersen May 12, 2027 - IVCA AI Education Series - AI Risk, Governance & Compliance - Andersen Consulting June 9, 2027 - IVCA AI Education Series - AI in Healthcare - Vokal Other Events of Interest October 28 - 18th Annual Invest For Kids Conference November 12 - Midwest BioBuilders Summit December 8, 2026 - BDO’s Annual Private Equity Fund CFO Roundtable Industry News Monroe Capital Supports Battery Ventures’ Investment in Phigenics RiverGlade Capital Partners with Veteran Franchising Executive Brian Petranick to Form Sentinel Care Group Octane Closes $1.4 Billion Forward-Flow Deal with New York Life, MetLife Investment Management, Equitable, Pacific Life, and Victory Park Capital Thoma Bravo Completes Sale of Command Alkon Wynnchurch Capital Port Co ORS Nasco Acquires Techniweld & PowerWeld and Three Essendant Brands Thoma Bravo-backed BlueMatrix to Acquire Aiera, Advancing Governed AI Distribution for Investment Research Core Industrial Partners Port Co Fathom Digital Manufacturing Expands Aerospace and Defense Platform with Three Strategic Acquisitions Pearson Acquires Jump Capital Port Co Workera, a Pioneer in AI-Native Enterprise Assessment and Skills Verification Monroe Capital Prices $398.9 Million Private Credit CLO RCP Advisors 25th Anniversary Video Kinzie Capital Partners Expand Team, Advancing Client Service and Portfolio Value Creation Professional Advisor News Ropes & Gray Advised Audax Private Debt in Close of $10 Billion Audax Direct Lending Solutions Fund III Troutman Pepper Locke Advises eSecLending in Sale to Capitolis Sidley Represents Diversis Capital in Its Acquisition of Majority Ownership of Tideworks Technology Ropes & Gray Recognised as a Leading Law Firm in Legal 500 UK 2027 Delaware Supreme Court Holds That Diligence Gaps Do Not Defeat Fraud Claims Based on Contractual Representations Sidley Represents Nous Research in US$90 Million Series B Financing Ropes & Gray Advises Bain Capital and Portfolio Company Evident on Acquisition of CrestOptics S.p.A Sidley Represents Galvanize in US$70 Million Financing for AMP Ropes & Gray Advised Kohlberg in Acquisition of Majority Interest in Advanced Industrial Devices Sidley Represents InfraBridge in Sale of 50% Interest in 5.4 GW Power Portfolio to ArcLight Ropes & Gray Advised Gridiron Capital in its Investment in Weed Man Sidley Represents Invenergy in Strategic Equity Partnership With HASI Ropes & Gray Advised Monomoy Capital Partners in Platform Investment in Creedence Energy Services Sidley Represents Electronics for Imaging in Combination With Agfa Digital Printing Solutions Ropes & Gray Advised Stride Consumer Partners in Acquiring Greek Yogurt Brand Clio Snacks Ropes & Gray Advised Audax Private Equity in Sale of Rensa Filtration to AEA Investors and BCI Ropes & Gray Advises Celli Group, an Ardian Portfolio Company, on its Capital Strengthening Ropes & Gray Shortlisted for Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards North America 2026 Job Postings Please view the full details for each Job Posting listed below, on our website HERE . Once at Job Postings please scroll down the pages to view the jobs. They are listed chronologically as received, most current first. NEW! Pritzker Alternative Strategies - Investment Analyst / Associate NEW! 50 South Capital - Analyst, Investments NextGen Growth Partners - Senior Analyst, Investments Decasonic - AI Operations Manager TechNexus Venture Collaborative - Sr. Accountant

ILLINOIS VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE REPORT David Stricklin / Stricklin & Associates Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Governor Sees A Path For Bears An issue which cuts across political and demographic lines and is on the minds of constituents is the fate of the Chicago Bears. Legislators often tell a version of the following as to what they hear from voters — “don’t give them a dime and for heaven’s sake don’t let them leave!” This week Governor Pritzker suggested a resolution was in sight: “I believe that in November we’re going be able to get something done to keep the Bears in the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said when asked about keeping the team during a debate with GOP challenger Darren Bailey tonight on WTTW . The governor, his staff and senior legislative leaders met recently with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Pat Ryan Sr. , who owns a minority stake in the team. The Bears are trying to decide whether to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights or Hammond, Ind. Indiana lawmakers approved legislation in the spring.” https://t.co/ZL3ttYHW6p Crain's Chicago Business (@CrainsChicago) 7 likes · 3 replies x.com One And Only Debate Governor Pritzker and challenger Darren Bailey conducted a televised debate Tuesday. Polling and conventional wisdom gives the challenger a very steep hill to climb: In lone debate for Illinois governor, Bailey gets testy as Pritzker links challenger to Trump – Chicago Tribune Bailey repeatedly attacked and interrupted Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who countered by casting his challenger as a conservative extremist and a follower of President Donald Trump. Legislative Races Offer Contrasts Voters soon make their choices and there are a handful of competitive races between Republicans and Democrats in November. Polling and that same conventional wisdom says in the big picture Democrats will keep their large majorities in both legislative chambers. Some Lake County voters for example have a choice between two current Republican office holders and Democratic challengers, while in other areas Republicans are pressing Democrats on the Capitol Culture: — Illinois Dems are on the defensive over scandals in races for state legislature: Republicans are focusing on two House ethics controversies involving Democrats: In one instance, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has been criticized for his handling of sexual harassment allegations against former state Rep. Harry Benton, who resigned. And in another, six-term Rep. Carol Ammons has been indicted on federal charges alleging she used taxpayer and campaign funds in a scheme to enrich herself. The Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner has more.