Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. We’re 55 days away from the Illinois primary — and the first day of spring.

Former President Donald Trump’s decisive win in New Hampshire Tuesday night puts him on a path to win the Republican presidential nomination before Illinois votes in its March 19 primary.

We asked Jim Durkin, the former House Republican leader and longtime party operative, about how Trump as the nominee could affect Illinois in the General Election.

“It’s not going to be good,” said Durkin, an outspoken critic of the former president. “He’s a bully, a narcissist and a pathological liar,” Durkin said, acknowledging, however, here are plenty of folks in the Illinois GOP who “aren’t concerned” about Trump’s actions, even when he was “cheerleader in chief” of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Durkin’s concern: “Trump and the MAGAs have co-opted the Republican Party enough where people who had a moderate or centrist view but identified as Republicans have left the party — and identify themselves as independent voters,” said Durkin, who was the state chairman for John McCain’s presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2008.

The new GOP has been “taken over” by the far right, which is “dictating” primaries but ultimately losing in the General Election, Durkin said, pointing to 2022 as proof.

The biggest impact: Trump will be a boost for Downstate Republican candidates. The big hurt will come in the northern suburbs, said Durkin. “It’s going to be a problem to have your name on the ballot with the former president in the same column.”

The Illinois Republican Party is staying “neutral” for the primary and will get behind whoever is at the top of the ticket, party chair Don Tracy told Playbook.

RELATED

— TUESDAY ELECTION RESULTS, via POLITICO

— Biden wins a New Hampshire write-in campaign — even though the president didn’t enter the race, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider and Holly Otterbein

— The biggest divide in the Republican primary is over 2020, by POLITICO’s Steven Shepard

— Trump’s New Hampshire win had some bright red warning signs, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren, Natalie Allison, Lisa Kashinsky and Jessica Piper

— After Trump’s NH win, Biden gets the opponent he wants, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider and Holly Otterbein

Congressman Danny Davis’ re-election efforts were eased a bit Tuesday after the Chicago Board of Elections ruled that challenger Kina Collins will be on the March 19 primary ballot.

Political wisdom has it that a multi-candidate race generally favors the incumbent.

This is Collins’ third try for the 7th District seat. She’s one of six candidates now running against Davis, though a challenge to yet another candidate may change that number.

The race so far: Davis’s biggest challenge is from Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who has name recognition in the district. Like Collins, Conyears-Ervin has base of support since she announced her run for the office. The question is whether either of them or the other challengers can coalesce enough support to knock out Davis.

There’s also oppo on Davis: A story by the Intercept claims he misused his congressional resources “by spending funds from his office to amplify his electoral campaign,” according to a complaint submitted by a constituent to the House Ethics Committee.

Denial from Davis: His team said the government did not pay for the mailer and declined to comment further, according to the Intercept’s Akela Lacy.

If you are Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]

No official public events.

At the Metcalfe Federal Building at 8:30 a.m. for the Economic Mobility Summit — In City Hall at 10 a.m. to preside over the City Council meeting and to answer questions from reporters (30 minutes after the meeting).

No official public events.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (gasp!) a complaint? Email [email protected]

— NEW AD: The Bring Chicago Home campaign is launching its first ad encouraging voters to check yes for the Ballot Measure 1. The ad features all the buzz words that voters might be drawn to, including “cutting taxes” and “ensuring the rich pay their fair share.” And it addresses the main point: helping homeless get out of the cold and into homes. That ad has already started appearing on Hulu, YouTube and other digital platforms. Watch it here

— TWO-FER: Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Bill Foster (IL-11) are scheduled to take part in a combined candidate forum along with primary challengers to their reelection bids. Details here

— Vidal Vasquez will remain on the ballot for the Democratic primary in the 21st House District, according to the Board of Elections. He’s challenging incumbent state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid.

— Larry Rogers Jr. says he’s getting endorsements for his reelection bid as Cook County Board of Review commissioner, including from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly, Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis and Jonathan Jackson. Rogers also made a dig, saying, “We have worked tirelessly to correct the numerous assessment errors made by Assessor Fritz Kaegi to ensure that taxpayers get the reductions they are entitled to so that they pay no more than their fair share of property taxes.”

— Kane DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District election set for Feb. 8, via the Daily Herald

— Pritzker touts climate investments despite renewables lagging state goals: “Nexamp CEO Zaid Ashai on Monday said the company set up shop in the state in response to the 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act and expanded following the passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021,” by Capitol News’ Andrew Adams.

— Staffing agencies not exempted from antitrust law, state Supreme Court rules: “Attorney General sued agencies for allegedly colluding to hold down wages,” by Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel.

— Not gonna happen | State Rep. Kam Buckner says if Chicago doesn’t get federal help for its housing crisis, it should pass on hosting the DNC, according to his opinion piece in the Tribune

— Mayor in no hurry to replace Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as zoning chair: “Mayor Brandon Johnson has yet to name his pick to chair the City Council’s influential Zoning Committee, frustrating those interested in the position and leading some to believe the Fifth Floor is holding out hope that it doesn’t have to make a change at all,” by Crain’s Justin Laurence.

— Chicago charter schools fight for future amid contract renewals: “Charter schools face a reckoning Thursday as a skeptical Board of Education considers contract renewals for 49 schools that serve about 26,000 kids,” by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp.

— Battle begins to ban natural gas in new Chicago homes and businesses to right climate change, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone

— 50 finalists in snowplow-naming contest, including ‘Chance the Scraper’ and ‘Casimir Plowaski,’ by the Sun-Times’ Phyllis Cha

— Paul Vallas is in the news: The former mayoral candidate is facing a $10,500 fine from the city’s ethics board over a campaign donation, reports the Tribune’s A.D. Quig. … And on Monday, he’s the headliner for a Chicago Republican Party fundraiser. Details here. Vallas, who ran as a Democrat, is now an adviser for the conservative-leaning Illinois Policy Institute.

We asked how you exercise in winter:

Tori Allen: “A Peloton Tread and a Peloton Guide allow me for workouts from the comfort of my living room.”

Clem Balanoff: “I run along the lakefront, whether rain, shine, snow, sleet or hail — though it’s less frequent than in the summer.”

Randy Bukas: “Indoor pickleball and a treadmill.”

Jessica Catlin: “I walk outside on the not terrible days, hot studio yoga on cold days and for the unbearable days, Peloton app.”

Robert Kartheiser: “Rockford has a great YMCA, and I take my walking inside where it’s warm and snow/ice-free.”

Charles Keller: “Golf at Chick Evans in Morton Grove.”

Ed Mazur: “I walk hallways and stairs in our condo building.”

Porter McNeil: “I swim laps.”

Marilynn Miller: “I have been a health club member for 50 years. At 90, I may go less often than in the past, and I don’t use treadmills and steppers any more, but I do use all the weight machines.”

Kathy Ryg: “As a senior I highly recommend the Silver Sneakers app. Exercise videos I can use in my own home and often still in PJ’s.”

Ashley Urisman: “The Peloton bike and the entire suite of Peloton content! Love the on-demand flexibility and variety of the classes and the fact that there are never any New Year’s resolution crowds at the home gym! Find me on the leaderboard at #ThicThighsInCHI.”

Patricia Ann Watson: Stationary biking.

Justin Williams: “Baking.” (Everyone’s a comedian.)

NEXT QUESTION: Where’s the best outdoor spot to enjoy winter?

— Top Biden White House aides head to the campaign, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire

— RFK Jr.’s PAC raises $5.8M at birthday gala in West Hollywood, by POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson

— Abortion funds run short of money as demand soars and donations fall, by STAT’s Olivia Goldhill

— Michael Woods is now CEO of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District. He succeeds Grant Hammer, who left last month. Woods was with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

— Sameer Ghaznavi is now co-partner in charge of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Chicago office. He’s been a partner at the firm since 2022.

— Feb. 4: State Rep. Marty McLaughlin holds his midwinter meet-and-greet. Details here

— Feb. 7: A Publicity Club of Chicago discussion will examine the intersection of mental health and the media. Panelists: Threshold’s Mark Ishaug, Association House’s Juan Carlos Linares, Name Chicago’s Alexa James and the Tribune’s Darcel Rockett. Details here

TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Janet Mathis and Elizabeth Grisanzio for correctly answering that Vaughan & Bushnell in Illinois is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of hammers.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What’s the origin of the Midway Plaisance? Email [email protected]

Former Springfield Ald. Joe McMenamin, former Secretary of State Press Secretary Dave Druker, lieutenant governor’s adviser Ariana Correa, pension expert and Springfield lobbyist Eric Madiar, attorney and Prairie State College Trustee Jay Readey, former HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and actress Carrie Coon.

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