Tina Sfondeles
Chief Political Reporter, Chicago Sun-TimesTina 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.
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Gov. JB Pritzker has presidential ambitions — and his vetting when he was under consideration to serve as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ running mate and this week’s Democratic National Convention have put a huge spotlight on the second-term governor. -
Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2022 spoke before state Democratic Party leaders in New Hampshire and Florida, fueling speculation that he was plotting a presidential run in 2024. Since then he’s repeatedly tamped down questions about his presidential ambitions. -
Under the new law, state House and Senate candidates must run in the primary to appear on the November general election ballot — a move leaving prospective candidates in the lurch, viewed as a power grab by the Democrat-led legislature. -
Lawmakers were on track to blow their self-imposed deadline to pass a state spending plan, as Democratic leaders tangle over a proposed increase to the tax rate paid by sportsbooks, as well as a rollback of tax discounts for retailers. -
Taking the fight South? Pritzker's nonprofit spends $500K in Florida — battling over abortion rightsFlorida is the fourth ballot initiative Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s nonprofit Think Big America is supporting this year. Pritzker’s group is also supporting efforts in Nevada, Arizona and Montana. -
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost declared victory at about 9:41 p.m., and Bailey conceded 15 minutes later. And Democratic U.S. Reps. Sean Casten and Bill Foster held onto their suburban congressional seats after facing progressive challengers who tried to veer them further to the left on key issues. -
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed investments would support the creation of a child tax credit, overhaul of the state's pension system, and fund programs for asylum-seekers arriving in Chicago. -
A bill filed on Thursday would allow qualified individuals, not medical professionals, to self-administer a medication to end their lives. There is of course opposition to such measures, specifically from the Catholic and evangelical communities. -
Heidi Mueller, who has served as director of the Illinois Dept. of Juvenile Justice since 2016, was selected after a national search. She will take the reins of the scandal-plagued agency beginning February 1. -
Big money, big problems. Deep-pocketed, self-funding candidates and dark money mar Illinois politicsPrimary meddling, dark money and self-funding loopholes help skew Illinois politics to favor moneyed candidates. But there are also solutions — like fighting big money with public funding of campaigns.
