@chicago.suntimes.com reporter, sometimes editor, usually Illinois politics. @cstguild.bsky.social -strong. Tips, please: marmentrout@suntimes.com / Signal: mtrout.74 https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/mitchell-armentrouthttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social@mitchtrout.bsky.social - Mitchell Armentrouthttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mzhjqevvlc2lDemocratic state Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman wins suburban statehouse race spurred by scandal https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/11/03/us-illinois-house-97-midterm-results04 Nov 2026 04:36 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzhjqevvlc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mzhgngk4as2sJessica Dixon Heitman takes early lead over Republican Gabby Shanahan in suburban statehouse race spurred by scandal https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/11/03/us-illinois-house-97-midterm-results04 Nov 2026 03:41 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzhgngk4as2shttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mzh6gtvbsc2pIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker beats Darren Bailey for 3rd term, leaving one question: Will he run for president? https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/11/03/governor-illinois-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett-results04 Nov 2026 01:14 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzh6gtvbsc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mzg357naa224Sun-Times/WBEZ voter guide: https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/graphics/voter-guide-midterm-election-illinois/03 Nov 2026 14:42 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzg357naa224https://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3myafw3g5vs26Gov. JB Pritzker signals more optimism on Bears stadium deal — maybe even in Chicago — as election nears https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2026/10/19/chicago-bears-stadium-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-gubernatorial-election-arlington-heights-chicago-indiana19 Oct 2026 15:14 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3myafw3g5vs26https://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mxzcbmhbf22oGov. JB Pritzker outspending Darren Bailey's campaign 25-to-1 in Illinois governor race https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/16/jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-illinois-governor-race-campaign-cash-spending16 Oct 2026 19:20 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxzcbmhbf22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mxyxo6kr7k2kSexual harassment scandal shapes southwest suburban Illinois House race https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/16/illinois-house-district-97-election-shanahan-heitman-benton-sexual-harassment-scandal16 Oct 2026 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxyxo6kr7k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mxx2bfqwdc2jGov. JB Pritzker reports $9.4 million income on 2025 tax returns — and no gambling winnings https://chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-governor/2026/10/15/gov-jb-pritzker-2025-income-tax-returns15 Oct 2026 21:52 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxx2bfqwdc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mxtsk5xshk2m6 takeaways from the only gubernatorial debate between Gov. Pritzker and Darren Bailey https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/13/watch-illinois-gov-debate-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-takeaways14 Oct 2026 14:55 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxtsk5xshk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mxrmfqa3l22cGubernatorial grudge match pits Gov. JB Pritzker against Darren Bailey https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/13/jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett-illinois-governor-election-november-midterm13 Oct 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxrmfqa3l22chttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mxcwups7222pBridgeport buzzes with White Sox fans relishing a playoff party 120 years in the making https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/10/07/bridgeport-buzzes-with-white-sox-fans-relishing-a-playoff-party-120-years-in-the-making07 Oct 2026 21:57 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxcwups7222phttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mx5rv2keoc23Federal judge sides with Kalshi to block new Illinois regulations on prediction markets https://chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/2026/10/05/federal-judge-injunction-kalshi-block-illinois-regulations-prediction-markets05 Oct 2026 20:45 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx5rv2keoc23https://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mx5kewwr5c2dFormer Illinois House GOP Leader Jim Durkin crosses party line to endorse Gov. JB Pritzker over Darren Bailey https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/05/ex-illinois-house-gop-leader-jim-durkin-endorsement-gov-jb-pritzker-over-darren-bailey05 Oct 2026 18:31 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx5kewwr5c2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mw4urw5sls2tGov. JB Pritzker assembling Illinois Artificial Intelligence Cabinet to assess AI threats https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/09/22/illinois-ai-cabinet-artificial-intelligence-pritzker22 Sep 2026 18:39 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw4urw5sls2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mw2miacxjk2lSettlement talks underway to revoke license of director at South Side funeral home where 56 bodies were found https://chicago.suntimes.com/grave-injustice/2026/09/21/south-chicago-chapel-johanna-clark-morgan-funeral-home-decomposing-bodies-revocation-hearing21 Sep 2026 21:05 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw2miacxjk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mvksls3ngc2lLawmakers name acting legislative inspector general after McCuskey resignation https://chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/2026/09/14/inspector-general-illinois-mccuskey-benton-welch-risely15 Sep 2026 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvksls3ngc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mvksisfnzk2nPresident Trump endorses Darren Bailey in Illinois governor race — ‘Pritzker’s a disaster’ https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/09/14/trump-endorses-bailey-pritzker-illinois-governor-race15 Sep 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvksisfnzk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mv3qp5gza22uIndependent governor candidate Collin Corbett aims to give voters ‘a home again’ in polarized Illinois https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/09/09/collin-corbett-illinois-governor-independent-candidate-november-midterm-election09 Sep 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3qp5gza22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3muda3or3ec2kWhite Sox fall flat in Minnesota finale, but take care of business in division entering home stretch https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/30/white-sox-minnesota-al-central-division-race30 Aug 2026 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3muda3or3ec2khttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mud3zchjrc2nWhite Sox hungry for Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami to get cooking at the plate in final month https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/30/colson-montgomery-munetaka-murakami-white-sox-offense30 Aug 2026 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mud3zchjrc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3muaqf56f4c2zGrant Taylor flexing his muscle for a flexible White Sox bullpen https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/29/grant-taylor-white-sox-pitching-division-race29 Aug 2026 20:40 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3muaqf56f4c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mualq7soqc2dAndrew Benintendi’s bat, experience coming in clutch for first-place White Sox https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/29/andrew-benintendi-white-sox-clutch-hitting29 Aug 2026 19:17 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mualq7soqc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mu6qgzrte22eDavis Martin looks to return to rotation, and first-half form, for home stretch of White Sox’ playoff push https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/28/davis-martin-return-il-first-half-white-sox-pitchers29 Aug 2026 01:36 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu6qgzrte22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mu6js5z2jc2tSam Antonacci creating 'pandemonium' on the basepaths, whether White Sox manager Will Venable likes it or not https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/28/sam-antonacci-white-sox-base-running-will-venable28 Aug 2026 23:37 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu6js5z2jc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mtm3vidya22vComplaint deemed unfounded against state lawmaker surfaces in downstate legislative race https://chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/2026/08/20/amy-briel-laura-jackson-chris-welch-lig-investigation-harassment21 Aug 2026 15:41 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtm3vidya22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/mitchtrout.bsky.social/post/3mtlzr3w7422uPhotos: the Illinois State Fair in all its butter cow and corn dog glory https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/08/20/photos-illinois-state-fair-in-springfield21 Aug 2026 15:02 +0000at://did:plc:kaq5axpkgtecde634tyf4a7p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlzr3w7422u