Gov. JB Pritzker endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination yesterday, shifting attention to his prospects as her VP pick.

The big picture: The governor has been a frequent surrogate during the Biden campaign, specializing in attacking former President Trump, the Republican nominee.

What he's saying: "Vice President Harris has proven, at every point in her career, that she possesses the skills, strength, and character to lead this country and the vision to better the lives of all Americans," Pritzker said in a statement yesterday morning.

Context: Pritzker has long been considered a rising name in the Democratic Party. The second-term governor played a huge role in bringing next month's Democratic National Convention to Chicago.

Zoom in: "Show me another governor in the nation with a stronger track record on issues Democrats can win on," local Democratic strategist Becky Carroll tells Axios.

• "He's ready on day one to slip into the VP role, and we don't have time for a learning curve."

Why Pritzker would be a good fit: Money. The wealthy, self-financed candidate has deep pockets and friends with deeper ones. He fundraised for Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016 and has effectively taken over fundraising for Democrats in Illinois.

• Plus: Pritzker has touted his experience balancing budgets, investing in green energy and technology and signing an automatic weapons ban in Illinois.
• He's also been a vocal advocate in the national debate over women's reproductive rights, a key issue for Democrats in 2024.

Between the lines: If Pritzker is tapped to be a VP candidate, Illinois would probably not be in danger of losing its blue leadership if he were replaced.

The other side: The governor is not from a swing state like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania or Arizona, which are crucial for Democrats' path to victory in November.

What's next: A Democratic National Committee meeting to go over rules for replacing Biden and the upcoming DNC is scheduled for tomorrow.

Go deeper

We often just hear from the pundits, but let's take a moment to hear from you, the wisest readers in the land.

Reality check: We are embarking on our first annual Axios Chicago "temperature check." This is an informal poll. (No scientists have been consulted.)

The questions are below, and we'll publish results this week.

Ready, set, poll!

The Coalition to March on the DNC has been clear about its plans to protest the Biden administration's Gaza policies during the DNC, and organizers say a new nominee doesn't change that.

Why it matters: The coalition, comprising several advocacy organizations including U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) and Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), is united around the goal of a ceasefire in Gaza.

• The coalition says it blames the Democratic Party's policies, not just President Biden's, for the prolonged war.

Driving the news: After Biden stepped down as the Democratic nominee and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, protest leaders released a statement saying: "On August 19th we will march on the DNC for Gaza regardless of who gets nominated for the presidency."

State of play: The group expects up to 100,000 people, from about 200 organizations nationwide, to march on the first and last days of the DNC, Aug. 19 and 22.

What they're saying: "We'll still be marching for Palestine, because there's still a genocide happening in Palestine," CAARPR's Faayani Aboma Mijana tells Axios.

Catch up quick: The coalition and the city continue to spar over the planned protest route. The Chicago Department of Transportation initially denied the group's request to march near the United Center, offering an alternative miles away.

• The city agreed this month to allow the group to march within sight and sound of the United Center, but Aboma Mijana says the coalition is now pushing for a larger route to accommodate additional protesters.

What's next: This week, the U.S. Secret Service is expected to release the security perimeter for the DNC, which will affect local residents and businesses — but will not affect the Coalition's desired route, Aboma Mijana says.

Keep reading

Two men died over the weekend while swimming near local beaches, including a 24-year-old at Leone Beach in Rogers Park. (WGN-TV)

🏢 Former Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver is in talks to buy the old Groupon headquarters. (Crains)

⛺️ As a tent city grows in Humboldt Park, Ald. Jesse Fuentes urges the city to buy a building for a new homeless shelter. (Block Club)

👋🏼 Hi, it's Carrie!

A new ice cream spot in Bridgeport serves up Dairy Queen-style soft serve, minus the dairy.

On the menu: Runaway Cow has plant-based soft serve cones, sundaes, snowstorms (like a Blizzard) and ice cream sandwiches.

The bite: "The Elvis," vanilla ice cream topped with banana slices, homemade peanut butter topping, ground nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry. ($9.99)

The intrigue: Co-owner Alison Eichhorn tells Axios her family owned a DQ in Lansing, Illinois, where she honed her soft serve chops and can whip up a brownie fudge sundae lickety-split.

• Eichhorn had been on the hunt for tasty vegan, gluten-free ice cream and figured growing up in the biz gave her a leg up.

The verdict: Yummy! In my experience it's difficult to master creaminess for dairy or dairy-free soft serve as it's often too icy, but Runaway Cow does it, and the whipped cream tastes creamy and naturally sweet.

If you go: Runaway Cow, 608 W. 31st St. in Bridgeport.

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Where's Monica this week? Here's a hint:

• In a town to the north on Lake Michigan's shore
• There are buckets of flags that to drivers implore:
• "Slow your fast speed and let people walk!"
• But these flags have inspired some drivers to balk.

Do you know where Monica is? Guess here.