Recent Publication:
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois, Chicago sue to block Trump plan to restrict green cards to legal Medicaid, SNAP users “The state of Illinois and city of Chicago, along with a coalition of other states and cities controlled by Democrats, are suing the Trump administration to block a new federal rule that would give immigration […]
Rianda advises clients on legislative and regulatory developments at the state and local levels across Illinois. She supports client engagements by monitoring a wide range of legislative and regulatory activity, analyzing policy proposals, and tracking developments across key issue areas.
Rianda previously supported the team as a legislative analyst. Before joining Public Strategies, she worked at The Strategy Group, where she analyzed polling data and supported strategic communications and direct mail outreach for federal, state, and municipal Democratic campaigns. She began her career in Missouri politics, interning with her county legislator and staffing local campaigns. She later served as a research fellow at the University of Missouri’s Political Communication Institute and held roles with the ACLU of Missouri and the People’s Action Institute, where she conducted policy research, community outreach, advocacy campaigns, and grant monitoring.
Rianda earned a Master of Public Policy, with a specialization in survey research, from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communication, with a minor in peace studies, from the University of Missouri.
Publications
September 16, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois, Chicago sue to block Trump plan to restrict green cards to legal Medicaid, SNAP users “The state of Illinois and city of Chicago, along with a coalition of other states and cities controlled by Democrats, are suing the Trump administration to block a new federal rule that would give immigration […]
September 14, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois governor’s race shifts to Texas “Illinois voters can begin casting ballots in just two weeks, but the governor’s race has assumed a temporary battlefront in Texas this week on the sidelines of the Republicans’ rare midterm convention,” by Capitol News Illinois. Subscribe Federal judge denies bid to block Illinois’ medical-aid-in-dying law […]
September 09, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker, Eyeing 2028, to Help Midterm Democrats With a $20 Million Group “Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois is leading a new political group that plans to spend at least $20 million this fall to help Democrats in battleground races in the midterm elections,” by the New York Times. Subscribe Illinois […]
September 02, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker pledges to stay on ‘Team Fight’ as he asks Illinois voters for 3rd term “Pritzker, a 61-year-old Chicago billionaire, is seeking a rare third term as governor and is running heavily on cost-of-living concerns and his fiscal record. With nearly eight years under his belt, Pritzker embarked last week on […]
September 01, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker pours cold water on using Meta windfall for Chicago Schools funding “Gov. JB Pritzker poured cold water Thursday on Illinois Federation of Teachers President Stacy Davis Gates’ call to spend the state’s $768 million cut of a multi-state settlement with social media giant Meta for education, saying that ‘one-time money […]
August 26, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Moody’s upgrades Illinois credit rating ahead of September bond sales “Moody’s upgraded its credit rating for Illinois’ general obligation bonds to A1 from A2, the agency’s highest rating for the state since December 2011,” by Crain’s Chicago Business. Subscribe Illinois attorney general joins suit against Postal Service over mail voting rules “Illinois […]
August 24, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois Democrats focused on Trump as they seek third sweep of statewide races “Though hundreds of Republican candidates will appear on the ballot in Illinois in November, the state’s Democrats are focused on a common opponent: President Donald Trump,” by Capitol News Illinois. Subscribe Gov. JB Pritzker announces his appointments to the […]
August 19, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE JB Pritzker’s education record earns him key reelection endorsement from Illinois teachers union “Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is seeking reelection this November, received a key endorsement on his education policies from the state’s largest union this week,” by Chalkbeat Chicago. Subscribe With $65M infusion, Pritzker has now self-funded $439M since 2018 campaign […]
August 17, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker tours storm damage, signs flood relief bill expanding local Chicago programs “Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill on Friday that allows more Chicago homeowners to access financial relief for flood damage locally while many communities in the state cleaned up from damaging storms,” by Capitol News Illinois. Subscribe Amid latest Illinois […]
August 12, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois governor’s race: JB Pritzker, Darren Bailey spar over Trump tariffs, farm economy at ag forum “Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and his Republican opponent in the governor’s race, Darren Bailey, sought to woo Illinois’ agriculture industry Monday, with Bailey, a veteran farmer, accusing the two-term Democrat of hating President Donald Trump […]
August 10, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker signs bill that aims to protect 340B drug discount program “Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday that places guardrails on a drug discount program that hospitals and other healthcare providers say they rely on to help them care for vulnerable patients,” by the Chicago Tribune. Subscribe Pritzker pens […]
August 05, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois joins lawsuit over Trump’s new tariffs, calling them ‘pretext’ to replace his old ones “Twenty-five states sued the Trump administration Monday over its latest tariffs, calling them a pretext for replacing import taxes the Supreme Court struck down in February,” by the Chicago Tribune. Subscribe Pritzker signs bills allowing state […]
August 03, 2026
ILLINOIS | AROUND THE STATE Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit seeking full access to Illinois voter rolls “A downstate federal judge has rejected an effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to obtain full access to Illinois’ voter registration database, including sensitive personal data on more than 8 million residents statewide,” by the Chicago Sun-Times. […]
July 29, 2026
Illinois Pritzker signs school cellphone ban to avoid student distractions “Although many districts already have similar policies in place, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday that will require all districts to have ‘bell-to-bell’ device bans in place before the start of the 2027-2028 school year,” by Capitol News Illinois. Subscribe Pritzker loses potential home-state edge […]
July 22, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois Speaker Welch tries to contain fallout over handling of Harry Benton harassment allegations “Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, seeking to contain political fallout over his handling of sexual harassment complaints against former state Rep. Harry Benton, held outreach meetings with Democratic caucuses Tuesday, telling members that delays in taking […]
July 20, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker says Illinois ethics panel should release Harry Benton harassment report amid Welch office scrutiny “Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker called on members of the state Legislative Ethics Commission to publicly release an inspector general’s investigative report of misconduct involving disgraced former state Rep. Harry Benton for participating in a “clear pattern […]
July 15, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois raises limits on wrongful conviction payouts under new law Gov. JB Pritzker has signed “People who were wrongfully imprisoned in Illinois could see larger payouts after Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday he had signed a law raising the compensation cap,” by the Chicago Tribune. Subscribe Pritzker signs new laws on […]
July 13, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois House to investigate Rep. Carol Ammons following indictment “An Illinois House committee will investigate actions by Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, following her indictment on 10 federal charges this week,” by Capitol News Illinois. Subscribe Federal appeals court upholds Illinois assault weapons ban, overturning lower court ruling “A federal appeals […]
July 08, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker signs landmark AI regulation bill that aims to mitigate risks “Gov. JB Pritzker signed artificial intelligence legislation modeled after similar bills in California and New York yesterday, furthering a push for a state-driven national framework in lieu of federal regulations,” by Crain’s Chicago Business. Subscribe New regulations on intoxicating […]
July 06, 2026
Overview The Chicago Financial Future Task Force’s Final Report provides a comprehensive assessment of the City’s long-term fiscal outlook and presents a range of policy options intended to strengthen Chicago’s financial stability. Launched through an executive order issued by Mayor Brandon Johnson in 2025, the independent 23-member task force brought together business, labor, community, and […]