Power, Politics & Pop Culture: What Chicago’s Leaders Are Saying
By: Thom Serafin
February 17, 2026
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The Power Poll is sponsored by Mercury Public Affairs.
From moving Illinois to the very front of the presidential calendar to debating the global strategy behind the Super Bowl halftime show, to whether the U.S. should chase the Winter Olympics again, this month’s Power Poll covered politics, economics, culture and even Valentine’s Day.
Here is where Chicago’s business and civic leaders landed.
Question 1:
Some Illinois Democrat political leaders have floated the idea of moving the Illinois presidential primary to the very beginning of the national calendar in 2028. Supporters argue this could give Gov. JB Pritzker an early advantage if he seeks the Democratic presidential nomination.
Thinking as a Chicago business and civic leader, which statement comes closest to your view?
- 26% Illinois should move to first in the nation because it would strengthen the state’s national influence, spotlight midwestern economic priorities, and give Illinois leaders a stronger early platform.
- 30% Illinois should consider moving earlier, but only as part of a coordinated national reform of the primary calendar to avoid political or logistical backlash.
- 25% Illinois should keep its current primary date because moving earlier would be costly, disruptive and could create unnecessary political tension.
- 19% Illinois should not move earlier because doing so could be perceived as an attempt to advantage specific political figures, including Gov. Pritzker, which could undermine the state’s credibility.
Moving first could mean influence and visibility. It could also mean optics and political friction. Leaders appear to be weighing opportunity against perception.
Question 2:
The NFL chose Bad Bunny to headline the Super Bowl halftime show with a predominantly Spanish language performance, a first in league history. Thinking about the NFL’s strategic intent, which of the following comes closest to your view?
- 17% The NFL did this to strengthen its position with Latino consumers — one of the fastest growing demographic and economic segments in the U.S. and in Chicago.
- 34% The NFL aimed to modernize its brand by aligning with global entertainment trends and artists who dominate streaming and youth culture.
- 22% The NFL was primarily trying to expand international viewership and position the Super Bowl as a global entertainment product, not just a domestic event.
- 5% The NFL was responding to pressure to increase cultural representation and demonstrate inclusivity to diverse audiences.
- 18% The NFL overestimated the appeal of an all-Spanish performance and risked alienating parts of its core audience.
- 4% I didn’t watch, no opinion.
Whether it was about demographics, branding, or representation, the leading response is that the move was strategic brand modernization and not a diversity move.
Question 3:
The International Olympic Committee is considering long-term host city rotations for the Winter Olympics due to rising costs and climate pressures. Some U.S. leaders argue the country should aggressively pursue hosting future Winter Games to secure economic impact, tourism, and global visibility. Others say the Olympics bring high costs, security burdens, and limited long-term benefit.
Which statement comes closest to your view?
- 32% The U.S. should actively pursue hosting future Winter Olympics because the economic impact, global visibility, and tourism benefits outweigh the risks.
- 35% The U.S. should consider hosting only if the financial model is restructured to reduce risk to taxpayers and local governments.
- 9% The U.S. should avoid hosting because the costs, security demands, and infrastructure requirements outweigh the long-term benefits.
- 24% The Winter Olympics should rotate among a small set of global cities with existing winter infrastructure, rather than expanding to new hosts.
The Winter Games bring prestige and visibility. They also bring serious financial and security considerations. Leaders are clearly divided on whether the reward outweighs the risk.
Question 4:
Epstein Files & Accountability: Following the DOJ’s release of over 3 million pages of Epstein files, what action should legislators prioritize?
- 27% Support federal legislation requiring fuller transparency and less redaction in future releases.
- 32% Call for continued investigation and potential prosecution of individuals named in the files.
- 22% Focus on strengthening protections for victims of sex trafficking.
- 11% Advocate for reforms to prevent similar cases of elite impunity.
- 8% Releasing the files was sufficient legislative action.
On this issue, the conversation centers on what comes next: transparency, prosecution, reform, victim protection, or closing the chapter.
Question 5:
After heavy policy discussion, we asked something lighter.
Valentine’s Day Plans: How are you planning to spend Valentine’s Day this year?
- 37% Romantic dinner/date night with partner.
- 21% Celebrating with family or friends (Galentine’s/Palentine’s).
- 2% Treating myself to something special (self-care/solo celebration).
- 24% Just another day – no special plans.
- 1% Working/too busy to celebrate.
- 15% Every day is Valentine’s Day for me.
After a month of heavy political and economic questions, this one offered a lighter look at how leaders balance work and life.
The conversation does not stop here. Each month, Chicago’s business, civic, and political leaders weigh in on the issues shaping our city, our state, and the national moment. From policy to pop culture, the Power Poll captures what insiders are thinking before it becomes conventional wisdom. Be sure to tune in next month for the next snapshot of where influence is moving and what it means for Illinois.
The Serafin Power Poll is a non-scientific survey of Chicago’s business, civic, and political leaders designed to provide a snapshot of insider sentiment on key issues shaping the moment.
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