Olivia Olander

Olivia Olander is the Chicago-based state government reporter at the Tribune, covering Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois General Assembly and state agencies. She previously covered labor and employment policy for POLITICO in Washington. Olivia is a graduate of Northwestern University and grew up in the suburbs of San Diego.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul leaves after a news conference addressing his office’s efforts to combat unlawful actions by the Trump administration, at the State of Illinois building on Jan. 20, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul look back on first year of Trump 2.0

January 20, 2026 at 6:41 p.m.

The first 365 days of the second Republican Trump administration have had a seismic impact on Illinois, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul said.

Demonstrators march on Chicago's North Michigan Avenue to protest against federal immigration operations and U.S. military actions abroad on Jan. 19, 2026, in alignment with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

In freezing conditions, hundreds gather downtown to protest ICE

January 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

On MLK Day, crowds rallied against the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the war in Gaza.

Former 9th Congressional District candidate Bruce Leon, left, talks about endorsing Phil Andrew, right, while at Andrew’s campaign office in Skokie on Jan. 13, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois 9th Congressional District candidate Bruce Leon drops out, backs ex-FBI agent Phil Andrew

January 13, 2026 at 5:50 p.m.

While Bruce Leon had a slim-at-best path to victory in the congressional race, he's backing Phil Andrew following Leon saying AIPAC pressured him to drop out to help state Sen....

The moon hangs above the Illinois Capitol building on Oct. 15, 2024, in Springfield. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois lawmakers return to Capitol facing $2.2B budget gap while pushing election-year affordability message

January 11, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Affordability will be a key political theme of the coming Illinois General Assembly as leaders signal proposals from health care to a Bears stadium will be filtered through a cost-of-living...

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss joins members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704 at a rally at Chicago's Federal Plaza on Aug. 12, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

In backing Daniel Biss for Illinois’ 9th district, US Rep. Jan Schakowsky also warns of ‘out-of-state donors’

January 7, 2026 at 5:11 p.m.

Retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky endorsed Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss as her successor in Illinois' 9th Congressional District race.

Paul Terry contemplates his freedom after 27 years as he's surrounded by family and media on May 23, 2003. (Bill Hogan/Chicago Tribune)

‘Still imprisoned in his mind.’ Illinois exonerees struggle without support after wrongful convictions.

January 8, 2026 at 5:29 p.m.

Paul Terry's struggle is a stark example of a problem Illinois has yet to confront meaningfully: what happens to people after the state’s judicial system admits it wrongfully took their...

President Donald Trump speaks during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump says he’s dropping push for National Guard in Chicago — for now

December 31, 2025 at 5:35 p.m.

President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal...

Bruce Leon, left, greets Phil Andrew at the start of an Illinois 9th Congressional District candidate forum at Oakton College on Oct. 21, 2025, in Skokie. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

9th Congressional District candidate Bruce Leon dropping out of Democratic primary after AIPAC pressure

February 5, 2026 at 12:20 p.m.

Orthodox Jewish Democratic candidate said the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, pressured him to drop out to consolidate support for state Sen. Laura Fine.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins Gov. JB Pritzker and other state and local leaders at a news conference at the State of Illinois building to discuss increased federal deployments in Chicago on Sept. 29, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois attorney general ends year filled with lawsuits against the Trump administration with one more challenge

December 29, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Illinois has joined 57 lawsuits against Donald Trump's administration since his term began in January. The latest involves a ban on gender-affirming care for children and adolescents.

Karim Lakhani, a Democratic statehouse candidate in the Lincoln Park area, is pictured in a campaign photo in Chicago on Nov. 7, 2025. (Christopher Dilts)

Illinois House candidate for Lincoln Park area fueled by family hotel chain that drew scrutiny in lawsuit

December 29, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

As he runs for an open Illinois House seat representing part of Chicago’s North Side, Karim Lakhani promotes being a small business owner. But the family business powering his campaign...

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