Campaign Finance

His Black Excellence in Bleu has raised more than $1 million since it was formed last year, some of that from groups with a stake in his legislative decision-making. Unlike campaign contributions, such giving is harder to track.

State lawmakers who stood in the way of recent legislation that would’ve regulated intoxicating hemp products have received significant campaign cash from the industry — while some backers of the proposal got money from the rival marijuana industry.

Catholic groups including parishes, schools and social service agencies are the biggest recipients of donations and other payments from campaign committees, along with organizations identifying as Baptist.

Primary meddling, dark money and self-funding loopholes help skew Illinois politics to favor moneyed candidates. But there are also solutions — like fighting big money with public funding of campaigns.

His spokesman says it was an “oversight” that Harmon’s campaign funds took the money after the Oak Park Democrat voted to ban contributions from red-light camera operators.

Among those accepting campaign contributions after supporting what was portrayed as reform legislation: Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park.

Reditus Labs gave $12,000 to a political campaign, one day after the COVID-testing company's CEO, Aaron Rossi, was indicted on tax fraud charges.

Investment tycoon Ken Griffin has blamed Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker for rising crime, calling his response to Chicago’s violence a “disgrace.” Critics say that rhetoric is “hypocritical” given Griffin’s firms’ stock portfolios.

More and more money from outside McLean County—and even Illinois—is pouring into local campaigns with just weeks to go until the Nov. 6 midterm…

More and more money from outside McLean County—and even Illinois—is pouring into local campaigns with just weeks to go until the Nov. 6 midterm…