* Democratic gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker gave his campaign fund $7 million today, his campaign just confirmed. I’d been hearing about this for much of the afternoon.
$7 million is still $43 million less than Gov. Rauner put into his own campaign fund a few months ago, but vastly more cash than any other Democratic hopeful has on hand or has immediate access to. The A-1 hasn’t been officially filed yet, but if you click here it appears they’re having some technical difficulties with the Board of Elections’ website.
Meanwhile, Democrat Bob Daiber’s campaign reported raising $49,410 during the quarter. He spent about $12K and had $37,530.17 on hand at the end of March.
*** UPDATE 1 *** That was quick…
“J.B. Pritzker’s decision to drop $7 million into his gubernatorial campaign is more proof that he wants to be Madigan’s financial muscle. His deposit comes after Pritzker gave Madigan over $1.2 million in 2016 to stop reform, and just a day after Pritzker met with Madigan insiders and revealed to the press that he’s been conversing with Madigan himself. J.B. Pritzker’s talks with Mike Madigan and secret meeting with Madigan insiders reveal his true colors. He will work for and strengthen the Chicago machine at all costs.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Larry Dominick jab is a nice touch…
Please find below the statement from the Biss for Illinois campaign in reaction to reports that JB Pritzker has put $7 million into his campaign account this evening:
“In the public eye, Mr. Pritzker talks about ‘progressiveness’ and ‘independence’ but if today taught us anything it’s that his campaign is more of the same. We’ve seen self-funding billionaires like Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner wreak havoc because of their accountability to no one but themselves. Illinoisans simply can’t afford four more years of the same.”
Earlier today, it was reported Pritzker met with Larry Dominick, the Republican President of the Town of Cicero, who among other things has been under investigation for giving out government contracts in exchange for campaign contributions, groping and fondling multiple female employees, and repeatedly using racially derogatory terms for Latinos.
That response was sent yesterday, but I didn’t see it until Saturday.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:32 pm:
This is about where the money needs to begin.
I said that Kennedy needs to get to $5-7 million by the State Fair…
Pritzker now made that number $10 million by State Fair.
The is a serious game, now being played with serious money…
- DabberDon - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:37 pm:
I’m sure this news will be followed by posts, tweets, and statements expressing outrage and shame at billionaires in politics from all Democrats, right? Lang and all the backbench firebrand-wannabes?
- Arsenal - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:41 pm:
Well, he showed me.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:48 pm:
Over/Under $265 million, all statewides, 4 caucuses, primary and general…
That’s the number.
- NotMaxineWaters - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:50 pm:
Steven Yaffe has zero credibility. *drops mic*
- The Captain - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:50 pm:
The Illinois Republican Party spokesman thinks it’s troubling that one really rich guy might bankroll the whole party?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:51 pm:
Dear Steve Yaffe,
Look in a mirror with Rauner’s money owning you, and the whole ILGOP.
I’d be scared too.
“Bruce Rauner fails”, and #DoYourJob may not get swamped… lol
- Arsenal - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:53 pm:
That ILGOP response is self-parody at this point.
- Anonymous - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:53 pm:
Feeling nervous, Yaffe?
- The Captain - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:53 pm:
Flashback Friday:
- Chicago 20 - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 4:58 pm:
Well if money won’t be an issue maybe Rauner will need to run for re-election based on his track record of blaming Madigan, vetoes and his dynamic transient goal setting.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:11 pm:
The Pritzker Crew better be building significant campaign infrastructure to defeat the Yaffe-Type turnaround of Rauner Ridiculousness.
That’s a hope for the Denicrats to defeat Raunerism.
Start taking down the vertical integration
- baloneymous - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:12 pm:
this reminds me of SNL skit years ago where they showed Tom Brokaw prerecording tons of celebrity death announcements so when a celebrity died NBC could immediately run a breaking story…
- baloneymous - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:12 pm:
and I meant that last post in regards to the IL GOPs always instant responses lol
- Been there, done that - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:15 pm:
This is rich! Couldn’t the same have been said when Rauner personally dumped $9 million into Durkin’s coffers - who then dumped it into HRO’s coffers - to purchase house seats last fall?
$7 million is just a drop in the bucket for this upcoming election cycle. The political consultants have hit the mother lode!
They have got to be drooling over the moolah they will be raking in over the next 18 months.
The consultants paid by politicians are getting filthy rich, while the people and vendors in Illinois are getting shafted. This is getting more and more pathetic by the day.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Apr 14, 17 @ 5:31 pm:
That response, i mean….
I don’t want to be hyperbolic, but I don’t think I am being so - they’re shameless. Utterly shameless about their lies and deceptions
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 9:29 am:
Michael Madigan and the billionaires he controls.
Man, that Madigan just has so much freaking power. Are we sure he’s not actually a deity? Or maybe Kilgrave from the Jessica Jones show?
Are we sure he doesn’t also control BRUCE RAUNER?