Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » *** UPDATED x1 *** Bailey gave two-thirds of his Q4 net contributions away to fellow Republican legislators, had a 183% net burn rate
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Bailey gave two-thirds of his Q4 net contributions away to fellow Republican legislators, had a 183% net burn rate

Wednesday, Jan 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s D-2 caught my eye last night. Despite reporting that he raised almost $500K in the quarter, Bailey actually ended the quarter with $200K less than he started it with…


* So, I decided to look into it further…


* Let’s back up a bit. Restore Illinois was founded in 2018 to raise money to elect Eastern Bloc legislative candidates. It has reported raising $477,442 since it was founded, with $200K coming from that above-mentioned Bailey contribution and $319,800 since the start of the 4th quarter last year.

What happened last year? The remap. As part of Democratic redistricting, fellow Eastern Bloc Reps. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) and Chris Miller (R-Oakland) were mapped into the same district, the 102nd. Eventually, Rep. Miller (no relation) agreed to move and run in the neighboring and vacant 101st House District. His spouse, US Rep. Mary Miller, was mapped in with fellow Republican Mike Bost, but then she decided to run against Rep. Rodney Davis.

There has been some paranoia within the Eastern Bloc about how agents of Rodney Davis are supposedly trying to gin up opponents against some of them. From Rep. Chris Miller earlier this month…

Never-Trumper Rodney Davis is looking for RINO candidates to run against every pro-life, pro-gun Republicans who supported Trump. Conservative Republicans will defeat liberals like Rodney Davis who stabbed President Trump in the back. The America First movement will not back down to the RINO establishment - we will defeat any and all liberal RINOs Rodney Davis recruits.

OK.

* Anyway, Restore Illinois collected $319,800 from three Eastern Bloc Members last quarter: $200K from Sen. Darren Bailey in October, $59,900 from Rep. Blaine Wilhour in November and $59,900 from Rep. Adam Niemerg in December. The PAC refunded $150,100 to Bailey a week after he made his contribution because, by law, it can only accept $59,900 from a candidate committee. Oops.

Almost all of the $179,700 Restore Illinois collected from those three members was then transferred to Rep. Miller shortly after each of the three contributions were received. Click here.

* Here’s where it gets kinda interesting. Neither Rep. Wilhour nor Rep. Niemerg had enough money in their accounts to make those $59,900 contributions to Restore Illinois.

Rep. Wilhour started the quarter with $45.7K in the bank. But then he reported a $59.9K check from Bailey on November 17, and Restore Illinois reported a $59.9K check from Wilhour the very same day.

Same with Rep. Niemerg, who started the fourth quarter with just $23,380.40 in the bank. Bailey maxed out to Niemerg with $59,900 that was reported on December 3rd, and Restore Illinois reported its $59.9K contribution from Niemerg on December 22nd.

So, essentially it appears as though Bailey was able to get $169,800 to his ally Rep. Chris Miller via a complicated series of maneuvers through other campaign accounts. It’s a mechanism that might’ve made Mike Madigan proud.

Except, they didn’t have to do it this way. Rep. Miller busted the caps on his race on November 22nd with a $100,001 contribution to himself. Bailey could’ve just written Miller a check for whatever he wanted.

Seems like a lot of work for nothing.

* Now, take out the refund from Restore Illinois and Bailey raised a net $349K. Of that, he contributed a net $230K to Restore Illinois and Eastern Bloc Reps. Wilhour, Niemerg and Dan Caulkins, or 66 percent of what he took in. You gotta wonder what all those folks who believe so strongly in Bailey’s message might think of him spending two-thirds of their money not on his “grass roots movement,” but on his pals’ races.

I’ve asked the Bailey campaign for comment.

* Meanwhile, Bailey spent about $410K on consultants and their services, staff, etc.

All of his spending and transfers gave Bailey a net burn rate of 183 percent by my calculations.

Hope he doesn’t try to run the state like that.

*** UPDATE *** Bailey campaign…

We are in a fight for the heart and soul of our state and the Republican Party. Itā€™s evident the corruption in Springfield isnā€™t partisan, and weā€™re all tired of the political elites selling out working families and taxpayers. Darren Bailey was given money from generous donors who have indicated they not only want to take on extreme Democrats, but they want to take on RINOs. The money was then sent to several members of the conservative coalition and the Restore Illinois PAC. On top of defeating the establishmentā€™s Democrat in the Republican Primary for Governor, and taking on Democrats in other races across the state, the Restore Illinois PAC is planning on challenging Republicans who have sold out working families and our conservative principles to vote with Democrats to raise taxes. This is the only way we can truly reform Springfield and restore Illinois.

       

41 Comments
  1. - TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 12:43 pm:

    = There has been some paranoia within the Eastern Bloc =

    Some? I thought paranoia was the main plank in their platform.


  2. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 12:46 pm:

    Boy these “family farmers” like Miller and BAiley sure have a lot of cash laying around these days.

    Remind me, how much did they get in farm subsidies and PPP? Never mind, I’ll look it up.


  3. - NIU Grad - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 12:46 pm:

    “Hope he doesnā€™t try to run the state like that.”

    I think that’s the plan…


  4. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 12:47 pm:

    Itā€™s funny because if he wants to run things ā€œlike a businessā€ Bailey would be one who needs government assistance in his business to run over 100% in spending, a great deal of it ā€œon his friendsā€

    Sounds like a liberalā€¦

    With a 180+% burn rate, itā€™s not unlike the way a Ponzi scheme has a burn rate like thatā€¦ as they try to stay ahead of getting caughtā€¦ lol


  5. - Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 12:51 pm:

    ==a Ponzi scheme==

    That’s a good description of how Trump runs his businesses and campaign. So, the apple is staying close to the tree.


  6. - Blue Dog - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 12:55 pm:

    jsmill. let me know what you find.


  7. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 12:55 pm:

    ===Bailey spent about $410K on consultants===

    Personally, is the only depressing thing I see.

    Consultants are ā€œtripping and fallingā€ into piles of moneyā€¦ itā€™s not even February to a June primary.

    *Sigh*


  8. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:05 pm:

    Does this make anyone else think, ā€œgee, maybe this guy isnā€™t running for governorā€¦ā€?


  9. - watchful eye - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:07 pm:

    ===Consultants are ā€œtripping and fallingā€ into piles of moneyā€¦ itā€™s not even February to a June primary.

    *Sigh*=== My gosh Willy Wake up What do you think the whole Ken Griffin slate stuff is all about? It has nothing to do with winning, It’s about consultants getting very rich.


  10. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:09 pm:

    You could conceivably justify a high burn rate in the early part of a campaign by needing to stand up an organization real quick. But frankly, $500K isn’t nearly good enough, even in a world without a Rauner or a Pritzker or a Griffin.


  11. - Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:09 pm:

    - Meanwhile, Bailey spent about $410K on consultants and their services, staff, etc. -

    So this is all just a big grift to funnel cash to his buddies. How surprising.


  12. - Sir Reel - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:18 pm:

    Only an Eastern Bloc Republican like Miller doesn’t see the irony of saying “pro-life, pro-gun” in the same sentence.


  13. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:19 pm:

    === It has nothing to do with winning===

    I know those folks and they don’t go into something to lose.


  14. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:23 pm:

    ===Wake up===

    Donā€™t beā€¦ ā€œthat personā€ā€¦ telling everyone to ā€œwake upā€.

    Letā€™s put on our thinking caps for a secā€¦

    If Iā€™m mocking (or jealously crying in my Yuengling, either one, you choose) the idea of the money ā€œspentā€, doncha think I see that the cash part of all this is a thing?

    Seriously. Do you believe what youā€™re asking.

    If your beef is with the slate, ā€œgo in peaceā€ and whateverā€¦

    ā€¦ thereā€™s gonna be a half of a billion (yep, with a B) likely spent by all in two elections. You want some, go chase it. The media outlets are winners too.


  15. - Flat Bed Ford - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:24 pm:

    =There has been some paranoia within the Eastern Bloc=

    You don’t say…


  16. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:26 pm:

    Iā€™ve also yet to meet anyone willing to dump nine-figures into anything in this life without seeing a winning end.

    If you know someone like that, tell no one but me and the both of us can make a pitch for the dollars, lol


  17. - Lester Holtā€™s Mustache - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:37 pm:

    ==Itā€™s about consultants getting very rich.==

    Why would Griff care about making consultants rich? Having his guy in the governors mansion to veto tax increases, eliminate regulations, and award lucrative state procurement contracts (like Rauner did with Trey Childress) would be far more profitable in the long run.


  18. - Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:38 pm:

    ===So, essentially it appears as though Bailey was able to get $169,800 to his ally Rep. Chris Miller via a complicated series of maneuvers through other campaign accounts.===

    I guess that makes Representative Bailey a direct supporter of a wanna be domestic terrorist that declared war on the United States of America last year? Neat. Maybe he knew exactly about what his supporter who is facing federal charges was doing on January 6th.

    ===Personally, is the only depressing thing I see.===

    OW, you’re looking at this wrong. We should just be starting a mail house with lofty boasts about micro targeting and meta data while claiming a proven track record of results.

    If the modern GOP is fine with becoming a party that’s driven by grifters for grifters the appropriate response is to out grift the grifters until the donors and voters learn their lesson and the candidates stop this nonsense.


  19. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:39 pm:

    ===Having his guy in the governors mansion to veto tax increases, eliminate regulations, and award lucrative state procurement contracts (like Rauner did with Trey Childress) would be far more profitable in the long run.===

    Weā€¦ have a winner.


  20. - King Louis XVI - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:43 pm:

    And Pastor Corey Brooks’ Project Hood got $5,000 from Bailey - way, way more than any GOP county organization or other donations.


  21. - Publius - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:48 pm:

    Farmers know how to spend lots of money fast.


  22. - John Lopez - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:51 pm:

    No more games!

    Schimpf looking better every day, and he definitely did the best choosing a running mate in McHenry Counry Board Vice Chair Carolyn Schofield!


  23. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:56 pm:

    - Candy Dogood -

    As a newly minted (and deservingly so) Golden Horseshoe winner, *you* could strike out on *your own*, you wonā€™t need me.

    Keep me updated on your progress, or you get too busy and need help.

    :)

    Back to Bailey, as I grab another Yuengling to cry inā€¦

    When you look at that burn rate, topping over 180%+, how will Bailey see his path going forward in trying first to get name ID, and second fend off and attack Irvin with the same dollars needed for all three prongs?

    The monetary strength of a candidate is also predicated on the threats within the race and being able to both answer and then counter attack.

    At this point, all the money moving, has Bailey even secured a base of operation and voter to build a voting block?

    The waste of money will be harshly measured last by the votes finally cast.


  24. - Southern - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:11 pm:

    Darren “Bailout” Bailey
    #BailoutBailey


  25. - JoanP - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:33 pm:

    = Hope he doesnā€™t try to run the state like that. =

    Hope he doesn’t get the opportunity.


  26. - Jason Bourne - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:44 pm:

    Sounds like a money laundering scheme.


  27. - Emmerder - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:45 pm:

    I think we learned with disastrous results that being good at winning elections does not equal good governing. So dismissing someoneā€™s financial motives is unwarranted.


  28. - Nazgul - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:55 pm:

    Darren Bailey is a con artist grifter….. end of story. People in Southern Illinois are sick of his antics.


  29. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 4:13 pm:

    ===the Restore Illinois PAC is planning on challenging Republicans who have sold out working families and our conservative principles to vote with Democrats to raise taxes. This is the only way we can truly reform Springfield and restore Illinois.===

    To that update?

    Welp, Darren Bailey hopes to win the nomination for governor by dividing the entire GOP under an unsustainable litmus test of purity that likely will include supporting the cult leader Donald Trump, and use the term RINO as its reason.

    Itā€™s truly a horrific and lousy response for a candidate wanting to not only win a nomination, but after wining rally the entire party around them.

    Immature children send out a release like that.

    Itā€™s pathetic, small, and sad, and in no way makes his base grow, or makes the party more appealing.

    There were no spelling errors, so thatā€™s me being positive.


  30. - Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 4:14 pm:

    Bailey throwing up a plethora of baloney against the wall to see what sticks.


  31. - NIU Grad - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 4:22 pm:

    “We are in a fight for the heart and soul of our state and the Republican Party.”

    I thought you were running to lead Illinois? How about that.


  32. - Lirker - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 4:27 pm:

    ā€œ Welp, Darren Bailey hopes to win the nomination for governor by dividing the entire GOP under an unsustainable litmus test of purityā€¦ā€

    I always thought of him as a Slytherin


  33. - Jibba - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 4:36 pm:

    To the update. So RINOs and tax increases equal corruption? I guess that consistent with the lack of logic shown by the nationwide GOP, where Dem victories can only be achieved by stealing.


  34. - Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 4:40 pm:

    Boy, politics are weird.
    In the real world, that might warrant an investigation for money laundering.


  35. - Henry Francis - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 5:15 pm:

    == We are in a fight for the heart and soul of our state and the Republican Party.==

    So my actions were 100% appropriate. Full stop.

    Allā€™s fair in love and revolutions, right?


  36. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 5:58 pm:

    === Welp, Darren Bailey hopes to win the nomination for governor by dividing the entire GOP under an unsustainable litmus test of purity that likely will include supporting the cult leader Donald Trump, and use the term RINO as its reason. ===

    Anyone running for governor on the Republican ticket who does not support Donald Trump should say so now. They cannot avoid the question forever, and its better to get the question out there now and have it answered than find out in September.

    Ken Griffin has supported as many Democrats as Republicans. Some would say heā€™s bipartisan, but John Kass would call him part of the Combine.

    Whether heā€™s a Republican or a RINO, whether Mayor Irving is a Republican or just a shrewd operator is something that will be debated throughout this campaign.

    But I would balk at suggesting Bailey is applying some impossible ā€œpurity test.ā€ Irving and Griffin have both given money to lots of Democrats. A Democratic candidate whoā€™d supported Trump, George Ryan and Bruce Rauner just as Griffin has supported Biden, Daley and Emmanuel would never survive a primary, and would expect to answer questions about it from his opponents, reporters and advocacy groups.


  37. - Inverted Pyramid - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 10:16 pm:

    The lifestyles of the Bailey family and the Miller family are fully paid for by the taxpayers of this state and nation through the generous government salaries, subsidies, and forgiven loans they receive every year.

    There is no small government conservatism in the actual realities of their lives. There is no private industry ingenuity in their daily actions. They only ache to tear apart the fabric of our United States for their own personal gain and vanity.

    They are not Republicans.
    They are not conservatives.

    They are false prophets.

    “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”.


  38. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 12:36 am:

    === But I would balk at suggesting Bailey is applying some impossible ā€œpurity test.ā€ Irving and Griffin have both given money to lots of Democrats. A Democratic candidate whoā€™d supported Trump, George Ryan and Bruce Rauner just as Griffin has supported Biden, Daley and Emmanuel would never survive a primary, and would expect to answer questions about it from his opponents, reporters and advocacy groups.===

    Rauner beat Ives in a primary, one on one.

    Crowded primary, Irvin has a better shot.


  39. - Elliott Ness - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 6:57 am:

    These hucksters are hilarious and so many are falling for it. They have done and will do nothing. May as well drive down the road and toss the money out of your car window.


  40. - Soapbox Derby - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 8:00 am:

    Well, if you inherit billions, you don’t have to worry about your campaign’s “burn rate”.


  41. - Out Here In The Middle - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 10:05 am:

    ==Itā€™s evident the corruption in Springfield isnā€™t partisan==

    So now some members of the ILGOP are “corrupt” also??

    I am really tired of campaigns that label everyone who doesn’t agree with them as ‘corrupt’.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* Isabelā€™s afternoon roundup
* The Waukegan City Clerk was railroaded
* Whatever happened, the city has a $40 million budget hole it didn't disclose until now
* Manar gives state agencies budget guidance: Cut, cut, cut
* Roundup: Ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis testifies in Madigan corruption trial
* Open thread
* Isabelā€™s morning briefing
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