Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Dick Uihlein gives Proft group another $3 million

Posted in:

Illinois

* Click here to see the latest A-1 from Liberty Principles PAC.

Richard Uihlein has now given Dan Proft’s group $5 million during this cycle. His grand total is $12 million.

* Meanwhile, Proft’s group ran an ad for this guy on Fox Springfield during one of Sunday’s NFL championship games…

Oakland Republican Chris Miller, seeking to replace Charleston Republican Reggie Phillips in the Illinois House, is picking up financial support and endorsements from quite an array of Republicans.

Miller is running against Charleston Republican Terry Davis in the 110th District, which includes all of Coles County plus all or parts of Edgar, Cumberland, Clark, Crawford and Lawrence counties.

Last week he announced the endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson of Urbana, who also gave Miller a $1,000 campaign contribution through his federal Middle Ground PAC.

Miller also got $2,000 from state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville.

And he’s been the recipient of almost $5,550 in “independent expenditures” (for mail pieces and video) from Chicago conservative Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC. […]

Miller said he’s staying neutral in the Rauner-Ives race.

“Oh heavens no. That would be a landmine,” he said. “I have no desire to get involved in that mess. I have enough problems running my own campaign.”

* And this is small potatoes, but everything is relative…

Chicago-based conservative radio commentator Dan Proft, an influential operative in Illinois Republican politics, has spent thousands supporting one candidate in the three-way GOP race to fill the seat held by state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth.

From October to the end of 2017, Proft’s Liberty Principles political action committee spent $19,455 for Dan Caulkins, a former Decatur city councilman, according to documents filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The money has gone to television, online and direct-mail advertising.

Caulkins’ own campaign spent $14,181 in 2017 on other items such as printing, T-shirts, and radio ads. Meanwhile, state records also show his primary opponents, Piatt County Board Chairman Randy Keith and Cerro Gordo School Board President Todd Henricks, have spent a fraction of that. Keith raised $16,733 last year and reported spending $8,046. Henricks raised $13,345 and spent $2,619 in 2017.

The only Democrat in the race, Jen McMillin, raised $600 last year.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:30 am

Comments

If Proft and Uihlein get a stranglehold within the Raunerite Caucus(es), the demise of ILGOP will not only be complete, the demise will be one that could set back actual Republican politics in Illinois for a decade… if Rauner were also to lose and the Dems control the map making process

There is no good news here.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:37 am
It’s always funny to see how unpolished new candidates in lower tier races can be. He’s not endorsing in the governor’s race because it would “be a landmine” and he has enough problems in his own campaign?

Might want to work on refining that one…

Comment by PJ Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:40 am
Always doom and gloom for your “fellow Republicans” OW.

Always sea shells and balloons for Cook County Democrats who can do no wrong.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:42 am
Proft could care less Willy about the future of the Illinois GOP. It’s always been about him and always will be. You are spot on about its future

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:50 am
So Uihlein is bankrolling a multi-million-dollar primary proxy war against Rauner and his loyalists in the GA, but not a dime for Ives to go after the big dog?

What’s the desired result? To be a minority faction in the minority caucuses — what’s that worth? Or is it just expensive fun-and-games, grabbing the gusto with all that old Schlitz money?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:50 am
Doesn’t campaign reporting laws say if more than 50% of your receipts come from one source then the name of that source has to be in the official PAC name? Dicky Uihlein Liberty Principles PAC has a good ring.

Comment by Baggs McCoy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:51 am
“Lucky Pierre”

One of you Lucky Pierre said you vote in Democratic primaries.

What do you care about Republican politics?

If you think a splintered Caucus between Raunerites and those loyal to Proft is good for an alleged party, you are a bot that is utterly clueless to politics.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:59 am
===To be a minority faction in the minority caucuses — what’s that worth===

It’s been pretty lucrative for the House Freedom Caucus in DC. That sure looks like what Proft is trying to emulate. Empower a bunch of corporate-funded nihilists to destroy the ability of anyone to effectively govern.

I’d say that’s worth a lot, but only to people like Uihlein and his fellow oligarchs.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:00 am
== but not a dime for Ives to go after the big dog?===

I’m guessing more than a dime of this will go toward the big dog.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:05 am
–It’s been pretty lucrative for the House Freedom Caucus in DC.–

They’re a faction in the majority caucus, which still operates under the Hastert Rule (might want to consider changing that name).

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:08 am
There is no divide in the Democrats? 49% of Illinois Democrats voted for a Democratic socialist who isn’t even a Democrat in the last primary for President.

Now you seem to believe those voters are back with the establishment and will vote for whoever Speaker Madigan tells them to. Care to share any data beyond your usual spin?

Joe Berrios, JB Pritzker and other establishment Democrats are not as confident as you are.

All politics is local, OW. If there are no competitive Republican primary races why pull a ballot and waste your vote?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:14 am
== (might want to consider changing that name)==
The Freedom Caucus won’t let them change it to the Boehner Rule or the Ryan Rule. Might have to rethink any names of living people and call it the Michel rule?

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:15 am
===All politics is local, OW. If there are no competitive Republican primary races why pull a ballot and waste your vote?===

Shouldn’t you then try to recruit Republicans in Chicago and try to grow the party?

No.

No, all the “Lucky Pierre” are like Diana and Bruce Rauner, uber-left, costal limousine liberals.

Your phony tale here, if you don’t vote in GOP Primaries, why do you even care what actual Republicans think?

===Now you seem to believe those voters are back with the establishment and will vote for whoever Speaker Madigan tells them to. Care to share any data beyond your usual spin?===

No, lol, I see a state like Virginia that flipped so many GOP seats it was a coin flip for control of their House of Delegates.

Your premise that Diana and Bruce Rauner are Republicans, and Uihlein and Proft are good for a GOP brand misses the mark.

Rauner signed an abortion bill one of you “Lucky Pierre” said not only could’ve get passed in California, it could’ve get signed.

Rauner signed it.

So, I know you’re frustrated, but Raunerites and Proft loyalists will ensure the demise…what Rauner has tried to bury… the ILGOP.

You keep voting in Dem primaries, not unlike Bruce did when he clouted his denied Winnetka-living daughter… through a Dem appointee, LOL

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:35 am
I am still living rent free in your head OW.

I am the one and only “Lucky Pierre”

The track record of pollsters and pundits predicting races is not great in recent elections.

I guess you think voters will reward tax raising Cook County Democrats and punish tax cutting Republicans.

Why don’t you wait to see how the economy performs with the new tax code and if middle class wages rise and people actually see more money in their pay check before you forecast the November elections.

The new rates take effect in February, it is foolish to weigh in now.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 12:20 pm
===I am the one and only “Lucky Pierre”===

Really? If you’d like, I can show the different formatting and language, changes that seem… “out of character”… to say the least. I’d let it go.

===Why don’t you wait to see how the economy performs with the new tax code and if middle class wages rise and people actually see more money in their pay check before you forecast the November elections.===

You think a state Clinton carried by 16 points (polls here had her leading between 12-17) is going to think the worst Republican governor in America during Trump’s midterm is a good choice? You go with that.

===The new rates take effect in February, it is foolish to weigh in now.===

I thought Rauner was against the tax cuts before he was for them?

Rauner is still 25 points under water, has yet to sign a full year budget, tried to destroy social services and higher ed and signed the most liberal abortion bill in America, while trying to end organized labor.

Who is Rauner’s constituency to get ahead if his 30/55 approval-disapproval? lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:37 pm
To bring it back… Rauner, Proft, Uihlein… none have cared for the ILGOP… Rauner offered the political arm to Proft before Rauner, as a white male, had to think twice about his deal with IPI and Proft.

Why?

IPI, Proft, Uihlein, Rauner, they are the owners of a brand they are picking at, but Rauner found out this summer tarnishing the brand had consequences, like lying to a Catholic Cardinal, and Proft supporting candidates that won’t “betray” Rauner, while running Ives to go after Rauner…

Uihlein and Proft are trying to destroy what Rauner knows he needs to keep up his charade he’s an actual Republican.

It’s that warped.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:42 pm
Cicero Dan is only influential in his ability to get Dick Uihlein to transfer a fair amount of his money from his own wallet to Dan’s (and the ancillary wealth-transfer reaction this produces in the financial supporters of his political adversaries).

But influence in terms of winning races other than those that a chimpanzee (and a bit very bright one at that) could win, not so much.

Comment by DougChicago Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 3:03 pm