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Pritzker sets national campaign finance record

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* Tina Sfondeles did the math…

It’s now official.

Democrat J.B. Pritzker has pumped more of his own money into a campaign than any other self-financing candidate in U.S. history.

The Gold Coast billionaire’s $146.5 million has bought him a place in the record books, breezing past Republican Meg Whitman, who set the previous record in 2010, when the former eBay honcho churned $144 million of her own fortune into her losing battle against Democrat Jerry Brown.

The combined $234 million that Pritzker and Gov. Bruce Rauner have raised in their bitter battle falls short of the combined $280 million that Brown and Whitman ultimately spent.

But with three weeks left, the meter is still running. And expensive television ads remain the top expenditure fueling spending in this year’s gubernatorial contest.

…Adding… Tribune…

Among some of the more interesting expenses found on the quarterly reports filed by the major gubernatorial candidates were a few items from Rauner.

He spent $459 for a T-shirt cannon, $600 on a petting zoo from Wild Times Exotics of Springfield and $4,360 to rent a party boat on the Chicago River and paid $3,750 for a plane-towed aerial banner.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:53 am

Comments

California also has more than triple Illinois’ population

Comment by Question Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:58 am
Yup, which means cost per vote is probably higher than most.

Comment by Peoples Republic of Oak Park Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:59 am
JB is a serious candidate. He’s willing to spend what it takes to win. Anyway, after he defeats Rauner he will be a serious candidate for President in 2024.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:03 am
===…he will be a serious candidate for President in 2024.===

Slow down, Speed Racer.

Pritzker is spending $300,000 a day, every day, and can’t shake “Scheme to Defraud”, lawsuits from campaign staffers filed on discrimination, and has yet to get a policy passed and signed as a governor.

One race at a time, one office at a time.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:05 am
—Slow down speed racer—

I second this..

Comment by Agreed Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:11 am
Rauner should get his money back on that aerial sign. I saw it flying over the Crowne Plaza on Dem Day at the State Fair. It was a definite bust.

Comment by Not so silent majority Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:12 am
–Slow down, Speed Racer.–

Yep, as OW likes to say, Governors Own. He hasn’t owned anything yet.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:17 am
It’s hilarious, in a bad way, that Pritzker needed $200,000,000 to defeat Rauner.

I think Ives spent 4,000,000 to nearly defeat Rauner this year.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:20 am
I wonder if illinois income tax increase will also exceed that of Californias. Wow. I just googled(yes i did) their rates. We may have a big surprise in store.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:20 am
I voted already. Y’all can stop now. Please.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:29 am
“own money” - like he worked to get it. All from his tax havens, he will spend it to promote himself but hide it if there was a chance he would have to pay taxes on it.

Comment by Arock Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:29 am
=== We may have a big surprise in store. ===
It won’t be a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention. If JB wins, Illinoisans will get the government (and the taxes) they deserve.

Comment by Team America Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:35 am
That’s a lotta money to white-wash a campaign. /s (too soon?)

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:35 am
I’m so glad JB is buying the office; he’s so much better than the guy who bought it in 2014.

Comment by Hexagon Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:37 am
Imagine what he would have spent if he was up against someone like an Edgar or a normal candidate without baggage and with a winning personality

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:41 am
I hope the T-shirt cannon came with an instruction book;)

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article218684785.html

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:42 am
=== - Steve - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:03 am:

he will be a serious candidate for President in 2024. ===

lol. Did you even watch the debates? How about his interview explaining the toilets?

Comment by Birdseed Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:43 am
It’s Illinois.
All my interred great grandparents, grandparents and deceased distant cousins currently residing in Memorial Gardens has already had their votes cast in straight Democratic ballots.

I won’t complain, or my property taxes will be reviewed for a double digit increase and everyone who has a civil service job will get pink slipped.

I grew up in Cook.
I know how things go around here.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:43 am
==Anyway, after he defeats Rauner he will be a serious candidate for President in 2024.==

That’s such a cute thing to believe, I bet you’ll be able to cast your very first vote in 2024, right?

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:28 pm
Nothing short of buying the election. I mean, it’s legal, but is JB the best choice for Gov? Far from it. He just wanted it and like an expensive race car, he is just buying it outright. Shrug. I truly hope he can make some good changes for Illinois, but I’m not holding my breath.

Comment by Southfarmllama Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:32 pm
==Imagine what he would have spent if he was up against someone like an Edgar or a normal candidate without baggage and with a winning personality==

LOL
Did you write that Jim Edgar has a winning personality?
LOL

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:39 pm
Spending all that money to be told there isn’t any money to do the stuff you want to do…

More power to ya JB…

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:49 pm
~but is JB the best choice for Gov? ~

Out of the names on the ballot, yes.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 1:01 pm
JB could have funded every animal shelter in the state for centuries rather than buying a governorship with his inheritance - I guess he really does hate puppies!

Comment by IL-6 Voter Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 1:21 pm
VM @ 11:43am. . . just remember, “death should not disenfranchise.”

Comment by Lt Guv Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 1:58 pm
Lol @ Steve’s comment.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Governor for the state of Illinois is now just a prize for rich guys to buy. Trophy wives are no longer the cat’s meow. Can’t click on several websites for a story without seeing JB and the same ad over and over and over again. Maybe someday a rich guy that’s a leader will run but it’s not this year…

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 8:50 am