Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Illinois residential consumers had fifth lowest average electricity bill in the country during 2021
Next Post: Post-campaign notebook
Posted in:
* AP…
Conservative groups that sought to get hundreds of “parents’ rights” activists elected to local school boards largely fell short in last week’s midterm elections, notching notable wins in some Republican strongholds but failing to gain a groundswell of support among moderate voters.
Traditionally nonpartisan, local school boards have become fiercely political amid entrenched battles over the teaching of race, history and sexuality. Candidates opposing what they see as “woke” ideology in public schools have sought to gain control of school boards across the U.S. and overturn policies deemed too liberal.
The push has been boosted by Republican groups including the 1776 Project PAC, which steered millions of dollars into local school races this year amid predictions of a red wave. But on Tuesday, just a third of its roughly 50 candidates won..
A big 1776 Project PAC contributor is billionaire Illinoisan Richard Uihlein, via his Restoration PAC.
Uihlein backed the failed effort to flip the Illinois Supreme Court. He put big bucks into several losing congressional races here (and across the country). He supported Darren Bailey directly and also with $42 million to Dan Proft’s committee. He plunked down at least $2 million against the Workers Rights Amendment and appears to have lost there as well. And he was the primary funder of the Common Sense Reforms PAC, which wasted a bunch of money on a whole lot of failed state legislative races. Also, he contributed millions to the Illinois Senate Republican Leader, who did pick up a net seat but is now about to be forced out by his own members.
And that’s just this year. Uihlein’s losses here go back years.
He’s like the kiss of death, that guy.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 9:57 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Illinois residential consumers had fifth lowest average electricity bill in the country during 2021
Next Post: Post-campaign notebook
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
The good news post of the day in my book, Rich. Thank you.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:05 am
He also funded a couple hyperlocal campaigns against township mental health board referenda. All of them passed, obviously. He’s addicted to losing.
Comment by vern Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:05 am
===He’s like the kiss of death, that guy.===
Unless your his vendor, like a Proft.
You can lose and cash checks.
Uihlein is like an ATM for losers.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:06 am
You only go around once, grab for the gusto
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:08 am
All the more reason why in my opinion a 4-year college diploma needs to be required for school board members.
Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:10 am
Interesting and well researched article in WSJ- since 2020 100’s of thousands of people voted with their feet exiting states like NY Illinois Michigan leaving those states with greater concentrations of Dems but making the states they moved to mostly Florida and Texas more Republican
Comment by Sue Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:15 am
wow. hopeful news. I’m wondering if anyone has a read on the Wisconsin Uihlein family money. That branch…I think second cousins of mr. conservative $$$ ATM….has a progressive bent, far different than Proft’s sugar daddy.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:15 am
Time for Dick Uihlein to pack it up. (I hear he’s gotta guy for that…)
Comment by Torco Sign Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:15 am
People are smart. They know that when someone starts screaming about “parents’ rights” what they really mean is “rights for parents who agree with me, not you”.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:18 am
I’m heartened by the defeat of so many of the book banners and history whitewashers, but the problem is that a lot of school board elections are held at different times when turnout is low. This gives the culture warriors a better chance when financed by the Uihleins of the country.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:19 am
“He’s like the kiss of death, that guy.”
Apparently, you are unfamiliar with Worthington’s Law, i.e. More Money = Better Than
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:25 am
Proft and Mike Z spent over $100 million to lose every race. What a great grift those two have going. And neither lives here anymore. I know that has been pointed out a million times before, but it is so idiotic it is worth repeating.
Comment by watchful eye Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:27 am
–a 4-year college diploma needs to be required for school board members.–
That wouldn’t solve anything.
Pretty sure the leader of Asleep IL has a 4 year degree. Bob Jones university gives out 4 year degrees too…
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:38 am
===Mike Z===
It’s like folks forget.
Z won with Rauner. He won.
It was Diana Rauner, a Democrat, that did the most damage to Illinois.
Frankly, if I were Z I woulda ran Mayor Irvin instead of Candidate Irvin, but when 56+% want to support a candidate that embraces racist thinkers, insurrection apologists and conspiracy theorists, you cash them checks, run the ads the money guy wants and wait until the phone rings again.
I’m constantly amazed at the “thoughts” to Z and equating him to Proft.
Z aims to win.
Proft aims for paychecks.
Goldberg is still my favorite, Z is the farthest “third or fourth” almost like Proft’s gubernatorial percentage “third or fourth”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:38 am
- Stuck in Celliniland -
Hopefully you’re sticking with this name and not choosing a few more…
Yeah, here’s the thing;
Agree or disagree with folks, anyone who can qualify for a ballot is eligible, and it seems that having “education” as a DISqualifier is exactly the wrong way to make school boards better.
A tradesman (tradeswoman) who is a plumber and learned a trade beginning in high school would be a great voice to education and the need to look at education with both the arts and trades being important.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:42 am
==He’s like the kiss of death, that guy. ==
Well, so much for Rich’s free Uline catalog this year.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:53 am
Dan Profit should be his name
Comment by low level Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 10:59 am
It’s fun to laugh at Uihlein’s misfortune. Not the most generous impluse to have as a human being, but sometimes it’s well deserved.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:01 am
One of the more interesting arguments against wealth and income inequality in the US, is what it’s done to significant sectors of the GOP professional consulting class. It’s not just Proft. There is sooo much money in them thar hills, if you can “land” just one elderly and somewhat angry, Fox-News-watching GOP billionaire to finance your outfit.
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:04 am
@Friendly Bob Adams - “Uihlein’s misfortune”? Really? That’s an interesting way to look at it. Putting a spotlight on his repeated failures to promote politicians who carry the banner of regressive policies is not a moral failing.
Comment by Luke Steele Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:13 am
Dick, if you just paid your fair share of taxes, it would probably be easier *and* cheaper for you.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:24 am
Perhaps others know this best but don’t consultants like Proft typically make a % of the overall TV spend? I’m just wondering how much Proft made from that $42m spend on Bailey’s losing campaign.
Comment by slow down Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:25 am
Question of the day: Who is worse with their money, Dick Uihlein or Elon Musk?
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:30 am
If Uihlein really wants to do something to improve Illinois, how about funding total free-ride scholarships for medical students who agree to practice in the state?
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:43 am
If money could buy time or love, it would have real value.
The ability to accumulate wealth is no defense against being suckered out of it…for sure.
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:51 am
=WSJ- since 2020 100’s of thousands of people voted with their feet exiting states like NY Illinois Michigan leaving those states=
LOL,is that all you have?
I was driving around earlier today. Roads are still very busy. Houses are occupied.
Although I live in the country I would be very happy to see my counties population drop by 50%.
I like the quiet and open land.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 12:03 pm
“exiting states like NY Illinois Michigan” Let’s see, conservatives tend to be older, older people tend to be retired, retired people tend to live where it’s warm. Yup, checks out. Oh, and water is wet.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 12:55 pm
skeptic - read the article. The numbers aren’t snowbirds. The migration is the biggest movement of people on record. As an aside- Illinois lost more income revenues than any other state. A total of $2 billion fled Illinois. 05 percent of that is an annual 100 million of tax revenues every year
Comment by Sue Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 1:31 pm
==He’s like the kiss of death, that guy.==
Or maybe Uihlein is a closet liberal and likes to support extremist right-wing candidates and positions to knock more electable moderate Republicans out of the running so Democratic candidates win. Profit might be in on it with him. There could be a vast conspiracy. Hmmm. On second thought, nah, just a poor judge of candidates.
Comment by MoralMinority Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 1:31 pm
===nah, just a poor judge of candidates===
Or more money than sense.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 1:32 pm
===Or more money than sense.===
Instead of lighting fireplaces with $100, Uihlein burns millions to burn out fires of democracy
Good thing Uihlein loses… a lot
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 1:40 pm
**I’m just wondering how much Proft made from that $42m spend on Bailey’s losing campaign.**
He reported paying himself a total of $225k in Q2 and Q3. We don’t have Q4 numbers yet.
Comment by JoeMaddon Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:44 pm
I wish every Uline customer would also help him lose by finding somewhere else to buy office paper. You just don’t see much (enough) criticism of his business.
Comment by Ugh Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 11:10 pm