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Total political contributions in Illinois, 1994 to present

Weekly Update | February 18th

  
Total Contributions in 2016:
$17,030,909
x
Total February Contributions: $7,118,957


Total Contributions this Week:  $2,348,490
x
Number of Contributions this Week: 489

Total contribution figures include donations, transfers, inkind contributions, loans, 
and other types of monetary exchanges between donors and PACs.

Scroll down for remaining Illinois Sunshine Weekly Update data
Connecting the Cash: 
Illinois Dems with $34 Million, GOP with $28 Million

Just one month before the March 15th Illinois Primary, both political parties in Illinois have amassed major war chests to aid their goals of upsetting (or defending) the balance of power in state government. The Democratic side, consisting of Senate, House, Leadership, and Party Committees, currently holds over $34 Million. Illinois Republican funds, consisting of those plus the Governor's committee, currently have over $28 Million ready to spend. The top three Super PACs in the state, each with an individual balance of over $1 Million, have a total of $16 Million in the bank.

This all amounts to nearly $80 Million in cash on hand between both parties. This is in addition to the $17 Million already spent in the first month and a half of 2016.

Here's a breakdown of funds available by party:

Democrats  
Republicans
Senate $10,436,010
Senate $2,834,079
House $16,815,699
House $4,148,395
Legislative Leaders $5,190,961
Legislative Leaders $899,236
Party PAC $2,438,898
Party PAC $1,349,698
- -
Governor $19,555,040
Total
$34,881,568

Total
$28,786,448

Democratic funds come mostly from rank and file committees and the Leadership committees (which have fewer contribution limits than a normal PAC.) The Republican side is financed mostly by the Governor's candidate committee, which maintained an impressive and steady balance for most of 2015.

Senate, House and Super PACs

The 39 Democratic State Senators have over $10 Million in their committee funds, while the 20 Senate Republicans have $2.8 Million. Of that $2.8 Million, $550,000 comes from Republican Leader Christine Radogno's PAC. Another $300,000 is from the committee for Sam McCann, who faces a fierce primary race for the 50th District.

In the House, the 71 Democratic members have raised $16.8 Million, while the 47 Republicans have only $4 Million available. Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin's committee makes up $820,000 of House Republican funds.

 Senate 
 Party   # of Members   Total Funds 
 Democrats  39
$10,436,010
 Republicans  20
$2,834,079
 Total  59 $13,270,089

 House 
 Party   # of Members   Total Funds 
 Democrats  71
$16,815,699
 Republicans  47
$4,148,395
 Total  118 $20,964,094

Last but not least, there are three Super PACs that have set themselves apart in this election cycle by raising far more than any others (the fourth most funded, Personal PAC, has $690,707 on hand.) These totals are not included in the parties' "Total Funds" above, but there are clear links between two of these committees and the Republican Party. The goal of Turnaround Illinois is to support the Governor's agenda, and it has become the second highest donor to Liberty Principles PAC. The two groups also share donors. The IllinoisGO connection is more tenuous, but many believe it exists to fund Democrats who are willing to support the Governor's agenda. Their heavy involvement in the Dunkin vs Stratton race has given weight to this theory.

These groups have already made a statement in certain races, and will almost certainly continue to do so until the General Elections in November.

 Top Super PACs   Funds 
 Turnaround Illinois  $2,595,379
 Liberty Principles PAC  $4,564,295
 IllinoisGO  $8,999,970
 Total 
$16,159,644

Data sourced from  Illinois Sunshine  and the  Illinois State Board of Elections . For more information, contact Sarah Brune at 312-436-1274 or sarah@ilcampaign.org.
Feb 11 - Feb 18

donated $214,000 to SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana PAC 2/17
Illinois Association of REALTORS
donate $100,000 to Illinois Association of REALTORS Fund
2/12
UA Local 597 Pipefitters (members dues deductions)
donated $77,242 to Illinois Pipe Trades PEF 2/11
SEIU IL Council (Dues) donated $75,000 to SEIU Illinois Council PAC
2/16
Chicago Teachers Union, IFT Local 1, dues
donated $50,870 to Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE
2/16
Friends for Marty Durkan donated inkind $50,098 to Citizens for Michelle Harris
2/15
Robert W. Fioretti loaned $50,000 to Bob Fioretti for State Senator
2/11
IBEW Local Union 134 (Dues Check-off)
donated $30,000 to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC
2/12
Anna Loftus
loaned $30,000 to Citizens to Elect Judge Loftus 2/11
NAR MEMBERS (DUES)
donated $27,300 to National Association of REALTORS® Fund 2/12
Feb 11 - Feb 18

Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE transferred $85,000 to Friends of Juliana Stratton 2/13
Construction & General Laborers' District Council of Chicago PAEL
transferred $55,000 to Friends of Juliana Stratton
2/16
IPACE
transferred $53,750 to Friends of Melinda Bush 2/17
IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund transferred $50,000 to Friends of Juliana Stratton
2/12
Health Care Council of Illinois PAC
transferred $30,000 to Sam McCann for Senate
2/12
Engineers Political Education Committee
transferred $25,000 to Sam McCann for Senate 2/12
Illinois Pipe Trades PAC Account transferred $20,000 to Friends of Anita Alvarez 2/16
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
transferred $20,000 to Friends of Juliana Stratton
2/12
Southern Illinois Chapter
transferred $17,600 to Credit Union Political Action Council CUPAC IL
2/11
Construction & General Laborers' District Council of Chicago & Vicinit transferred $10,000 to Friends of Mike Halpin
2/17
Feb 11 - Feb 18

# Committee Type New funds Current funds
1 Candidate
$274,081
$696,061
2 SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana PAC
Political Action
$214,000
$490,375
3 Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE Political Action
$139,639
$1,058,189
4 Sam McCann for Senate
Candidate
$102,500
$304,049
5 Illinois Association of REALTORS Fund Super PAC
$100,000
$100,936
6 Illinois Pipe Trades PEF
Political Action
$95,040
$314,114
7 SEIU Illinois Council PAC Political Action
$75,000
$110,255
8 Friends of Jay Travis
Candidate
$60,571
$83,207
9 Friends of Melinda Bush
Candidate
$55,750
$215,848
10 Citizens for Michelle Harris
Candidate
$53,098
$0
As of Feb 18

# Committee Type Current funds
1 Candidate
$19,498,843
2 Super PAC
$8,999,970
3 Candidate
$8,650,680
4 Super PAC
$4,564,295
5 Political Party
$2,829,030
6 Political Party
$2,766,163
7 Super PAC
$2,584,772
8 Political Party
$2,438,898
9 Political Action
$2,345,342
10 Friends of Michael J Madigan Candidate
$2,298,601
All data is sourced daily from the Illinois State Board of Elections
Brought to you by:

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
312.436.1274
36 W Randolph #405, Chicago

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