Yesterday was the deadline for Illinois political committees to submit their quarterly reports detailing campaign contributions and expenses. They give us a picture of where the party committees, legislative leaders, and candidates in contested races stand with just under a…
Read MoreThe Illinois primary elections are one year away today, but some candidates have already starting building their war chests. We took a look at two races that have attracted big money: the campaigns for governor and secretary of state. The…
Read MoreWith the final quarterly campaign finance reports of 2020 submitted in mid-January, we now have a complete picture of the role that small donations played in the November elections for the Illinois General Assembly. And that role is, well, small. …
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While a few local races remain uncalled and officials continue working to ensure that every vote is counted, this year’s election results have taken shape. Here are four key takeaways from this year’s contests. 1. Kenneth Griffin won big. Kenneth…
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One year after Governor Rod Blagojevich’s 2008 arrest on corruption charges, the Illinois General Assembly responded to calls for reform by establishing the state’s first campaign contribution limits. The law contained a caveat unique to Illinois: in any race with a so-called…
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Senator Don Harmon assumed the office of President of the Illinois Senate in January of 2020 following Senator John Cullerton’s resignation. He is now a key player not only in passing legislation but also in raising and distributing funds for…
Read More“If we’re serious about fixing the corruption problem in Illinois, we have to go to its root—the money that feeds it.” Reform for Illinois Executive Director Alisa Kaplan wrote a Chicago Tribune op-ed outlining what keeps leaders like Mike Madigan in power…
Read MoreOn July 17, the Justice Department announced its deferred prosecution agreement with ComEd, implicating Speaker Madigan as the recipient of ComEd’s bribes. Being at the center of a scandal, however, has not led to any noticeable change in Speaker Madigan’s…
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Ethics and equity are “inextricably intertwined,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told a packed room at Reform for Illinois’ annual luncheon last Friday. “The issues can’t be separated from each other.” The newly elected mayor joined moderator Natalie Moore from WBEZ…
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Lori Lightfoot cruised to a commanding victory in the Chicago mayoral runoff on April 2, garnering a nearly 50 point lead over Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Her victory was fueled in part by deep-pocketed contributors who had backed…
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