Campaign finance update: Johnson and Vallas stockpile cash with less than a week to go

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/campaign-finance-update-johnson-and-vallas-stockpile-cash-with-less-than-a-week-to-go/

Check out who’s funding – and influencing – candidates for yourself with Reform for Illinois’ Sunshine Campaign Finance Tracker.  See Chicago mayoral and city council candidates’ positions on campaign finance reform, elections, and ethics issues in our good government questionnaire. …

Op-ed: With an increase in dark money, Chicagoans have a right to know who’s trying to buy their vote

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/op-ed-with-an-increase-in-dark-money-chicagoans-have-a-right-to-know-whos-trying-to-buy-their-vote/

In an op-ed published by the Chicago Tribune, RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan discussed the growing role of dark money in Illinois’ elections and the most effective ways to stop it.  “Illinoisans have enough trust issues with our government —…

Niles experiments with an elected ethics board

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/elected-ethics-board-in-chicago-suburb-niles-meant-to-create-more-accountability-to-citizens-may-come-with-unforeseen-consequences/

Voters in Niles will elect members of their ethics board on April 4th – which may be the first of its kind in Illinois.  RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune about what an effective ethics…

Self-funding loophole allows mayoral candidates to rake in cash

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/self-funding-loophole-allows-mayoral-candidates-to-rake-in-cash/

Daily Kos reported on Illinois’ self-funding loophole and how mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson are taking advantage of the lack of contribution caps this cycle.   RFI ED Alisa Kaplan was quoted in the piece, saying “If you think…

Vallas triggers self-funding loophole in mayoral runoff

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/vallas-triggers-self-funding-loophole-in-mayoral-runoff/

After Paul Vallas’s $100K loan to his campaign on March 2nd, both Vallas and Brandon Johnson are able to raise unlimited sums of money during the mayoral runoff.  RFI ED Alisa Kaplan spoke with WTTW about how Vallas’s loan exploits…

Proft’s super PAC probed by state board of elections

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/profts-super-pac-probed-by-state-board-of-elections/

In an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business about a new probe into Dan Proft’s super PAC, RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan spoke at length about how super PACs’ ability to raise and spend unlimited sums of money is predicated on…

A Drop in the Bucket: How Small Donors are Left Behind in Chicago’s 2023 Mayoral Race

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/a-drop-in-the-bucket-how-small-donors-are-left-behind-in-chicagos-2023-mayoral-race/

Who’s funding Chicago’s mayoral race? Not everyday Chicagoans. Our analysis of contributions in this year’s contest shows that small donors – defined as individuals who contribute up to $150* – play a tiny role in most candidates’ fundraising. Meanwhile, megadonations…

Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire Answer Highlights

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/mayoral-candidate-questionnaire-answer-highlights/

Below we’ve compiled highlights of the six responding mayoral candidates’ answers to our good government questionnaire. See their full answers and city council candidates’ answers here. Campaign finance reform Fair Elections (public campaign financing) Question: Running a political campaign is…

Super PAC money floods mayoral race, signals need for reform

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/super-pac-money-floods-mayoral-race/

RFI ED Alisa Kaplan spoke with Crain’s Chicago Business about how super PACs active in Chicago’s mayoral race this cycle are hiding the identity of their donors and taking advantage of campaign finance loopholes.  “People should always know who’s trying…

Wards 26-50

https://www.reformforillinois.org/wards-26-50/