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* A.D. Quig at Crain’s…
Despite one of the biggest scandals of his tenure, House Speaker Mike Madigan’s campaign coffers are the biggest they’ve ever been with roughly $25 million cash on hand going into the final stretch of the 2020 election season, according to campaign finance records.
Madigan controls four campaign funds, the largest of which – Friends of Michael J Madigan – raised roughly $10 million in the last year alone, despite federal raids on the homes and offices of many of Madigan’s closest associates launching in the summer of 2019. That committee has raised $1 million since the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement implicated Madigan in July, with big donations from the Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC, LiUNA Chicago Laborers District Council and the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters PAC. […[
With less than two months to go until the November election, House Speaker Mike Madigan’s campaign coffers are in better shape than ever. Between the four committees he controls, the speaker has $25 million cash on hand as of September 14. While we won’t know how much Madigan spent this quarter until mid-October, his quarterly totals reported to the state election board exceed the run-up to all other elections so far.
More, including a graph, is at the link.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 9:47 am
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Alternate Title: Water is Wet
Comment by Fighter of Foo Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 9:50 am
I am surprised. BUT, if he survives this, I am sure he would have well remembered who stuck with him in tough times.
Pretty risky to need stuff from the legislature, and not have been with MJM when it hit the fan.
Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 9:55 am
Fav Human with a good point.
Follow up, this is clearly designed to prevent defection among his house members as well.
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:06 am
Even Covid couldn’t close the “Den of Thieves”. Sickening.
Comment by A Guy Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:09 am
The graph is especially stunning report on the effectiveness of “Fire Madigan”. the writings of Katrina & Kassamoron and even the opus above which seems to weave every sentence into the old story about the Trump DOJ. We know that might upset but it is a straight forward analysis
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:11 am
And somehow, the IL GOP consistently fields a slate of candidates even less popular that Speaker Madigan.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:12 am
==even less popular that Speaker Madigan==
He’s popular in ONE district and in ONE caucus. Both owe their affection to the sincere and intimate appeal of money and what it buys. 44 years of investment paying off. But, don’t suggest he’s popular…he isn’t.
Comment by A Guy Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:18 am
Who is in this “Den of Thieves”… the donors?
Be specific.
To the post,
The goal seems to be two fold;
Raise enough money for a solid defense against litigation.
Bury once and for all, Raunerites and Trumpkins, take down the likes of Wehrli, make irrelevant the old, angry, white, rural party that exists… and ensure the Eastern Bloc will be the new face, giving Dems more than a foothold in the suburbs, to actually own the suburbs.
When you have Ives, Oberweis, Trump as the face of the party with overt racism and division, raising and spending millions to dismantle any chance to rebuild is smart for Democrats, Madigan, and organized labor too.
If Durkin says above 40 seats, that will be Raunerites “winning”.
Fire Madigan is a failure, this is now a dismantling of what Rauner already imploded.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:18 am
===He’s popular in ONE district and in ONE caucus.===
Well then, the ILGOP should be able to clean up bigly in the other 117 districts, right?
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:29 am
Illinois Sunshine tells you everything. Been watching a couple races where the candidate is pledging to be super conservative but the money is coming from the liberal of liberal. My guess is he dumps money late to minimize opportunity for anti Madigan ads.
With Madigan, even in 2020 same rule applies. I don’t like Madigan or Belichick, but I’m still not betting against either of them.
Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:37 am
As they say, he who laughs last laughs best. Pretty sure the Madigan legal defense team are getting ready to laugh all the way to the Bank.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:40 am
= I don’t like Madigan or Belichick, but I’m still not betting against either of them.=
Love this.
Comment by phenom_Anon Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 10:47 am
As a state-oriented blog, everybody here naturally focuses on Madigan, Pritzker, Rauner, ILGOP etc. But.any analysis of political trends in Illinois would be significantly different if Trump weren’t at the top of the ticket. It’s a key driver in the movable burbs.
That greatly lightens Madigan’s political load.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 11:07 am
=== But.any analysis of political trends in Illinois would be significantly different if Trump weren’t at the top of the ticket.===
Very true, and true 2 years ago, as Rauner banked on Clinton winning and having a small window of running during *her* midterm.
Rauner got Trump’s midterm, in Illinois.
Didn’t bank on that, and money went dry for others as Rauner sank.
Trump in the mix is a huge help for Madigan and Dems in Illinois.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 11:28 am
Walker makes an excellent point. Usually I go along with the view that all politics are at some point become “ local”, but this time around national politics loom large.
I also think the “Madigan Load” and Team Pritzker could have a negative impact on Progressive Tax Amendment in the November election.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 11:29 am
++Who is in this “Den of Thieves”… the donors?++
Uh, there’s a law suit with a deferred prosecution that’s occurred lately. Maybe you’ve heard. Not doubt, it’s the only time such a thing has happened.
Comment by A Guy Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 11:43 am
===Walker makes an excellent point===
Yes, he does. This is a nationalized race.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 11:52 am
It can’t be much fun being a suburban GOP candidate on a ticket led by Trump. The fact that the targeted House races are in the collar counties and beyond indicates the rapid Republican retreat from the ‘burbs.
Comment by anon1 Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 12:20 pm
Not sure which is worse. Thinking an endorsement by Trump or Madigan is not helpful to any candidate or the Progressive Tax Amendment.
Whether or not any of us vote for Trump or Biden is not going to change the result in Illinois.
Sadly one way to vote against Madigan and his enablers Team Pritzker Is to vote against their tax increase. All of this money thrown at and by Team Pritzker is not a good look. Sadly it leaves the impression that Illinois government is for sale. Some voters may believe that has always been the case, but I truly do not believe that.
Based on any kind of objective observation the progressive tax should have a solid chance of passing. It is just a better way to fund Illinois government.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 12:48 pm
“It can’t be much fun being a suburban GOP candidate on a ticket led by Trump.”
To be fair, it’s probably not much fun being Peter Breen no matter the political climate.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 2:51 pm
=== there’s a law suit with a deferred prosecution that’s occurred lately. Maybe you’ve heard. Not doubt, it’s the only time such a thing has happened.===
So… who are these thieves in the Den?
You, again, never answer anything.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 3:58 pm
ahhhhh, big Labor = Big Money….to Mi hael J Madigan as the state crumbles
Comment by Taxedoutwest Wednesday, Sep 16, 20 @ 4:10 pm
Illinois ain’t ready for change. Have to vote with your feet.
Comment by Really Thursday, Sep 17, 20 @ 9:36 am
“big donations from the Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC, LiUNA Chicago Laborers District Council and the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters PAC.” What to all these have in common? Appointments for the men who control these PAC’s to the Tollway.
Comment by Late to the party Thursday, Sep 17, 20 @ 12:55 pm