Delaware-based group spends thousands on candidates across Illinois

[October 30, 2024]  By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Several Illinois races are being funded by the "Local Jobs and Economic Development Fund," which is apparently based in Delaware.

In 2022, the group received over $1 million from the Tides Foundation. The Pritzkers, alongside billionaire George Soros, are contributors of the Tides Foundation, an organization that funds other small progressive groups, like Adalah Justice Project.

David Dunn, a Republican McLean county board candidate, said this level of money from out of state raises a lot of questions.

"I think residents want to know where this money is coming from and why groups like this are interested in our local government,” said Dunn.

According to Open Secrets researcher Anna Massoglia, “Dark money” refers to spending meant to influence political outcomes where the source of the money is not disclosed. In McLean County, board candidate Jim Rogal received $10,000 directly from a dark money group. The Democratic Party of Illinois received over $27,000.

"When we are seeing money flowing in from undisclosed sources to a group that then spends on elections or spends on an issue, it deprives voters who may be forming their opinion on a candidate or a topic from that crucial information about who is behind the group,” said Massoglia.

Massoglia said most laws require candidates and political action committees to disclose their donors, but the fact they can disclose a dark money group as their donor doesn’t give much information about the ultimate source of funds.

According to Reform for Illinois data, Rogal has over $25,000 on hand. The “Local Jobs and Economic Development Fund” supports clean energy programs in local jurisdictions.
The Local Jobs and Economic Development Fund has contributed to candidates and to the Democratic central committee in Whiteside, Sangamon, McLean, Will and Dekalb counties.

The group directly contributed to Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, the incumbent Will county executive. Challenging her is Charles Maher, who said it's an uphill battle to face off with a candidate who has deep pockets.

"Republicans have been having a tremendously challenging time raising funds and part of that is because the Democrats are controlling the workload in our state and local governments,” said Maher. “These folks go out and they get the money before there’s any planning. They’ve already figured out ways to spend it … and they’ve already figured out who they’re going to hire to do what.”

Maher mentioned a solar plant planned for the Will County area that will be 12 square miles. He explained he “wouldn’t be surprised” if “clean energy” groups like the Local Jobs and Economic Development Fund know certain candidates would not question the green energy projects and that’s why they contribute to those candidates over others.

Massoglia explained 501c(3) organizations like the Tides Foundation cannot legally contribute to campaigns.

"They can give to 501(c)4 organizations that then spend on local committees and politics but they cannot do that directly. Technically the 501(c)4 should not be using the 501(c) 3’s funds for that, but because everything gets pooled together it’s kind of hard to say, ‘well this dollar went to this and this dollar went to that,’” said Massoglia.

On hand, Bertino-Tarrant has nearly $240,000. Comparatively, Maher has $7,800 on hand, according to the Reform of Illinois’ database