Gov. Rauner among nation's top donors in 2014 elections

Gov. Rauner among nation's top donors in 2014 elections


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CHICAGO (AP) — Multimillionaire Bruce Rauner was one of the top donors in the U.S. to 2014 state-level political campaigns, sinking more of his own money into his successful bid for Illinois governor and other races than almost any other organization or person nationwide, a new study found.

The Republican businessman wasn't the only Illinois name to appear on the list of the top 50 donors released Wednesday by the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity. GOP hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, the Illinois Education Association and the Democratic Party of Illinois also were among the country's largest campaign contributors, thanks largely to Rauner's fiercely contested race with Democrat Pat Quinn.

The analysis doesn't include races for U.S. House or Senate, and isn't a complete accounting of all money spent because disclosure rules and deadlines vary from state to state. But it gives a clear picture of how Illinois was home to some of the election cycle's biggest spenders.

Here's a look at some of them:

RAUNER:

Rauner, a private equity investor who was sworn into his first public office this month, contributed more than $28 million from his personal bank account, according to campaign finance disclosures filed with the state.

The Center for Public Integrity analysis shows that was more than any other individual, and dwarfed only by contributions made by the Republican Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association.

More than $27 million of Rauner's money went toward his race with Quinn, helping pay for campaign ads and a statewide operation that included more than 500 paid employees. The rest went to other GOP candidates and state, county and township organizations.

The total doesn't include millions more that Rauner's campaign committee also directed to GOP groups and candidates in hopes of strengthening his position in a heavily Democratic Legislature as he became Illinois' first Republican governor in more than a decade.

GRIFFIN:

Griffin spent more than $6 million on the 2014 elections, including more than $5.5 million to Rauner's campaign in the run-up to Election Day. The Citadel CEO also was one of the top funders of a failed effort to change the way Illinois draws its political maps — the once-a-decade process known as redistricting.

In the last days of 2014, Griffin put another $8 million and Rauner another $10 million into the governor's campaign fund. (Businessman Richard Uihlein put in $2 million).

Rauner has said he'll use the money to fund his "ongoing campaign" in the Legislature, making sure voters understand his views on issues. He also is expected to use the money to help lawmakers who help him advance his agenda — and to mount challenges against those who don't.

ILLINOIS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

The Illinois Education Association, which represents teachers outside of Chicago, joined other labor unions in opposing Rauner's bid — first in the four-way GOP primary and later in the general election.

The group's political committee spent more than $6 million during the election cycle. The largest recipient was the Illinois Freedom political action committee, a union-backed group that aired anti-Rauner ads.

PARTY ORGANIZATIONS

The Democratic Party of Illinois spent more than $7.6 million to help candidates statewide, often with printing and mailing campaign fliers.

The Republican Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association also were very active in Illinois, giving millions to their respective candidates and committees supporting them.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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