Findings
Things worth a look on the 2024 candidates' campaign reports, checked against the Illinois Election Code. Each one quotes the rule it rests on and says what to check, including exceptions the reports can't show. They're prompts to look closer at public records, not conclusions.
In 2024, 68 of 258 candidates have something worth a look on their reports.
How the money was spent
Payments to the candidate, their home, and things the law restricts campaign money for.
Where the money came from
Sources over the contribution limit, contributions from abroad, and campaigns carried by party money.
Reporting
Reports and notices filed late or missing, and donor details left out.
← All findings · Show only those worth a look
Worth a look Missing details · La Shawn K Ford State Representative District 8
16 payments ($93,672.66) with no purpose given, $86,999.75 of it to the candidate or family
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank. Payments to the candidate or their family are allowed only as pay for work they did, so a payment to them with no purpose is worth asking about.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (16)
| Name | Who | Date | Amount |
|---|
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2023-12-12 | $30,000 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2024-10-15 | $25,000 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2024-01-22 | $15,000 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2023-01-13 | $10,000 |
| GoDaddy | | 2024-07-08 | $4,551 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2023-09-06 | $2,500 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2023-07-24 | $2,000 |
| Chicago Football Classic | | 2023-09-05 | $1,000 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2023-10-23 | $1,000 |
| RED DOOR | | 2023-12-18 | $622 |
| Black Wall Street | | 2023-10-10 | $500 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2023-10-10 | $446 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2024-10-30 | $400 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2024-06-14 | $250 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2023-10-06 | $204 |
| La Shawn K. Ford | the candidate | 2024-05-28 | $200 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Worth a look Missing details · Chris Balkema State Senator District 53
5 payments ($31,000) with no purpose given, $31,000 of it to the candidate or family
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank. Payments to the candidate or their family are allowed only as pay for work they did, so a payment to them with no purpose is worth asking about.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (5)
| Name | Who | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Chris Balkema | the candidate | 2024-07-25 | $10,000 |
| Chris Balkema | the candidate | 2024-11-11 | $6,000 |
| Chris Balkema | the candidate | 2024-10-18 | $5,000 |
| Chris Balkema | the candidate | 2024-10-28 | $5,000 |
| Chris Balkema | the candidate | 2024-11-23 | $5,000 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Sharon Chung State Representative District 91
5 payments ($102,930) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (5)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Tulchin Research | 2024-08-13 | $34,015 |
| Tulchin Research | 2024-09-20 | $19,515 |
| Buying Time, LLC | 2024-09-20 | $19,200 |
| Buying Time, LLC | 2024-09-26 | $19,200 |
| Devine Mulvey Longabaugh, Inc. | 2024-08-02 | $11,000 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Martin J Moylan State Representative District 55
41 payments ($25,954.74) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (25 of 41)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Justin Cochran | 2024-04-01 | $2,675 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-09-06 | $2,000 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-10-24 | $2,000 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-03-04 | $1,229 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-03-11 | $1,039 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-03-18 | $1,039 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-02-26 | $959 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-02-05 | $940 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-02-12 | $880 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-02-20 | $840 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-01-31 | $800 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-05-03 | $600 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-05-01 | $500 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-12-14 | $500 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-12-13 | $500 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-08-01 | $400 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-09-01 | $400 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-10-01 | $400 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-11-01 | $400 |
| Justin Cochran | 2024-12-02 | $400 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-01-01 | $375 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-02-01 | $375 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-04-03 | $375 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-05-01 | $375 |
| Justin Cochran | 2023-06-01 | $375 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Tony M McCombie State Representative District 89
23 payments ($15,946.59) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (23)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-02-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-03-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-04-03 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-05-05 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-05-26 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-07-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-08-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-09-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-10-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-10-27 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2023-11-28 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-01-05 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-01-29 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-02-28 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-04-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-05-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-06-04 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-07-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-08-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-09-02 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-10-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-11-01 | $693 |
| Patrick Windhorst | 2024-12-02 | $693 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Eva Dina Delgado State Representative District 3
10 payments ($15,744.26) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (10)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Gibsons Italia | 2023-02-03 | $4,438 |
| Liz NIcholson and Associates | 2023-02-15 | $3,000 |
| Liz NIcholson and Associates | 2023-03-15 | $3,000 |
| Liz NIcholson and Associates | 2023-01-16 | $2,500 |
| St George Apartment | 2023-01-17 | $732 |
| St George Apartment | 2023-02-17 | $732 |
| St George Apartment | 2023-03-17 | $732 |
| Tmobile | 2023-01-11 | $205 |
| Tmobile | 2023-02-15 | $203 |
| Tmobile | 2023-03-15 | $202 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Willie Preston State Senator District 16
11 payments ($9,042.25) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (11)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Illinois State Board of Elections | 2024-01-08 | $4,806 |
| Key Journey Catering | 2024-08-12 | $1,000 |
| DICKS SPORTING GOODS | 2023-07-31 | $583 |
| Mens Wearhouse | 2024-02-26 | $552 |
| Sam Videography | 2023-06-28 | $500 |
| Illinois State Board of Elections | 2024-01-10 | $409 |
| Macy's | 2024-06-18 | $325 |
| Walmart | 2024-08-12 | $305 |
| Binny's Beverage Depot | 2024-06-14 | $232 |
| Binny's Beverage Depot | 2024-04-15 | $168 |
| K&G Mens Store | 2024-04-08 | $162 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Nicolle Grasse State Representative District 53
1 payment ($5,000) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (1)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Justin Cochran | 2024-11-07 | $5,000 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Kevin Olickal State Representative District 16
1 payment ($1,500) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (1)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Briahna Batiste | 2024-01-19 | $1,500 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Hillary Mattsey Kurzawa State Senator District 19
3 payments ($1,200.14) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (3)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Committee to elect Keith ogle | 2023-05-01 | $665 |
| Graphic image corporation | 2023-04-24 | $373 |
| Vista Print | 2024-03-08 | $163 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context Missing details · Elizabeth Hernandez State Representative District 2
1 payment ($1,000) with no purpose given
Every itemized payment on a report must say what it was for. These leave it blank.
What to check- The committee may have amended the report to add the purposes.
- Whether each payment is a reimbursement, pay for work, repayment of a loan the candidate made to the campaign, or something else.
The entries (1)
| Name | Date | Amount |
|---|
| RET DEP ITEM 101848 ? | 2023-04-20 | $1,000 |
Rule: Payments with no purpose given
“the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150; the amount, date, and purpose of each of those expenditures”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(12) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work