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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.

23 candidatesCar leases and other restricted spending335 payments · $310,817All context29 candidatesMileage, reimbursements and pay to the candidate199 payments · $337,129All context

Where the money came from

Sources over the contribution limit, contributions from abroad, and campaigns carried by party money.

17 candidatesContributions over the limit21 sources · $77,15014 worth a look1 candidateMoney from red-light or speed camera companies1 contribution · $1,0001 worth a look11 candidatesMostly party and caucus money$5,544,162Context

Reporting

Reports and notices filed late or missing, and donor details left out.

74 candidatesLarge contributions reported late265 contributions · $590,20846 worth a look35 candidatesLarge contributions with no A-1 found140 contributions · $333,09612 worth a look39 candidatesQuarterly reports filed late56 reports, up to 254 days late9 worth a look11 candidatesPayments with no purpose given117 payments · $302,9912 worth a look11 candidatesDonors with no employer or occupation65 donors · $92,472All context

← All findings · Include context (167 more)

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)
NameWhoDateAmount
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-12-12$30,000
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2024-10-15$25,000
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2024-01-22$15,000
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-01-13$10,000
GoDaddy2024-07-08$4,551
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-09-06$2,500
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-07-24$2,000
Chicago Football Classic2023-09-05$1,000
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-10-23$1,000
RED DOOR2023-12-18$622
Black Wall Street2023-10-10$500
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-10-10$446
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2024-10-30$400
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2024-06-14$250
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-10-06$204
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2024-05-28$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)
NameWhoDateAmount
Chris Balkemathe candidate2024-07-25$10,000
Chris Balkemathe candidate2024-11-11$6,000
Chris Balkemathe candidate2024-10-18$5,000
Chris Balkemathe candidate2024-10-28$5,000
Chris Balkemathe candidate2024-11-23$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