Worth a look
Worth a look Contribution limits
1 source gave more than the contribution limit ($12,700 over in all)
A candidate's committee may accept only so much from one source in an election cycle: in 2025–26, $7,300 from an individual, $14,600 from a corporation, union or association, and $72,800 from a PAC or another candidate's committee. The most over: Thomas Q Keefe, Jr. gave $20,000 in the general cycle, against a limit of $7,300 for an individual.
What to check- Excess returned to the source (or given to charity) within 30 days of the Board's notice isn't a violation; a refund the committee listed under another name or purpose isn't subtracted here.
- Two different people with the same name and ZIP code would be added together.
- Spouses are separate sources, as are a business and the person who owns it.
- Whether a corporation's or union's own PAC gave instead (the PAC limit applies to it).
The entries (1)
| Name | Kind | Cycle | Contributions | Given | Limit | Over |
|---|
| Thomas Q Keefe, Jr. | an individual | general | 1 | $20,000 | $7,300 | $12,700 |
Rule: Contributions over the limit
“During an election cycle, a candidate political committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over the following: (i) $5,000 from any individual, (ii) $10,000 from any corporation, labor organization, or association, or (iii) $50,000 from a candidate political committee or political action committee.”10 ILCS 5/9-8.5(b) (adjusted for inflation each odd year, 9-8.5(g)) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Context How the money was spent
$1,750 in payments described as tuition or school costs
The Election Code bars campaign money for club and gym dues, clothing, vehicles not used mainly for the campaign, and tuition, each with exceptions. These payments' descriptions name one of those.
What to check- Club: renting a club for a specific campaign event is allowed; dues aren't.
- Clothing: costumes or items worn to advertise the campaign are allowed.
- Vehicle: allowed when used primarily for the campaign or government duties.
- Tuition: allowed for education directly tied to the official's duties.
The entries (1)
| Name | Kind | Purpose (as reported) | Date | Amount |
|---|
| Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce | tuition or school costs | Leadership Belleville Tuition | 2025-09-01 | $1,750 |
Rule: Car leases and other restricted spending
“For membership or club dues charged by organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational services”10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a)(7) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work
Campaign money
$1,566,836raised, 639 itemized contributions, plus $15,118 in small ones
$11,880from the candidate (incl. loans)
$806,393spent
$1,860,304cash on hand on June 30, 2026
$480,076 of it in 117 large contributions reported on A-1s since their last quarterly report (through June 30, 2026): $1,000 or more from one source must be reported within days, ahead of the next quarterly.
Illinois Pipe Trades PEF $72,800 2026-08-17 · Illinois Political Action Committee for Education (I.P.A.C.E.) $50,000 2026-09-14 · CAR of Illinois $22,000 2026-09-23 · Thomas Q Keefe, Jr. $20,000 2026-09-26 · Clean Energy Illinois $15,000 2026-07-03 · J & J Ventures Gaming LLC $14,600 2026-07-13 · Illinois Broadband and Cable Assoc. PAC $11,000 2026-09-14 · Accel Entertainment Gaming LLC $10,000 2026-09-05 · Comcast Financial Agency Corporation $10,000 2026-09-14 · Downstate Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC $10,000 2026-09-23
Where their money comes from (besides their own)
27%43%22%
IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsParties and legislative caucusesOther candidates and officeholders
Plus $11,880 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →
How it was spent: $806,393
Other (as described)$451,914
Contributions to other committees$128,255
Office, printing and supplies$77,208
Staff pay$46,887
Fundraising and events$41,965
Donations and sponsorships$29,398
Travel and meals$11,648
Consultants and field$9,000
Mail and literature$5,146
Digital and online$1,710
Largest payees: DuQuoin State Bank $250,000 Other (as described) · Victoria National Golf Club $77,306 Other (as described) · Jennifer Gain Meyer $43,113 Staff pay · Friends of Jennifer Gain Meyer $30,000 Contributions to other committees · St. Clair County Democratic Central Committee $26,850 Contributions to other committees · Eckert Florist $23,363 Other (as described) · ADP, LLC $23,138 Staff pay · WHAP LLC $22,302 Office, printing and supplies
Grouped by the purpose each payment lists (“direct mail”, “consulting”), so the groups are approximate; a consultant's payments to others (ads, mail) show under the consultant.
| Top contributors | Type | Total |
|---|
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education (I.P.A.C.E.)
Springfield | Committee | $97,000 |
IBEW Illinois PAC
Washington | Committee | $82,800 |
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
Springfield | Committee | $72,800 |
Illinois Pipe Trades PEF
Springfield | Committee | $72,800 |
United Assn of Journeymen & Il Pipe Trades Assn Pac
Springfield | Committee | $55,000 |
CAR of Illinois
Springfield | Committee | $42,000 |
J & J Ventures Gaming LLC
Effingham | Business or group | $29,200 |
I.P.A.C.E
Springfield | Committee | $25,000 |
Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC)
Springfield | Committee | $25,000 |
Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois PAC
Springfield | Committee | $21,500 |
Downstate Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Peoria | Committee | $20,000 |
Illinois Trial Lawyers Assoc PAC
Springfield | Committee | $20,000 |
Thomas Q Keefe, Jr.
Attorney · Thomas Keefe Attorney at Law · Belleville | Person | $20,000 |
Marquis Energy LLC
Hennepin | Business or group | $20,000 |
Health Care Council of Illinois Political Action Comm.
Springfield | Committee | $18,500 |
Committee: Committee to Elect Jay C Hoffman (every report they filed is on the State Board of Elections' site). Data current as of October 12, 2026.