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La Shawn K Ford D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Representative District 8

March 19, 2024 primary: won with 9,769 votes (100%) · November 5, 2024 general: won with 29,352 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Representative in 2022 ($218,578 raised).

Worth a look

Worth a look Late reports

6 large contributions ($8,500) reported on an A-1 after the deadline

A contribution of $1,000 or more must be reported to the State Board of Elections within 5 business days (2 in the last 30 days before an election the candidate is on the ballot for). The latest: $1,500 from ILLINOIS BANKERS PAC, received 2023-10-02, reported 2024-01-16: 69 business days, 64 past the deadline.

What to check
  • The receipt date is what the committee reported; a correction or a typo there changes the count.
  • A contribution received and returned within the same quarterly period needn't be reported on an A-1.
  • The Board decides on fines and can waive them (inadvertence, clerical error, days late).
The entries (6)
NameDateA-1 filedBusiness daysAllowedAmount
ILLINOIS BANKERS PAC2023-10-022024-01-16695$1,500
HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATES2023-10-022024-01-16695$1,000
Khadija Warfield2023-10-222023-12-26435$1,500
DeVry University2024-12-012025-01-02225$1,000
Rock Holdings Inc2024-12-012025-01-02225$1,000
enterprise holdings political action2024-12-012025-01-02225$2,500
Rule: Large contributions reported late
“A political committee shall file a report of any contribution of $1,000 or more electronically with the Board within 5 business days after receipt of the contribution, except that the report shall be filed within 2 business days after receipt if (i) the contribution is received 30 or fewer days before the date of an election”10 ILCS 5/9-10(c) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Worth a look Missing details

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

Context How the money was spent

$3,448 in payments described as a vehicle purchase, lease or payment

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)
NameKindPurpose (as reported)DateAmount
Ford motora vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2024-10-16$3,448
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

Context How the money was spent

$88,644.75 paid by the campaign to the candidate

Campaign money may go to a candidate or their family only as pay for work actually done; reimbursing campaign costs they paid out of pocket (mileage, travel, supplies) is common and allowed. The purposes the campaign wrote are listed with each payment.

What to check
  • Whether each payment is a reimbursement for campaign costs, or pay for work done.
  • Family is matched by last name and the home address on file with the Board; relatives elsewhere aren't found.
The entries (14)
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
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-09-06$2,500
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-07-24$2,000
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2024-10-21$1,500
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-10-23$1,000
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
La Shawn K. Fordthe candidate2023-12-21$145
Rule: Mileage, reimbursements and pay to the candidate
“For payments to a public official or candidate or his or her family member unless for compensation for services actually rendered by that person.”10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a)(11) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Context Late reports

1 quarterly report filed late (up to 4 days)

Quarterly reports are due by the 15th of the month after each quarter. The report for the quarter ending 2024-03-31 was due 2024-04-15 and filed 2024-04-19.

What to check
  • A paper report postmarked 3 days before the deadline is on time; the Board records when it arrived.
  • The Board assesses fines for late reports and may waive them.
The entries (1)
Quarter endingDueFiledDays late
2024-03-312024-04-152024-04-194
Rule: Quarterly reports filed late
“A political committee shall file quarterly reports no later than the 15th day of the month following each period.”10 ILCS 5/9-10(b) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Context Missing details

12 of 21 donors giving over $500 listed with no employer or occupation

For anyone who gives more than $500 in a reporting period, a report must list their occupation and employer, or say the committee made a good-faith effort to find out. These list neither.

What to check
  • The committee may have filed an amendment adding them.
  • A retiree or someone not employed should still be listed as such.
The entries (12)
NameDateAmount
ROY FLOWERS2024-03-20$5,000
Robert Humphrey2023-09-09$2,500
ROY FLOWERS2023-12-26$2,000
Amy or Peter Kadens2024-05-18$1,500
James Mackenzie2023-09-09$1,150
Quiwana Bell2023-09-17$1,000
Hermene Hartman2023-09-09$1,000
ELIZABETH LOCKHART2023-09-09$1,000
MONIQUE REED2024-09-30$1,000
Jessica Sanguma2023-09-17$1,000
MADELINE NORRIS2023-09-17$750
CAREY WEISS2023-07-21$540
Rule: Donors with no employer or occupation
“if the contributor is an individual who contributed more than $500, the occupation and employer of the contributor or, if the occupation and employer of the contributor are unknown, a statement that the committee has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information”10 ILCS 5/9-11(a)(4) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Campaign money

$231,292raised, 192 itemized contributions, plus $16,433 in small ones
$9,151from the candidate (incl. loans)
$227,692spent
$14,956cash on hand on December 31, 2024; $38,051 in debts
Where their money comes from (besides their own)

IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsParties and legislative caucusesOther candidates and officeholders

Plus $9,151 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $227,692

Other (as described)$161,087
Donations and sponsorships$28,753
Staff pay$9,719
Consultants and field$7,876
Travel and meals$5,991
Office, printing and supplies$4,450
Print ads and billboards$4,425
Fundraising and events$2,455
Contributions to other committees$2,104
Mail and literature$559

Largest payees: La Shawn K. Ford $88,645 Contributions to other committees · KISSIM JAFFER $10,000 Staff pay · Piast Auto $9,000 Other (as described) · Marvin Winters, Jr. $8,150 Other (as described) · Alicia Erskin $8,000 Donations and sponsorships · TIGHE KRESS&ORR $6,500 Consultants and field · GoDaddy $6,183 Other (as described) · EBC $5,751 Travel and meals

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 contributorsTypeTotal
Democratic Party of Illinois
chicago		Business or group$15,623.33
Medstar Labs
Hillside		Business or group$15,000
La Shawn K. Ford
State Representative · State of Illinois		Person$9,151.24
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Countryside		Business or group$8,307.80
ROY FLOWERS
CHICAGO		Person$7,000
FOP
CHICAGO		Business or group$6,000
Liuna Chicago Lan Council POC
Burr Ridge		Business or group$6,000
Carpentry Advancement
Chicago		Business or group$5,000
Chicago Land Operators
Countryside		Business or group$5,000
IHBA
Chicago		Business or group$5,000
Brian Nix
Admin · Admin · Arlington Heights		Person$5,000
enterprise holdings political action
St. Louis		Business or group$5,000
Comcast Financial Agency Corporation
Philadelphia		Business or group$4,000
ILLINOIS TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION PAC
SPRINGFIELD		Business or group$4,000
Mary Schuler
Business Owner · Business Owner · Oak Park		Person$4,000

Committees: Citizens to Elect LaShawn K Ford State Representative, Voteford Campaign 2000 (every report they filed is on the State Board of Elections' site). Data current as of October 12, 2026.

Committees

Subcommittees: Occupational Licenses Sub

Their seats in the current General Assembly, from ilga.gov. Compare with who funds them: their donors.

Companies on the state register

Corporations and LLCs the Secretary of State lists La Shawn K Ford as an officer, manager or member of.

CompanyTheir roleStatusGave to the campaign
FORD DESIRED REAL ESTATE, LLC
LLC, since 2015 · file 05077737		manager, registered agentGood standing · last annual report 2026—
FORD DESIRED REAL ESTATE, INC.
Corporation, since 2001 · file 61862404		president, registered agentDissolved · last annual report 2014—

From the Secretary of State's business records of October 13, 2026, matched by name and ZIP code against the address the State Board of Elections has for the candidate (or by name when the company itself gave to their campaign). Someone listed only at another address isn't found; search the Secretary of State's business entity search by file number for the full record.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2024 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
Democratic Party of Illinois
Party or caucus committee · Chicago		$15,62352
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Countryside		$8,30897
Brian Nix
Admin, Admin · Arlington Heights		$5,0002
Carpentry Advancement
Business · Chicago		$5,0002
Chicago Land Operators
Business · Countryside		$5,0005
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield		$4,00089
Comcast Financial Agency Corporation
Business · Philadelphia		$4,00039
SEIU Healthcare IL IN PAC
Labor union · Chicago		$3,50070
MBM Advantage LLC
Business · Oak Park		$3,25015
Dan Shomon Inc.
Business · Chicago		$3,00047
Illinois Bankers PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield		$3,00052
Charles wu
Admin, Admin · Hinsdale		$2,5002
Cook County College Teachers Union COPE
Labor union · Chicago		$2,50053
noble brands inc
Business · Chicago		$2,0004
Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE
Labor union · Westmont		$2,00089