Share the article: Pritzker Chooses Madigan Ally as Running Mate

Pritzker Doing Everything Possible to Cozy Up to Madigan

“J.B. Pritzker’s decided that funneling over $1 million to Mike Madigan and his allies wasn’t enough to prove his loyalty to Madigan. Pritzker’s going even further by choosing a Madigan ally as his running mate. 

Juliana Stratton owes her political career to Mike Madigan. Stratton took millions from Madigan-backed groups to win a state house seat and had Mike Madigan’s top political operative run her campaign. J.B. Pritzker is making it clear that he will allow the governor’s office to be annexed over to Speaker Madigan.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe

Just last year, Pritzker gave LIFT, a Madigan-aligned front group, nearly $1 million dollars in an attempt to increase Madigan’s power and block efforts to reform Illinois. And Pritzker secretly funneled another $200,000 to Mike Madigan and his hand-picked candidates for the state house.

Now Pritzker is doubling-down on his alliance with Madigan, picking a running mate that owes her political career to Madigan.
Juliana Stratton Owes Her Political Career to Mike Madigan:

Stratton’s 2016 Primary Campaign Was Run By Marty Quinn, Madigan’s Top Political Operative. “As hard as it is for me to believe—and I still can’t get over it—one of the most powerful operatives in Illinois house speaker Michael Madigan’s mighty Democratic Machine is a mild-mannered alderman who rarely says a word during City Council debates. That’s alderman Marty Quinn-of Madigan’s home 13th Ward, on the southwest side. In the March primary, Quinn oversaw three legislative campaigns on Madigan’s behalf, including Juliana Stratton’s successful run against state rep Ken Dunkin—one of the most expensive and high—profile legislative campaigns in state history.” (Ben Joravsky, “Quiet In The City Council, Marty Quinn Is Madigan’s Behind-The-Scenes Muscle,” Chicago Reader, 4/5/16)

Stratton’s Campaign Was Funded By Madigan’s Allies. “Stratton has raised $1.2 million, about two-thirds of it from organized labor, which opposes Rauner’s push for legislation to weaken collective bargaining rights. She’s also received contributions from downtown law firms that donate heavily to political funds controlled by Madigan, who has led the resistance to Rauner’s efforts to tighten rules on civil lawsuits.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Rauner, Madigan Feud Flows Down,” Chicago Tribune, 3/10/16)

During The Campaign, Madigan’s Spokesman Claimed “We Have No Involvement In That Race” – 30 Minutes Later A Van Was Seen Arriving At Madigan’s 13th Ward Office To Drop Off Juliana Stratton Campaign Signs. “On Thursday afternoon, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown was asked about the Dunkin-Stratton contest and what role the speaker played in getting the Obama endorsement. ‘We have no involvement in that race,’ Brown said. A half-hour later, a delivery van pulled up to Madigan’s Southwest Side 13th Ward office and two men unloaded hundreds of blue-and-white yard signs with the message ‘President Barack Obama endorses Juliana Stratton.’” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Rauner, Madigan Feud Flows Down,” Chicago Tribune, 3/10/16)

J.B. Pritzker Has Funneled Over $1 million to Madigan

Pritzker Contributed $900,000 To A Madigan-Linked Super PAC In The 2016 Election: 
“Earlier, the state party and other Rauner allies ripped Pritzker for that and for recently donating $900,000 to a super-PAC that aired anti-Rauner ads during the fall campaign. A total of $350,000 came in Pritzker’s name, $550,000 from the Pritzker family’s Jabodon PT Company.” (Greg Hinz, “Rauner Launches New Attack On J.B. Pritzker Spending,” Crain’s Chicago Business, 12/21/16)

Two LLCS controlled by J.B. Prizker sent over $200,000 to Mike Madigan and his Candidates in November:  
Stateline LLC Gave Madigan’s Democrats $119,400 In November

Stateline LLC Contributed $119,400 To Madigan House Candidates In 2016, Including $5,400 To Madigan’s Democratic Majority PAC.

Name Amount Date Recipient
Stateline LLC $25,000.00 11/3/2016 Friends of Sam Yingling
Stateline LLC $25,000.00 11/3/2016 Greg for Illinois
Stateline LLC $34,000.00 11/3/2016 Friends of Cynthia Borbas
Stateline LLC $30,000.00 11/4/2016 Citizens for Merry Marwig
Stateline LLC $5,400.00 11/17/2016 Democratic Majority

(State Board of Elections, Accessed 12/13/2016)

Stateline LLC Is Controlled By J.B. Pritzker
Stateline LLC’s Address Is 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago IL. (State Board of Elections, Accessed 12/13/2016)

The Pritzker Group’s Address Is 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago IL. (https://www.pritzkergroup.com/venture-capital/contact/)

Pritzker Listed His Ownership On Stateline LLC On His Statement of Economic Interest Forms. (Jay Robert Pritzker Statement of Economic Interests, Illinois Secretary of State, 5/1/2006)

TNDP LLC Gave Madigan’s Democrats $82,000 In November
TNDP LLC Contributed $82,000 To Madigan House Candidates In 2016, Including $10,800 To Mike Madigan Directly And $10,800 To The Madigan-Controlled Democratic Party Of Illinois.

Name Amount Date Recipient
TNDP LLC $20,000.00 11/4/2016 Friends of Katie Stuart
TNDP LLC $35,000.00 11/3/2016 Friends of Deborah Conroy
TNDP LLC $10,800.00 11/17/2016 Friends of Michael J. Madigan
TNDP LLC $5,400.00 11/28/2016 Friends of Robert “Bob” Rita
TNDP LLC $10,800.00 11/17/2016 Democratic Party of Illinois

(State Board of Elections, Accessed 12/13/2016)

TNDP LLC Is Controlled By J.B. Pritzker
TNDP LLC’s Address Is 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago IL. (State Board of Elections, Accessed 12/13/2016)

The Pritzker Group’s Address Is 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago IL. (https://www.pritzkergroup.com/venture-capital/contact/)

The Registered Agent For TNDP LLC Is “Jay Robert Pritzker” According To Secretary of State Records.(TNDP LLC File Detail Report, Illinois Secretary of State, Accessed 12/13/2016)

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