UPDATED: Griffin Giving Irvin $20 Million in Campaign Cash
Illinois’ richest person, hedge fund investor Ken Griffin, has dropped $20 million into the campaign coffers of Richard Irvin, the Aurora Mayor and Republican candidate for Governor.
You may consider it a down payment, but billionaire Ken Griffin is making good on his promise to fund a candidate to defeat Governor JB Pritzker in the November election.
Griffin, Illinois’ richest resident and Republican megadonor, formally announced his “endorsement,” and a $20 million campaign contribution to Aurora Mayor and GOP gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin Monday.
In a statement, Griffin praised Irvin’s experience and backstory.
“Richard Irvin is self-made, and his life story epitomizes the American dream. I have tremendous respect for all that he has accomplished,” he said. “Richard Irvin will bring people together in Illinois and fight to turn our state around. It is time we reclaim our state from the damaging politics of Governor Pritzker and his corrupt cronies.”
Griffin says he believes Irvin can defeat Pritzker.
“I care deeply about Illinois,” Griffin said. “I came to Chicago thirty years ago to start my career and my partners and I have built an incredible firm in our state. The policies of JB Pritzker are hurting not only our firm, but also countless other Illinois success stories. I am fortunate enough to have the resources to support Richard Irvin in his mission to return Illinois to being the land of opportunity.”
A Griffin spokesman confirmed the $20 million contribution, though it has not yet been reported to the State Board of Elections.
If Griffin expects his preferred candidate to compete with Democratic billionaire JB Pritzker in the November election, it will require far more than $20 million. Pritzker already dropped $90 million into his campaign this year and spent more than $170 million of his own fortune to win the race in 2018.
Pritzker spokesperson Natalie Edelstein tied Griffin and Irvin to former Governor Bruce Rauner.
“Ken Griffin would conveniently like us all to forget he bankrolled the very governor that decimated the social services that prevent violence, caused our colleges and universities to nearly lose accreditation, and devastated our state’s finances in previously unseen ways,” she said in a statement. “Moreover, Ken’s chosen candidate is entirely unserious about addressing the issues facing Illinois and spent fifteen years profiting off of the defense of violent criminals. The wounds left by Bruce Rauner’s incompetence are still fresh and Illinoisans see Irvin’s candidacy for exactly what it is: another empty suit for Ken Griffin to drag our state backwards.”
But, in his statement, Griffin said Irvin will make tough choices to fix the state’s finances.
“Richard knows the importance of ending wasteful spending and reducing oppressively high taxes. Illinois taxpayers are tired of sending their hard-earned money to Springfield to be burned in the furnace of waste and corruption,” he said. “JB Pritzker – beholden to his cronies and political base – is unwilling to address either issue.”
Irvin has yet to hold any public events since jumping into the race for Governor, but has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on television ads already.
UPDATE (3:43 P.M.):
From Republican candidate Gary Rabine:
“We knew from the beginning that Fake- Republican-Governor-Candidate, Irvin, is a bought and paid for candidate. I cannot be bought.
We also know that Irvin has repeatedly voted in Democratic primaries. He supports defunding the police, mask mandates and sanctuary cities. His winning the support of Republican rank and file voters will be an uphill climb.”
From the campaign of Republican candidate Jesse Sullivan:
“Jesse Sullivan is a next generation leader who can save Illinois from high crime, underperforming schools and a lagging economy. Support for his campaign--financially and on the ground-- is growing every single day. We are focused on winning the support of Illinois voters.”
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UPDATE (5:58 P.M.):
Griffin’s contribution has been filed with the state.
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