Uber-wealthy Illinoisans already spending big on 2026 campaigns

Posted January 03, 2026 9:26 pm

Russell Lissau

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and Richard Uihlein are among the uber-wealthy Illinoisans donating to political candidates and groups ahead of March’s primary election.

The March primary is still 10 weeks away, but Illinois’ most prolific political donors already have spent millions to get their preferred candidates elected in 2026, federal records reveal.

Five-, six- and even seven-figure contributions have been flowing from uber-wealthy contributors including Gov. JB Pritzker and his wife, MK; Lake Forest’s Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein; and Oak Brook’s Janet J. Duchossois.

They’re just a few of the Illinoisans whose largess during the 2024 federal election cycle earned them spots on the latest Top 100 donors list compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonprofit group that tracks money in American politics. Also on the list are Winnetka resident Shirley W. Ryan; Highland Park’s Michael J. Sacks and his wife, Cari; and Chicagoans Fred Eychaner and Glen Tullman.

OpenSecrets hasn’t yet ranked donors for the 2026 election cycle. But by using information available at opensecrets.org and the Federal Election Commission’s fec.gov, the Daily Herald determined where Illinois’ biggest political benefactors are sending cash ahead of next year’s midterms.

The Pritzkers

Gov. JB Pritzker and his wife, MK, greet supporters before his 2023 combined budget and state of the State address at the Illinois State Capitol. The Pritzkers are among the nation’s top federal campaign donors. AP

The governor and his wife ranked 40th on the OpenSecrets top donors list with nearly $14 million in federal political donations during the 2024 cycle.

The Pritzkers have made dozens of political contributions so far this cycle, including $1 million to the Democrats’ House Majority Political Action Committee; $620,200 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; $14,000 to Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s senatorial campaign; and $50,000 to Stratton’s Level Up political action committee.

They’ve also donated to many out-of-state candidates and organizations.

The Uihleins

Founders of the Uline shipping- and business-supply company, the Uihleins have been among the nation’s leading Republican donors for years. They gave nearly $143.5 million to federal candidates and groups during the 2024 election cycle, records show, which placed them fourth on OpenSecrets’ nationwide list but first in their home state.

So far this cycle, the Uihleins’ donations have included $7 million to a conservative political action committee called Restoration of America; $4 million to a committee called Fair Courts America; $620,200 to the National Senatorial Committee; and $620,200 to the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The Uihleins also have donated to more than a dozen U.S. Senate and House candidates across the country this cycle — but none from Illinois, records show.

Shirley W. Ryan

Shirley W. Ryan Daily Herald file, 2019

Ryan — the philanthropic wife of billionaire Aon Corp. founder Pat Ryan and the namesake of a renowned rehabilitation hospital in Chicago and other venues — donated $32.2 million to federal Republican candidates and political groups during the 2024 cycle, landing her at 19th place on OpenSecrets’ Top 100.

Ryan’s donations this cycle have included $51,000 to a Republican political action committee called Secure the Senate 2026 and $24,000 to another called Uphold the Senate, as well as thousands to U.S. Senate candidates outside Illinois.

Janet J. Duchossois

Oak Brook resident Janet J. Duchossois, the wife of Duchossois Group CEO and Chairman Craig Duchossois, donated $16.3 million to federal candidates and political groups in the 2024 cycle, placing her 34th on OpenSecrets’ list.

Duchossois’ donations this cycle include $44,300 to the Republican National Committee, $41,300 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and $46,300 to Uphold the Senate. Like the Uihleins and Ryan, she’s also backed U.S. House and Senate candidates outside Illinois, but not here.

Michael and Cari Sacks

Michael J. Sacks is the CEO of the GCM Grosvenor investment company and a member of the Obama Foundation board, among other civic and philanthropic roles. His wife, Cari, served on Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council and President Barack Obama’s Advisory Committee on the Arts and in other civic roles. Together they donated nearly $5.8 million to candidates and political groups in the 2024 election cycle, earning the 88th spot on OpenSecrets’ list.

The couple’s donations this cycle include $14,000 to the campaign of U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove; $7,000 to the campaign of U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park; $7,000 to Stratton’s senatorial campaign; and $25,000 to Stratton’s Level Up committee.

Fred Eychaner

A media magnate and philanthropist, Eychaner was Illinois’ most generous Democratic donor at the federal level during the 2024 election cycle with nearly $31.6 million in contributions, OpenSecrets reported. That ranked him 20th nationally.

Eychaner’s donations this cycle have included $500,000 to the Senate Majority Political Action Committee, $310,100 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and $5,000 to the Democratic Party of Illinois, among other groups. Schneider’s campaign received a recent donation from Eychaner, too, as have U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez’s and the senatorial campaigns of U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Lynwood.

Glen Tullman

Chicago entrepreneur Glen Tullman is 91st on OpenSecrets’ 2024 list with about $5.7 million in donations last cycle, all to Democratic candidates or groups.

So far this cycle, Tullman’s contributions include $3,500 to Krishnamoorthi’s Senate campaign; $7,000 to a political action committee associated with U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth; $50,000 to Forward Majority Action, a super PAC that supports Democrats in state legislative races; and $100,000 to One Giant Leap, a super PAC that backed New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s recent campaign.