Daley to return most of campaign donations

Bill Daley says he’s returning most — but not all — of the money donated to his aborted campaign for Illinois governor.

Crain’s Chicago Business reported Daley will use $146,000 of his own money to repay donors. But he says because of a campaign finance law, they’ll get only 83 percent of what they contributed.

Daley raised about $1.2 million for a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Pat Quinn before he withdrew from the race last month, saying he’d return the money.

But to return all of it Daley would have to exceed $250,000 in personal donations to his campaign. Under state law if any candidate exceeds that amount, state limits on campaign contributions are lifted for everyone in the race.

That could help wealthy Republican candidate Bruce Rauner.