Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) gave a total of $254,441 to Carterville state House candidate Jason Woolard this election cycle, state filings show.

The Madigan funding was disclosed in reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) by Friends of Jason Woolard, the campaign committee that supported Woolard's race against Republican Dave Severin  in the 117th House District.

The district covers Benton, Carbondale, Carterville, Christopher, Creal Springs, Herrin, Hurst, Johnston City, Marion, McLeansboro, Orient, Sesser, West Frankfort, Zeiglerm Blairsville, Carterville, Corinth, Crab Orchard, Creal Springs, East Marion, Grassy, Herrin, Lake Creek, Southern, Stonefort, West Marion, Barren, Benton, Browning, Cave, Denning, Eastern, Ewing, Flannigan, Frankfort, Goode, Knight Prairie, McLeansboro, Northern, Six Mile, Tyrone, Crab Orchard, Mulkeytown, Whiteash, Buckner, Bush, Cambria, Colp, Crainville, Energy, Ewing, Freeman Spur, Hanaford, Macedonia, North City, Pittsburg, Royalton, Spillertown, Stonefort, Thompsonville, Valier and West City.

Madigan’s contributions came from the campaign funds he controls, including his own committee, Friends of Michael J. Madigan, the Illinois Democratic Party and the Democratic County Chairman’s Association of Illinois.

Altogether, Madigan poured $21.1 million into 30 state House races this election cycle, including $3,445,351 to 22 fellow Democrats in the week leading up to last week's general election.