Illinois, as Don Wiener details in a February 19 Center for Media and Democracy article, may see a billionaire vs. billionaire battle for governor in the November election. Bruce Rauner, the Republican incumbent, and Democrat J.B. Pritzker (a Hyatt Hotel heir) will face each other if both emerge as victors in their March primaries. Wiener writes,
“The March 20, 2018 Illinois gubernatorial primary is on track to become the most expensive in Illinois history, thanks to millions being put on the line by three billionaires.
One-sixth of all campaign money raised for all Illinois elections, including city, county, and state, from January 2013 through January 2018 was raised by just three people: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, his billionaire buddy, hedge fund manager Ken Griffin [a supporter], and Hyatt Hotel heir JB Pritzker, who is running in the Democratic primary.
To kick-off his primary run and re-election, Rauner gave himself $58 million at the very end of 2016. Griffin gave Rauner $20 million in July 2017 and $2.25 million in December 2017. With Pritzker giving himself $49 million for the Democratic primary, this means almost $130 million has already been raised by only three people.”