Sangamon Sun

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's campaign committee has received just 47 individual contributions of more than $250 over the past year.

Meanwhile, his five Democrat challengers have received a total of 972 in just the past four months, according to an analysis of campaign finance reports by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Rauner's re-election campaign won't be wanting for cash-- one of the 47, for $50 million last December from himself, guarantees that. But if giving money is a sign of supporter enthusiasm, his campaign hasn't been cultivating much.

Illinois' Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's fundraising efforts have been sparse while in office. He's only received 112 contributions over the past 27 months; His Democrat challengers have received nine times that over the previous four. | Citizens for Rauner, Inc.

An analysis of campaign finance reports by Local Government Information Services (LGIS) shows Citizens for Rauner, Inc. reported 4, 7, 12, and 24 contributions over the past four quarters.

Rauner's largest "contributor" in the first quarter of 2017: the $5,035.01 in interest earned on the $50 million he contributed in December.

Kennedy for Illinois, backing Chicago Democrat Chris Kennedy, reported 632 contributions in its first report, covering the first quarter of 2017.

Biss for Illinois, backing Evanston Democrat State Sen. Daniel Biss, reported 160 contributions and Ameya Pawar for Governor, supporting the north side of Chicago alderman, reported 158.

Bob Daiber, the Edwardsville regional school superintendent and only non-Chicago area candidate in the Democrat gubernatorial primary, reported 21 contributions, nearly as many as the sitting governor himself.

Billionaire J.B. Pritzker reported one contribution to his exploratory campaign in the first quarter. He officially announced his candidacy on April 6.

Rauner's average: 12 contributions per quarter

All told, since his inauguration day in Jan. 2015, Rauner has personally given his campaign $57.75 million.

He's received 112 contributions of $250 or more for a total of $221,412 over the same period, an average of 12 contributions per quarter.

In contrast, sitting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has received 722 contributions over the past three quarters, or 240 per quarter.

Over the past year, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has received 563 contributions or approximately 141 per quarter.

Citizens for Lisa Madigan, backing the incumbent attorney general who won't likely face a competitive challenge in 2018, has received 365 contributions over $250, or 91 per quarter.

Friends of Michael J. Madigan has received 432 contributions over the period, or 108 per quarter. 

Friends of Susana Mendoza, which ran a competitive campaign for Comptroller last fall, received 759 contributions-- 144 in the first quarter of 2017.

2014 vs. 2018

Rauner's campaign once showed more interest in raising outside money from supporters.

It received 266 contributions in the first quarter of 2013 alone, more than twice what his campaign has received over the past nine quarters.

Then sitting Governor Pat Quinn received 168 contributions in the first quarter of 2013 and 373 total over the previous 12 months, 93 per quarter vs. Rauner's 12 over the similar period.

Perhaps Rauner's campaign is ready to get more aggressive on outside fundraising.

A statewide mailer last week to Republican voters asked for donations of between $250 and $2,000. The results will be known by the end of this campaign reporting period, on June 30.

Contributions of $250+, Last 12 months

LGIS analyzed selected campaign committees over the past four reported quarters. How many individual contributions did they receive of greater than $250?

Campaign Committee	2016	2016	2016	2017	TOTAL
	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1
Citizens for Rauner	4	7	12	24	47
Kennedy for Illinois	N/A	N/A	N/A	632	632
Chicago for Rahm Emanuel	142	109	144	168	563
Biss for Illinois	N/A	N/A	N/A	160	160
Ameya Pawar for Governor	N/A	N/A	N/A	158	158
Friends for Susana Mendoza	116	253	246	144	759
Citizens for Lisa Madigan	114	116	46	89	365
Friends of Frerichs	115	77	52	55	299
Daiber for Governor	N/A	N/A	N/A	21	21
Sam McCann for Senate	10	31	22	20	83
Illinois Republican Party	47	24	28	16	115
Friends of Michael J. Madigan	79	104	240	9	432
Democratic Party of Illinois	20	308	333	7	668
JB for Governor	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	1
Scott Walker for Governor	260	350	112	N/A*	722

Sources: Illinois State Board of Elections; Wisconsin Elections Commission

*Wisconsin reports semi-annually