The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Get PolitiFact in your inbox. * Weekly Email Newsletter * Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up ![](\\" madigan-for-kass-20130709/2655969a6d3524bb0961f2bc482296ae.jpg\\") ![](\\" madigan-for-kass-20130709/2712a6f0a56b874a2cb4c62929367e8f.jpg\\") Michael Madigan stated on August 8, 2016 in a press release : \"Gonzales’ losing campaign against me last spring was funded with more than $1 million from supporters and allies of Governor Bruce Rauner.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" mostly-false/6a6ef6075c162fdccf5eb960e683dcd1.jpg.\\") ![\\"barely- true\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") * Campaign Finance * Illinois * Michael Madigan ![\\"Illinois](\\" Gonzales_/9f49d595fa7fe404ccba032448c7ee80.jpg\\") Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, left, and 2016 Democratic primary challenger Jason Gonzales ![\\"Kevin](\\" By Kevin Hoffman August 18, 2016 # Madigan says his primary opponent\'s campaign funded with more than $1 million from Rauner allies Is Jason Gonzales a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gov. Bruce Rauner and his associates as Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan claims? Madigan, who has served as speaker for all but two years since 1983, was challenged in the 2016 Democratic primary election for the 22nd District by Jason Gonzales, an entrepreneur and high school dropout who went on to receive degrees from Duke, MIT and Harvard. Despite labeling himself as a progressive, Gonzales had the backing of Republicans and supporters of Gov. Bruce Rauner. Nearly six months after being defeated in the primary by more than 38 percentage points, Gonzales filed a lawsuit on Aug. 8 accusing Madigan -- who also is chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party -- of dozens of illegal and fraudulent acts during the election season. ![\\"Screen](\\" XMlMsSTIUQUXmBnsNEH9JAzwskERctUs\\"/) The 39-count suit accuses Madigan and others of defaming Gonzales by calling him a convicted felon in campaign ads and committing fraud by putting up two \"fake\" candidates on the ballot to \"dilute\" the Latino vote, among other allegations. In response to the lawsuit, Madigan issued a statement calling Gonzales’ claims without merit, but one sentence in particular stood out: \"Gonzales’ losing campaign against me last spring was funded with more than $1 million from supporters and allies of Governor Bruce Rauner.\" While it’s no secret Gonzales was backed by Republicans and supporters of Rauner -- Madigan’s biggest political foe -- is it true his campaign was funded with more than $1 million from them? Following the money Madigan spokesman Steve Brown told PolitiFact Illinois the $1 million figure came from the Illinois State Board of Elections. Campaign finance records from the State Board of Elections show Gonzales received $278,771 in individual contributions during the primary race. We found some of the top contributors to Gonzales’ campaign fund also have donated to Rauner and some top contributors to Gonzales also have donated to other Democrats. In a phone interview, Gonzales acknowledged he received financial support from the governor’s supporters, but said there never was a quid pro quo between him and Rauner or his allies. Gonzales pointed out many of his donors have contributed to both parties. And not all of his top contributors have donated to Rauner. Robert Hirsch, CEO of Gold Eagle, a company that manufactures automotive chemicals, donated $27,500 to Gonzales -- the largest individual contribution to the campaign -- but there is no record of Hirsch contributing to Rauner’s political committees. However, Hirsch did support redistricting reform efforts backed by Rauner and opposed by Madigan in 2014 and 2016, though that is an issue that has bipartisan support. \"I had to dial for money every day, and a lot of donors I dialed on Democratic lists happened to be supporters of Bruce Rauner and there was nothing I could do about that,\" Gonzales said. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on September 3, 2024 in X posts A group of 32 armed Venezuelans took over an apartment building in Chicago. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • September 6, 2024 Among Gonzales’ top donors was Blair Hull, a wealthy Chicago businessman who unsuccessfully ran in the 2004 Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate, which eventually was won by then-state Sen. Barack Obama. Records show Hull donated $7,250 to Gonzales’ campaign on March 3. He also contributed $5,000 to Rauner during the 2014 gubernatorial race. But Hull’s company, Hull Investments LLC, donated $450,000 to the Illinois United for Change super PAC, which spent $506,000 in support of Gonzales and $367,000 against Madigan. Calls to Hull Investments LLC were not returned, but Hull told the Capitol Fax blog in February that Madigan \"is not a team player\" and \"does not cooperate well with others.\" Hull added that he believed \"the state of Illinois and the Legislature would be improved significantly without Michael Madigan.\" If you combine the total amount spent in the race by Illinois United for Change and individual contributions to Gonzales’ campaign fund, it comes out to about $1.15 million. While Brown noted spending by the super PAC was included in Madigan’s claim, it’s illegal for an independent expenditure committee to contribute directly to a candidate’s campaign. Kent Redfield, an Illinois campaign finance expert and professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois-Springfield, said Madigan’s statement is a \"reasonable assumption,\" but there’s no evidence to suggest the super PAC coordinated with Rauner’s office, his political committees or supporters. \"The statement makes it sound like it was a coordinated campaign that involved different entities,\" Redfield said. \"While it may be the case, you don’t have anything on public record.\" Redfield characterized Madigan’s claim as an \"overstatement.\" He added that while it \"assumes a connection that very well may be there,\" there’s no definitive link. However, the issue of dark money makes it extremely difficult to determine where exactly the money is coming from, notes Sarah Brune, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. For example, Illinois United for Change received $20,000 in donations from the Illinois Opportunity Project, a 501(c)4 organization that is highly critical of Madigan and supportive of Rauner. The group is led by Dan Proft, Matthew Besler and Pat Hughes, all of whom are Republicans. Non-profit 501(c)4 groups can spend unlimited amounts of money on politics without disclosing their donors, making it impossible to identify direct ties to certain politicians or their supporters. Our ruling Madigan said, \"Gonzales’ losing campaign against me last spring was funded with more than $1 million from supporters and allies of Governor Bruce Rauner.\" Indeed, Gonzales’ campaign received big donations from people who also gave to Rauner’s campaign fund, but the speaker implies that every donation came from individuals and groups aligned with the governor. In fact, a few of Gonzales’ top donors have also contributed to Democrats and one of his top five donors contributed to Gonzales and no one else. Further, Madigan’s \"more than $1 million\" includes spending by the Illinois United for Change super PAC, despite the fact that super PAC money cannot be given directly to a candidate’s campaign nor can it be coordinated with a candidate’s campaign. We rate Madigan’s claim Mostly False. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, press release, Aug. 8, 2016 Phone interview, Steve Brown, spokesman for Madigan, Aug. 10, 2016 Phone interview, Jason Gonzales, spring Democratic primary candidate, Aug. 11, 2016 Phone interview, Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois-Springfield, Aug. 11, 2016 Phone interview with Sarah Brune, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Aug. 11, 2016 Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Illinois Sunshine database, Aug. 12, 2016 Illinois State Board of Elections, Jason for Illinois campaign contributions, Aug. 12, 2016 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Kevin Hoffman ![](\\" roskam/70ac81e8a38e48cdeb207842bf9f8b9f.jpg\\") ![](\\" roskam/083996b2df60e441a30e7e65fc3f0a81.jpg\\") Peter Roskam stated on March 6, 2017 in a speech at the City Club of Chicago: \"The past (Obama) administration was the first administration that never had a whole year of 3 percent growth.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Kevin Hoffman • March 16, 2017 ![](\\" mendoza/3f74a10668dd6549a6642def5005cf27.jpg\\") ![](\\" mendoza/fc064ff2d51672d61745b481b966f3e3.jpg\\") Susana Mendoza stated on February 19, 2017 in a press release : \"The various offices of state government have purchased more than $11 million in vehicles, not counting leases, for use from the Governor on down during the last two years.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Kevin Hoffman • March 2, 2017 ![](\\" ![](\\" Richard Durbin stated on February 1, 2017 in a interview on Morning Joe : Says President Barack Obama’s nominees met a standard of 60 votes, \"a standard that was met by Elena Kagan as well as Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama\'s choices.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Kevin Hoffman • February 10, 2017 ![](\\" ![](\\" Mike Fortner stated on November 25, 2016 in a op-ed for The State Journal-Register in Springfield: \"House Bill 6627 also requires the applicant to attest to their eligibility to vote, as is required by the National Voter Registration Act and used by all other states that have (automatic voter registration).\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Kevin Hoffman • January 17, 2017 ![](\\" ives_2/7ad05d98ab126f247b307924807ee342.jpg\\") ![](\\" ives_2/14d571637f99147b6ae7e4de8ecc403d.jpg\\") Jeanne Ives stated on December 1, 2016 in a floor speech: \"Germany managed to increase its use of renewables and its output of carbon dioxide at the same time -- because it resorted to cheap coal to keep the lights on at a price its people could afford.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Kevin Hoffman • December 16, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Katherine Cloonen stated on September 21, 2016 in a campaign ad: \"Lindsay Parkhurst wants to take away programs like Social Security and Medicare that seniors have earned throughout their lifetimes.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Kevin Hoffman • October 13, 2016 ![](\\" munger-2-1200x600/f31b22496fdf8380c033a1304e9296c6.jpg\\") ![](\\" munger-2-1200x600/8691135d1bb248b06debe2e93498d989.jpg\\") Leslie Geissler Munger stated on September 15, 2016 in a Chicago Sun-Times editorial board debate : \"My opponent… was on both the city of Chicago payroll and the state of Illinois payroll simultaneously, taking full salary, funding her full pension benefits both as a city worker and as a state worker for 10 years.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Kevin Hoffman • September 22, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana stated on August 25, 2016 in a YouTube video : \"In an interview with the Chicago Tribune\'s Editorial Board, Comptroller Leslie Munger says that in order to balance a budget, the state would have to \'cut social services completely.\'\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Kevin Hoffman • September 8, 2016 ![](\\" madigan-for-kass-20130709/2655969a6d3524bb0961f2bc482296ae.jpg\\") ![](\\" madigan-for-kass-20130709/2712a6f0a56b874a2cb4c62929367e8f.jpg\\") Michael Madigan stated on August 8, 2016 in a press release : \"Gonzales’ losing campaign against me last spring was funded with more than $1 million from supporters and allies of Governor Bruce Rauner.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Kevin Hoffman • August 18, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Richard Durbin stated on July 20, 2016 in a press release : \"Illinois suffered 1,652 overdose deaths in 2014 ... of which 40 percent were associated with heroin. Illinois is ranked number one in the nation for a decline in treatment capacity between 2007 and 2012, and is now ranked the third worst in the country for state-funded treatment capacity.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Kevin Hoffman • August 4, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Tammy Duckworth stated on June 8, 2016 in a tweet: Says Mark Kirk \"called for the mass arrest of 18,000 African Americans\" and \"was apparently fine with Trump’s #StillTooRacist call for mass deportation.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Kevin Hoffman • July 15, 2016 ### Madigan says his primary opponent\'s campaign funded with more than $1 million from Rauner allies * ![](\\" ![](\\" Jared Moskowitz stated on September 19, 2024 in a House hearing: “Project 2025 wants to get rid of NOAA” and the National Weather Service. ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Amy Sherman • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Kamala Harris stated on September 25, 2024 in an interview with MSNBC: “Even before the pandemic, (Donald Trump) lost manufacturing jobs, by most people’s estimates at least 200,000.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 23, 2024 in an Instagram post: The government is arming “illegal immigrants.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 23, 2024 in an Instagram post: Haitians are responsible for the disappearance of 16 cats in Bangor, Maine. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 15, 2024 in a Facebook post: Photos show a toddler “saved” by Deputy Tyler Cooper. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 24, 2024 in a Threads post: Says Donald Trump said, “Women are miserable — not sexy, not safe.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 21, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Taylor Swift faces a 10-game NFL ban following controversial political involvement.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" JD Vance stated on September 10, 2024 in an interview: “Communicable diseases like HIV and TB (tuberculosis) have skyrocketed” after Haitian migrants came to Springfield, Ohio. ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Maria Ramirez Uribe • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Americans for Prosperity Action stated on September 4, 2024 in a Meta ad: The Inflation Reduction Act, which Rep. Elissa Slotkin supported, “drove inflation higher.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Caleb McCullough • September 26, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 24, 2024 in a post: Image of people boarding up a window shows Michigan election officials are “preparing to steal this election” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Grace Abels • September 26, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. 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Gonzales’ losing campaign against me last spring was funded with more than 1 million from supporters and allies of Governor Bruce Rauner