The Illinois teachers’ federation has spent $ 46.1 million on Illinois political committees since 2010. Campaign Cash has been devoted to almost three -quarters of the legislators in office at the Illinois General Assembly.
The Illinois Federation of the Teacher Political Committee spent $46.1 million On Illinois policy from 2010 to 2024, lowering $ 4.5 million to influence national and local elections in 2024 only.
The beneficiaries included nearly 3 of the 4 current state legislators. The IFT also invested massively in the policy of Chicago Teachers Union and the former union employee, the mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson.
Analysis of IFT contributions shows that union political expenses reached its third highest level in 2024, reaching nearly $ 4.51 million. This included the contribution of $ 2.28 million to state legislators in place that year.
The IFT channeled money to 3 in 4 legislators
The IFT has contributed to almost three -quarters of the legislators in exposure to the 104th General Assembly of Illinois in the past 15 years, according to data from the State elections compiled by Illinois Sunshine. In total, state legislators received around $ 8.18 million from the IFT. Almost 9 out of 10 were Democrats.
A large part of these $ 8.17 million went to two legislators in the in -practice state: the president of Illinois, Emanuel Welch, and the president of the Senate, Don Harmon.
Welch received $ 1.24 million in IFT contributions since 2010, including $ 600,000 in union support in 2024. Harmon collected $ 1.18 million And received a similar contribution of $ 600,000 from the IFT last year.
The IFT also contributed more than $ 1.18 million to the campaign committee of the former president of Illinois, Michael Madigan, during the period. Madigan was found guilty Out of 10 corruption, conspiracy and fraud leaders on February 12 before the Federal Court. He awaits the conviction.
The Chicago Teachers Union was the greatest recipient of political money
State files also show the $ 46.1 million spent by IFT for IFT policy since 2010, local chapter 1 of the CTU was the single recipient, collecting nearly $ 6.9 million with the union of state teachers.
IFT also channeled money to Mayor Brandon Johnson
The former CTU organizer and mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, received $ 903,000 from the IFT since 2010, including $ 602,500 in 2023 at the end of the Johnson town hall race.
The CTU and its national and national subsidiaries – the IFT and the American teachers’ federation – spent nearly $ 6.5 million for candidates for the town hall, the municipal council, the municipal clerk and the city candidates between February 28, 2022 and May 4, 2023.
Political contributions buy a political influence – and the CTU will not let it waste. They negotiate their new contract with Johnson, including requests above $ 10 billionAnd he tried to tax or take his way to find money for them.
In Springfield, officially ctu registered His position on 59 tickets during the 103rd general meeting, the session which ended in January. Among these, he supported 54 bills and opposed five. Almost 60% of the bills supported by CTU adopted, but none of the bills to which it has opposed it.
Political contributions and lobbying give the IFT a political punch one two. The problem is that the IFT and the CTU have very different ideas Regarding what is best for Illinois: they want the police to be limited, parents kept in the dark, the limited school choice, the controversial program and the school models used, and the district expenditure was hiered on direct expenditure in class.
They use campaign money and the influence it brings to push their personal interest on the interests of students, taxpayers and the future of Illinois.