Illinois Federation of Teachers spends $46.1M on state politics
The Illinois Federation of Teachers spent $46.1 million on Illinois political committees since 2010. Campaign cash went to nearly three-quarters of sitting lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers’ political committee has spent $46.1 million on Illinois politics from 2010 through 2024, dropping $4.5 million to influence state and local elections in 2024 alone.
Recipients included nearly 3 of 4 current state lawmakers. IFT also invested heavily in the politics of the Chicago Teachers Union and the union’s former employee, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Analysis of IFT contributions shows union political spending hit its third-highest level in 2024, reaching nearly $4.51 million. That included contributing $2.28 million to sitting state lawmakers that year.
IFT has funneled money to 3 in 4 lawmakers
IFT contributed to nearly three-quarters of sitting lawmakers in the 104th Illinois General Assembly during the past 15 years, according to state elections data compiled by Illinois Sunshine. In total, state lawmakers have received about $8.18 million from IFT. Nearly 9 in 10 were Democrats.
Much of that $8.17 million went to two sitting state lawmakers: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch and Senate President Don Harmon.
Welch received $1.24 million in contributions from IFT since 2010, including $600,000 worth of union support in 2024. Harmon collected $1.18 million and received a similar $600,000 contribution from IFT last year.
IFT also contributed over $1.18 million to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s campaign committee during the period. Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud Feb. 12 in federal court. He awaits sentencing.
The Chicago Teachers Union was the largest recipient of IFT political money
State records also show of the $46.1 million spent by IFT on Illinois politics since 2010, the CTU Local 1 chapter was the single-largest recipient, collecting nearly $6.9 million from the state teachers’ union.
IFT also funneled money to Mayor Brandon Johnson
Former CTU organizer and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson received $903,000 from IFT since 2010, including $602,500 in 2023 at the end of Johnson’s mayoral run.
CTU and its state and national affiliates – the IFT and the American Federation of Teachers – spent nearly $6.5 million on Chicago mayoral, city council, city clerk and city treasurer candidates between Feb. 28, 2022, and May 4, 2023.
Political contributions buy political clout – and CTU isn’t going to let that go to waste. They are negotiating their new contract with Johnson, including demands in excess of $10 billion, and he’s tried to tax or borrow his way to finding money for them.
In Springfield, CTU officially registered its position on 59 bills during the 103rd General Assembly, the session that ended in January. Of those, it supported 54 bills and opposed five. Nearly 60% of the bills CTU supported passed, but none of the bills it opposed did.
Political contributions and lobbying give IFT a one-two political punch. The problem is, IFT and the CTU have very different ideas about what’s best for Illinois: they want police restricted, parents kept in the dark, school choice limited, controversial curriculum and school models used, and district spending prioritized over direct classroom spending.
They use campaign cash and the clout it brings to push their self-interest over the interests of students, taxpayers and Illinois’ future.