Illinois government workers’ union dues being diverted to swing-state politics

Illinois government workers’ union dues fund Democratic Party campaign committees, which are now seeking to tip the presidential election outcome in swing states. That fails to align with at least 40% of members’ politics.

The Illinois Democratic Party wants to decide the outcome of the presidential election by making a strategic investment in swing states, according to state party chair Lisa Henandez.

That strategy was echoed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who said, “We should adopt [Wisconsin] – and we have in many respects – to be part of their organization to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

The problem: the money in the Illinois Democratic Party’s political coffers hasn’t been “donated” solely by willing Democratic voters. Some of the party’s resources come from Illinois government worker union dues.

An estimated 45% of Illinois union members supported former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Nationally, at least 40% of union households voted Republican in the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections.

That means union spending on Democratic causes was used against union members’ voting preferences. Government union bosses have been bolder in speaking for members than other union leaders.

The Teamsters just refused to pick a presidential candidate for the first time in decades. Almost 60% of its members wanted to endorse Trump.

Here’s how it works: Government union members pay dues to their unions. Most of those dues don’t stay at the local level. Instead, the money flows up to the unions’ affiliates and political action committees, which use union money to fund political causes.

For example, the Service Employees International Union State Council, which encompasses members of SEIU HCII, Local 73 and Local 1, collected money from members and then diverted more than $2.3 million to its political action committee in 2023, according to a report the union filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

From there, the PAC can contribute to any political causes it desires, without member input. Much of that money ends up in general Democratic political committees, which can then distribute the money to other candidate committees.

Altogether, the major government unions funneled more than $17 million to Illinois Democratic Party committees between Jan. 1, 2010, and Sept. 13, 2024. That includes nearly $1.3 million in 2024 alone.

Recipient committees included the Democratic Party of Illinois, Democratic Majority, Democrats for the Illinois House and the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund, as well as the various committees of Democratic powerbrokers in Illinois, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, former Illinois House Speaker House Mike Madigan, current Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, and current Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. It does not include the $10 million these unions have funneled to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s political campaign, or money to any other lawmakers or politicians not mentioned here.

From there, the money can be spent on an array of Democratic candidates. For example, Madigan was notorious for sending his campaign fund to other committees.

Now the Illinois Democratic Party is looking to use the money in its coffers to affect the presidential election in swing states.

It’s a warning to government union members statewide: They may think a portion of their dues flowing up the chain to political causes doesn’t matter much in Illinois, where a Democratic ticket is likely to carry the day with or without their money. But now the Democratic party committees could be shifting the money to swing states.

If the previous trend holds, 40-45% of these public employees will vote Republican in the upcoming election. That means their hard-earned money could be used without their consent and against their interests.