WASHINGTON — The host committee for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago raised $97 million in cash or in-kind contributions and has spent more than $83 million — with Gov. JB Pritzker and his relatives, unions and Democratic groups among the biggest donors, according to the committee’s first report filed with the Federal Election Commission late Wednesday.
The report from the Development Now for Chicago, the host committee’s official name, also states the committee has about $14 million cash-on-hand with some $6.3 million in bills still outstanding from the August presidential convention nominating Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
Committee spokesperson Natalie Edelstein told the Sun-Times that any money remaining after all the bills and payroll costs are paid will be donated to still undetermined “charitable organizations.”
Under FEC rules, a host committee does not have to file any disclosures about donors or disbursements before the convention, but must release financial details no later than 60 days after the last convention session.
Most of the donations were in cash, with in-kind gifts mainly covering travel and lodging costs. Chicago’s Eli’s Cheesecakes made a $33,645 in-kind contribution that included a giant convention-themed cheesecake featured at one of the convention welcome parties at Navy Pier. Chicago-based Molson Coors contributed $353,000 in beverages.
In the campaign to land the convention at the United Center, Pritzker, a billionaire, had signaled he would help the host committee and became one of its top contributors, sending money from several entities.
His campaign fund made a $126,543 in-kind contribution for travel and lodging. Pritzker directly gave $2.6 million. His Jay Robert Pritzker Revokable Trust contributed $5.6 million
Also among the top contributors:
The Illinois governor’s wife, MK Pritzker, gave $3 million.The Pritzker Traubert Foundation donated $2.5 million. The foundation, a donor to the Sun-Times parent, Chicago Public Media, is led by former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and her husband Bryan Traubert.Anthony Pritzker, a brother of the governor, gave $500,000, and Matthew Pritzker, a cousin of the governor, gave $300,000.Host committee chair Michael Sacks, board chairman and CEO of Chicago-based GCM Grosvenor, gave $1.1 million. His wife, Cari Sacks, also gave $1.1 million.The Democratic Governors Association contributed $6 million. Walz, the Minnesota governor, resigned as DGA chair after Harris picked him to be her running mate.International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers, $5.2 million. Future Forward Action, one of the main outside groups backing the Harris-Walz ticket, $2 million. National Education Association, $1.3 million.Chicago-based United Airlines, $1 million.Fred Eychaner, a Chicago based business executive, philanthropist and one of the country’s biggest Democratic donors, contributed $1.1 million.Chicago based CME group, $1 millionInternational Union Of Operating Engineers, $1.5 millionHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries leadership PAC, $250,000 — and another $250,000 from his campaign fund.Chicago Bears, $500,000.Amalgamated Transit Union, $500,000International Union Of Bricklayers And Allied Craftworkers, $100,000U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., leadership PAC, $100,000