The cryptocurrency industry super PACs dumped $14.2 million into the Illinois primaries. 90% of that – $12.8 million – was wasted, in that it went to opposing Democratic candidates who won their primaries (Stratton in the Senate race, Ford in H-07) or supporting their opponents.
Their only victories in the state were where they contributed money towards outcomes that were already highly likely. They opposed Robert Peters (H-02), who had been polling in third place and ultimately received 12% of the vote. They supported Bean (H-08) and incumbent Budzinski (H-13).
It is really encouraging to see that the Crypto and AI money was not able to sway the election, and Stratton prevailed. Hopefully voters are waking up to the fact that these special interests are not on their side, and not on the side of democracy.
Let it be that candidates who take such money are branded as sellouts and enemies of the people.