Illinois’ political battle of the billionaires has long been thought to be Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the governor’s nemesis, businessman Ken Griffin. But now a new battle may be shaping up in the race for the Republican nomination for governor.
In addition to giving to Bailey, Uihlein also has contributed $1 million to an independent expenditure group headed by right-wing talk show host Dan Proft that is being used for TV ads attacking Irvin. Proft, of Naples, Florida, was an unsuccessful 2010 candidate for the GOP nomination for governor and previously ran Uihlein-funded efforts to win Republican legislative seats with little success.Uihlein and his wife, Elizabeth, are worth an estimated $4 billion, according to Bloomberg.
Bailey, of Xenia, has seen his candidacy subjected to attacks from Irvin on TV and in mailers, questioning the Downstate senator’s conservative credentials. Bailey also has questioned Irvin’s GOP qualifications. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune and an entrepreneur, is the nation’s wealthiest politician, worth an estimated $3.6 billion, according to Forbes. Pritzker has already poured $125.5 million of his own money into his reelection campaign, including a $90 million deposit in January.