Elections board drops campaign finance fines against IL Senate President

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The campaign finance violation against Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, is over after the Illinois State Board of Elections decided to not take up an appeal and dismiss the case. The Liberty Justice Center says it’s time for the courts to weigh in.

Harmon’s campaign finance committee faced a nearly $10 million fine for violating campaign finance law by accepting donations in excess of state limits. Records indicate he personally contributed more than $100,000 to his campaign committee in January 2023, having the effect of lifting contribution limits for others to donate, but took campaign contributions in excess of limits the following election cycle.

Board members were deadlocked on whether to assess the fines against Harmon’s committee last month.

Tuesday, board Chair Laura Donahue said another stalemate on an appeal doesn’t address how to interpret the law.

“What does the board do, we’re in kind of a limbo,” Donahue said. “We won’t have any direction because we’ve had recommendations from a hearing officer, our general counsel and we don’t know what an election cycle is defined, and I think it will be incumbent upon the legislature to either give us that, or the court or somewhere.”

Harmon’s committee had argued the notice of self-funding should be based on the office’s election cycle, not the day of the next general election cycle as some Senate terms can be four and six years. Harmon is up for reelection in 2026.

Board member Jack Vrett addressed the nearly $10 million fine the board decided to drop.

“I believe that consistency is important and that we ought to treat this committee the same as we have treated any other committee that comes before us with these types of fines,” Vrett said. “If we think that the penalty is extreme then we would address that in a settlement aspect. Otherwise, comply with the statute.”

Before Tuesday’s hearing, The Liberty Justice Center, which has already filed to intervene in the case, said if the board deadlocks again, they’re stepping in.

“The courts can decide whether members broke state law or compel them to act,” the group said on their social media.