Madigan Donates Big To Elmhurst-Area Democrat

ELMHURST, IL — The campaign of Democratic state representative candidate Jennifer Zordani, who is running in a district that includes Elmhurst, financially depends on House Speaker Michael Madigan to run a competitive race. That's because he directs most of the political money for Democratic candidates.

In July, federal prosecutors alleged that ComEd bribed Madigan with lucrative jobs, contracts and monetary payments. ComEd agreed to pay $200 million in restitution as a result for its part in the affair. Madigan has not been charged.

In the wake of that scandal, many Republican legislators and even a few Democrats called for Madigan's resignation. At the time, Zordani, a Clarendon Hills resident, declined to comment to Patch about whether she believed Madigan should go. But she offered that the Chicago Democrat was the "face of machine politics."

A few days after the interview, Madigan-controlled Democratic organizations started giving money to the Zordani campaign. The first donation was nearly $19,000 from the state Democratic Party.

All total, the state party and the Democratic Majority, both of which Madigan heads, have given Zordani's campaign more than $230,000, according to state Board of Elections records. That represents nearly two-thirds of the $360,000 in donations she has received since late July.

About a third of the rest of Zordani's money, or $57,000, comes from the campaign of Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Much of the remainder is from Democratic-allied unions, including $25,000 from the Illinois Federation of Teachers political action committee.

During the same time, Zordani's opponent, Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, has collected $105,000 in donations, nearly all of which comes from Republican groups, according to Board of Elections records. Much of the rest comes from larger corporations and business groups. That means she has pulled in far less than Zordani in the last couple of months.

They are running in the 47th House District, which includes Elmhurst, Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills.

In an interview Tuesday, Zordani said she was independent and was not asked by Madigan to run. As for the decisions on how to distribute Democratic money, she said, "I think there are a lot of people who are involved in the process."

Mazzochi's sole campaign issue, Zordani said, is Madigan.

"She doesn't talk issues; she talks Mike Madigan," Zordani said. "I understand the frustration with what is going on in Springfield. We want change in Springfield. That starts with targeting more than one person. Every darn representative better step up for reform. I'll fight for it."

Mazzochi was appointed to the seat in 2018 and won in her own right that November with 52 percent of the vote over Jim Caffrey.

Although Republicans have long held the seat, Democrats see the suburbs as increasingly friendly turf, especially in the era of Donald Trump.

Mazzochi has been an outspoken opponent of Madigan, calling for his resignation in the wake of the ComEd scandal. She also is pushing for legislation that she says would promote ethics in Springfield.

Mazzochi did not return a message for comment.

If you get campaign mailers from either 47th House District candidate, Jennifer Zordani or Deanne Mazzochi, please email photos of them to Elmhurst Patch at david.giuliani@patch.com. Patch can examine the veracity of facts in such campaign literature.