Prtizker adds another $7 million to his campaign

Billionaire entrepreneur and investor J.B. Pritzker pumped another $7 million into his self-funded campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor. So far, Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotels family fortune, has put all $21.2 million into his race for the nomination. State Board of Election reports show the latest donation was reported Saturday. With the March primary still months away, Pritzker already is approaching at least one state record — the most money spent by a Democratic candidate on himself in a primary. Right now, the record is the $29 million that commodities trader Blair Hull spent from his wallet in 2004, only to finish third in a primary contest for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination won by eventual president Barack Obama. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner spent nearly $28 million of his own money to win the primary and the governor’s office in 2014. The former equity investor also made the largest ever self-donation to a political campaign in Illinois when he put $50 million into his re-election bid in December of last year. That number could end up as its own primary record. (Rick Pearson)

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