Stacy Davis Gates' New Post Could Give Mayor Brandon Johnson Campaign Cash Boost.
Gates, a close ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson, is taking on a new role as the head of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, a move that could give her greater influence over campaign contributions to his reelection bid.
As part of this new role, Gates may have more control over how the IFT's political fund dispatches its cash – now totaling nearly $2 million – with a significant portion of it going towards Johnson's election efforts.
In recent months, the IFT has made notable campaign contributions, including its largest-ever contribution to Johnson's campaign until that point: $150,000. The fund also made donations in November 2022 and February 2023. After Johnson won his runoff election in April 2023, the IFT contributed an additional $7,000.
The CTU maintains at least two political action committees, one with nearly $2,000 on hand that's overseen by Gates, while another has more than $500,000 with other officials listed as officers. Another key player is United Working Families, where Johnson’s campaign treasurer worked for years and is heavily funded by the CTU and SEIU.
Until recently, Johnson was chairman of his own campaign fund, but now it's been taken over by a Cook County Commissioner who also works as a CTU employee. It appears that nearly 80% of the $13.6 million raised by Johnson's campaign came from organized labor and affiliated organizations between late 2022 and late 2023.
The IFT’s parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers, has given more than $2 million in campaign money to Johnson’s election efforts since 2018.
Gates, a close ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson, is taking on a new role as the head of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, a move that could give her greater influence over campaign contributions to his reelection bid.
As part of this new role, Gates may have more control over how the IFT's political fund dispatches its cash – now totaling nearly $2 million – with a significant portion of it going towards Johnson's election efforts.
In recent months, the IFT has made notable campaign contributions, including its largest-ever contribution to Johnson's campaign until that point: $150,000. The fund also made donations in November 2022 and February 2023. After Johnson won his runoff election in April 2023, the IFT contributed an additional $7,000.
The CTU maintains at least two political action committees, one with nearly $2,000 on hand that's overseen by Gates, while another has more than $500,000 with other officials listed as officers. Another key player is United Working Families, where Johnson’s campaign treasurer worked for years and is heavily funded by the CTU and SEIU.
Until recently, Johnson was chairman of his own campaign fund, but now it's been taken over by a Cook County Commissioner who also works as a CTU employee. It appears that nearly 80% of the $13.6 million raised by Johnson's campaign came from organized labor and affiliated organizations between late 2022 and late 2023.
The IFT’s parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers, has given more than $2 million in campaign money to Johnson’s election efforts since 2018.
. First off, Gates becomes head of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and suddenly she's got control over a big chunk of cash? That's too convenient for me 
. I mean, what if that money was meant for something else? What if it's just a coincidence that most of Johnson's campaign donations came from organized labor? 
Come on, people need to start questioning this arrangement... it feels like they're trying to buy the whole election 
... Stacy Davis Gates is already such an amazing leader with the IFT, and now she's taking on even more responsibility? That's awesome! 
But at the same time, it's kinda concerning that her new role might give Mayor Johnson's campaign a cash boost. Like, isn't politics already complicated enough without all these connections getting in the way? 
Can we just focus on supporting our leaders when they do good things instead of worrying about their connections? 
. Stacy Davis Gates' new role at the Illinois Federation of Teachers could definitely bring some serious cash for Mayor Brandon Johnson's reelection bid, which raises questions about the level of influence he's got over his own campaign 
. And let's not forget that United Working Families is heavily funded by the CTU and SEIU – basically, you've got two big players in the union world throwing their weight behind Johnson.
. I mean, a mayor's ally taking on a head role at the Illinois Federation of Teachers just to funnel more cash into his campaign? It sounds like a recipe for crony capitalism 
. I'd love to see some transparency on these donations, you know? How much is the mayor's family getting out of this deal?