Prairie State Wire

Richard Uihlein, CEO of Uline and one of the most influential Republican donors in recent elections, has contributed $250,000 to Ted Dabrowski’s campaign for Illinois governor. The contribution, made Friday, underscores a consolidation of support from conservative reform donors and the state’s business community behind Dabrowski’s candidacy.

Dabrowski, who launched his campaign on Sept. 12, has raised more than $1.2 million, the highest total among Republican primary contenders. His donor base now includes major figures in Illinois business and finance, aligning with grassroots conservatives who back his platform of tax, economic, and education reform.

James Perry, co-founder of Madison Dearborn Partners, also contributed $250,000, while Madison Dearborn’s co-founder and Chairman Emeritus John Canning added $100,000. Additional six-figure donors include Chicago investor Noel Moore, Residco CEO Vince Kolber, former Bachrach Clothing chairman Ed Bachrach, and Rural King owner Alex Melvin. Citadel COO Gerald Beeson donated $50,000.

Dabrowski previously was the president of Wirepoints and also worked as vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. He entered the 2026 governor’s race in September 2025 with a campaign focused on lowering taxes, cutting energy costs, addressing crime, and reforming education. 

Dabrowski's approach "stands in sharp contrast to Gov. Pritzker’s record-level spending and his continued use of tax hikes to fuel that spending," said a campaign press release. "Private-sector job creation under Pritzker has been virtually nonexistent since 2019, and student outcomes have remained dismal, even as per student spending has continued to jump."

In all, Dabrowski has raised more than $1.2 million, the leading amount among candidates in the Republican primary, since announcing his candidacy on September 12, 2025."

With backing from both major business leaders and grassroots conservatives, the campaign said Dabrowski has raised more than $1.2 million, making him the best-funded Republican gubernatorial challenger to date.