Key Takeaways
- • Ken Griffin, Citadel founder and Illinois' wealthiest resident, donated $20 million to the Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment to oppose a constitutional amendment shifting Illinois from flat-rate to graduated income tax.
- • Gov. JB Pritzker has committed $56.5 million to Vote Yes for Fairness, the pro-amendment campaign, creating a direct billionaire-versus-billionaire funding battle over tax policy.
- • The November 2020 ballot measure would fundamentally restructure Illinois' income tax system to implement progressive rates based on income levels, a constitutional change requiring voter approval.
- • Griffin's opposition centers on fiscal governance concerns, arguing in his statement that state leadership should "stop taking advantage of constituents and wasting hard-earned taxpayer dollars" and redirect focus to schools, public safety, and infrastructure.
- • The competing campaigns have flooded Illinois airwaves with advertisements, making this non-candidate ballot measure one of the state's most heavily funded political contests heading into November 2020.
Summary
Illinois' November 2020 ballot will feature one of the most expensive non-candidate contests in state political history, centered on a proposed constitutional amendment to replace the state's flat income tax with a graduated rate system. The fight has crystallized into a direct financial confrontation between two of the state's most prominent billionaires: Citadel founder Ken Griffin and Governor JB Pritzker.
According to Illinois Board of Elections records dated August 27, 2020, Griffin pledged $20 million to the Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment, positioning himself as the leading financial opponent of the measure. In response, Pritzker has contributed $56.5 million to Vote Yes for Fairness, the campaign advocating for the amendment's passage. The disparity in funding—with Pritzker's commitment exceeding Griffin's by nearly 2.8 times—reflects the intensity of commitment from both sides to shape Illinois' tax structure.
Griffin's public statement opposing the amendment centers on fiscal management and government accountability. He argued that "It's time the Governor and Illinois legislature stop taking advantage of constituents and wasting hard-earned taxpayer dollars," and called for the state to redirect focus toward "better schools, better public safety, better infrastructure and greater opportunities for all our citizens." The statement frames opposition to graduated taxation as a matter of government efficiency rather than wealthy self-interest, positioning the debate within a broader governance context.
The amendment itself would fundamentally alter Illinois' constitutional tax framework by eliminating the flat-rate structure and enabling progressive income tax brackets based on earnings levels. This would require voter approval and would grant the state legislature greater flexibility in setting differential tax rates across income brackets. The competing campaigns have generated substantial media spending, with advertisements from both sides dominating Illinois airwaves ahead of the November election. This ballot measure has emerged as a defining policy question for Illinois voters independent of any candidate race.
According to Illinois Board of Elections records dated August 27, 2020, Griffin pledged $20 million to the Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment, positioning himself as the leading financial opponent of the measure. In response, Pritzker has contributed $56.5 million to Vote Yes for Fairness, the campaign advocating for the amendment's passage. The disparity in funding—with Pritzker's commitment exceeding Griffin's by nearly 2.8 times—reflects the intensity of commitment from both sides to shape Illinois' tax structure.
Griffin's public statement opposing the amendment centers on fiscal management and government accountability. He argued that "It's time the Governor and Illinois legislature stop taking advantage of constituents and wasting hard-earned taxpayer dollars," and called for the state to redirect focus toward "better schools, better public safety, better infrastructure and greater opportunities for all our citizens." The statement frames opposition to graduated taxation as a matter of government efficiency rather than wealthy self-interest, positioning the debate within a broader governance context.
The amendment itself would fundamentally alter Illinois' constitutional tax framework by eliminating the flat-rate structure and enabling progressive income tax brackets based on earnings levels. This would require voter approval and would grant the state legislature greater flexibility in setting differential tax rates across income brackets. The competing campaigns have generated substantial media spending, with advertisements from both sides dominating Illinois airwaves ahead of the November election. This ballot measure has emerged as a defining policy question for Illinois voters independent of any candidate race.
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