Illinois REALTORS® spent big in this year’s aldermanic elections. Donating to campaigns across 26* of the city’s 50 wards, the organization spent at least $500,000 in battleground areas via an independent expenditure affiliate. It was the most involved Illinois REALTORS® has been in a single Chicago election.

Unlike RPAC contributions, independent expenditures are not campaign donations. Rather, they provide a less direct way for groups — like Illinois REALTORS® — to affect a race. As the name suggests, independent expenditures must be independent from a candidate. The money goes toward election efforts, like mailers, TV ads or online content, as opposed to the candidate’s own campaign.

And in the end, it seems those election efforts were successful. Among decided races, 88% of the candidates Illinois REALTORS® supported won on election night. Additionally, six of their chosen candidates are now competing in the April 4 runoff.

“Overall, we’re very happy and feel like the next City Council will have an appreciation for the industry and its role and helping the city grow,” Illinois REALTORS® CEO Jeff Baker said. With more than a dozen incumbent aldermen announcing their retirements, this election season represented a potential turning point for Chicago — with organizations like Illinois REALTORS® vying to wield new influence.

“I think we will be prepared to be as engaged, at a minimum, as we were this year even if it doesn’t turn out to be necessary,” Baker said. “We’ll be prepared to advocate for candidates who support the real estate industry.” At Illinois REALTORS®, determining which candidates support the industry comes down to their positions on housing issues. This includes capping and reducing property taxes, limiting transfer taxes, regulating rent and incentivizing construction, all with the goal of increasing affordable housing.

The push from Illinois REALTORS® comes amid concerns over several prospective changes to the city’s real estate tax plans. Among them: a proposed special transfer tax on sales of high-end residential property, the possible continuation of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s property-tax hikes and, generally, the state of the city’s tax-increment financing program. In Chicago, real estate tax policies are deliberated by the aldermen.

“With 15 open seats for retirement on City Council … we knew we needed to support candidates who support homeownership,” Baker said. In December, Illinois REALTORS® sent out questionnaires to all candidates to understand who was strongest on its issues. From there, they conducted further research to see who should benefit from independent expenditures and/or RPAC support.

However, Illinois REALTORS® involvement in one ward raised some eyebrows. The association funded two ward-wide mailers in support of 43rd Ward Ald. Timmy Knudsen, the incumbent and former chairman of the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals. In response to the mailers, Knudsen’s opponents Martin Oberman and Michelle Smith wrote an open letter to Lincoln Park residents, stating that Knudsen is too close to real estate interests.

But Baker, in response, told Chicago Agent that Oberman and Smith’s letter demonstrates a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the kind of advocacy Illinois REALTORS® is in — especially when it comes to independent expenditures. “Calling Knudsen ‘too close’ ignores the fact that there is no direct communication between his and our side. We support candidates who are aligned with our public policy goals.”

The race in the 43rd Ward did advance to a runoff, and Illinois REALTOR® will continue supporting Knudsen through independent expenditure work in the lead-up to April 4. They will also continue to support their five other run-off candidates: Nicole Lee in the 11th Ward, Monique Scott in the 24th Ward, Jessica Gutierrez in the 30th Ward, Gilbert Villegas in the 36th Ward, Kim Walz in the 46th Ward.

Andre Peloquin in the 48th Ward received substantial funding from Illinois REALTORS® —$66,000 according to The Real Deal — but did not make his ward’s runoff. Meanwhile, as mail-in ballots are counted, Realtor Ebony Lucas is still battling it out for a spot in the 4th Ward’s runoff — though she’s lagging slightly behind second-place competitor Prentice Butler.

Of course, there’s one run-off that looms even larger: the mayoral race. On Feb. 28, Chicagoans narrowed down their options to Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas, two Democrats with very different perspectives. But, for now, Illinois REALTORS® is not contributing any type of funds in that race.

“We don’t plan to make a mayoral endorsement,” Baker said, citing the organization’s diverse Chicago membership. “There are times when it’s better for us to give as much information to our members as possible, so they can be informed, rather than make an endorsement.” Prior to February’s election, Illinois REALTORS® released a brochure outlining each mayoral candidate’s position on housing-related issues, and it’s likely they will provide another similar document prior to the runoff.

“The primary strategy, whenever we choose to support candidates, is to educate voters on who those individuals are,” Baker said. The goal is to advise member constituents through independent mailers, online brochures or other means. “We try to be as informative as possible so voters in each ward know who their choices are and why they’re supporting them — whether they’re fighting to lower property taxes or fight to make housing more affordable.”

*The 26 wards which received Illinois REALTORS® independent expenditure funding were Wards 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 43, 46, 48 and 50.