A $260,000 donation to Republican incumbent Leslie Munger's bid for Illinois comptroller has lifted the caps on political contributions and guarantees a big-money race against Democrat Susana Mendoza.
According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, the money is a loan from Munger's husband, attorney John Munger.
Munger's spokesman says the donation is "balancing the playing field."
Mendoza, Chicago's city clerk, called it "beyond the pale."
State campaign finance law limits donations, but it also says if a candidate or family member contributes more than $250,000 to his or her own race, the limits come off for all candidates.
Munger was appointed in 2015 after the death of Republican Judy Baar Topinka.
The winner of November's contest, with Libertarian and Green party candidates, will finish the remainder of the four-year term.
