Prudence Beidler, the Democratic mega-donor and former Lake Forest mayoral candidate, recently hosted a fundraiser for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Beidler, who lost her mayoral bid earlier this year, has been a prominent supporter of Democratic political figures in both Chicago and nationally.
Beidler raised eyebrows during the “non-partisan” Lake Forest mayoral campaign after it was revealed she had contributed over $1 million in campaign donations exclusively to Democrats, with no reported donations to Republicans.
A known philanthropist, Beidler's campaign contributions include substantial amounts to Democrats at both national and local levels.
Beidler, who served as an alderman in Lake Forest for six years, has a long history of involvement in non-profit organizations and has been a consistent donor to political figures such as former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and former Attorney General Lisa Madigan, known for her connections to her father, disgraced former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Beidler's contributions also extended to former Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich, who gained infamy for attempting to sell Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat, leading to his imprisonment in 2008.
Beidler was notably the only Lake County resident to provide donations to Kim Foxx, the embattled Cook County State's Attorney under whose reign the City of Chicago has experienced skyrocketing rise in crime.
Records show that Beidler made a maximum donation of $5,400 to Foxx's campaign in 2015 when her daughter-in-law, Deborah E. Witzburg-Beidler, worked for the State's Attorney's office, with Beidler's husband, Frank, also contributing $1,000. Witzburg-Beidler later joined the Chicago Mayor Inspector General's office.
In 2016, Beidler gave $5,400 to Clinton’s presidential campaign. Altogether that year she gave $43,500 to leftist candidates and causes.
Beidler also donated to Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008.
Lake Forest Mayor Randy Tack received more than 58 percent of the vote with Beidler as his opponent. That campaign took a turn for the worse after Beidler campaign Treasurer Dianne Casuto filed a complaint against the Lake Forest Caucus after Beidler tried and failed to subvert the caucus.
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