By Illinois Review
A formal complaint filed under Illinois election law early Friday morning, accuses State Representative and House Deputy Minority Leader Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) of misusing campaign funds by repeatedly writing herself checks totaling tens of thousands of dollars labeled only as “non-itemized reimbursements.”
The complaint, filed pursuant to 10 ILCS 5/9-20 of the Illinois Election Code, alleges that Hammond’s campaign committee – Citizens for Hammond – has engaged in a pattern of questionable reimbursements that may violate Article IX of state campaign finance law.
The documents submitted to the Illinois State Board of Elections detail a series of payments made directly to Hammond from her campaign fund, often in amounts just below the threshold that would require full disclosure if the payments would have been labelled non-itemized expenditures.
According to the filing, Hammond has written checks directly to herself in the amount of $25,778 of “non-itemized expense reimbursements” since the committee’s inception, including nearly $10,000 in the last two years. Many of these checks, the complaint notes, were written for $150 or slightly less, which Hammond might believe avoids the state’s detailed reporting requirements for expenditures above that amount.
Under Illinois law, candidates may omit detailed reporting for individual expenditures under $150 per quarter, but the spending must still be legitimate and documented campaign expenses. The complaint alleges Hammond has abused that rule, using the $150 threshold as a loophole to move campaign funds into her own account without providing documentation or a clear campaign purpose.
“For example,” the complaint states, “in the most recent reporting period ending September 2025, Representative Hammond reported $2,935.41 in non-itemized expenses while also reporting itemized reimbursements to herself of $1,650, accomplished by writing eleven checks at $150 each.” For each of these eleven checks Hammond wrote to herself, she fails to provide a description of the campaign purpose as she merely wrote it was for a reimbursement to herself for non-itemized expenses.
The filing suggests this pattern may indicate either inaccurate accounting or intentional misuse of campaign funds for personal benefit.
“An elected official cannot just write thousands of dollars of checks to themselves and call it reimbursement,” the complaint asserts. “It is possible Representative Hammond is misusing campaign funds for non-campaign-related personal expenses.”
The complaint further warns that if Hammond’s practice were deemed lawful, “nothing would stop an elected official from writing themselves unlimited $150 checks and providing no explanation at all.”
The records submitted to the Board include Hammond’s quarterly D-2 campaign reports, spreadsheets of all expenditures, and detailed summaries of every payment made to herself.
The complainant urges the Board of Elections to investigate and demand documentation proving that each payment was for legitimate campaign activity.
Hammond, who has served in the Illinois House since her appointment in 2010, is a close ally of House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, and currently serves as her Deputy Minority Leader. Her leadership position within the caucus heightens the seriousness of the allegations, raising concerns among Republican activists about accountability and transparency inside their own ranks.
If the Illinois State Board of Elections finds that Hammond failed to properly document these reimbursements, she could face fines, required repayment of funds, or further legal action.
But the complaint is only the latest in a growing list of controversies surrounding Hammond’s political career. Earlier this week, she faced backlash from conservative voters in her deep-red district after revelations that her campaign accepted donations from liberal political groups – including those that support abortion expansion and transgender medical policies.
She also drew criticism for voting with Democrats in 2023 on legislation extending transgender patient rights, a move that infuriated her conservative base.
Hammond was further caught in the fallout of the so-called “PillowGate” scandal, after reports surfaced that McCombie – whom Hammond nominated for Speaker – authorized the use of taxpayer funds to benefit a business owned by Hammond’s husband.
That controversy sparked public outrage and demands for transparency from within the Republican Party itself.
Now, with this campaign finance complaint under investigation, Hammond faces growing skepticism from both constituents and colleagues who see a pattern of questionable judgment.
In a district where more than 70 percent of voters supported Donald Trump, many are asking whether Norine Hammond still represents conservative values – or simply the Springfield establishment.
For voters already frustrated with corruption and self-dealing in Illinois politics, the allegations against Hammond reinforce a troubling pattern: lawmakers treating campaign accounts like personal slush funds while taxpayers and donors are left in the dark.
