By Illinois Review
A formal complaint alleging prohibited political activity by Wirepoints has been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service, accusing the tax-exempt nonprofit of intervening in Illinois’ Republican gubernatorial primary in a manner that may violate federal tax law.
Sources confirmed to Illinois Review that the IRS has received the complaint and related materials, which request a review of Wirepoints’ compliance with restrictions governing 501(c)(3) organizations.
The complaint centers on articles authored by Wirepoints founder Mark Glennon during an active Republican primary election. According to the filing, the articles focused on campaign dynamics, candidate strength, and electoral outcomes rather than public policy issues, raising questions about whether the nonprofit crossed the line into prohibited campaign intervention.
One article cited in the complaint discussed Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, characterizing him as a weak nominee and framing him as the preferred opponent of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. The article analyzed campaign strategy and political positioning rather than legislative or fiscal policy.
At the time of publication, Ted Dabrowski – Wirepoints’ former president – was a declared candidate for governor in the same Republican primary. Dabrowski resigned from his leadership role at Wirepoints in September 2025, citing the need to comply with federal restrictions on 501(c)(3) organizations before launching his campaign. He subsequently announced his candidacy, selected a running mate, and began fundraising.
The complaint contends that Dabrowski’s resignation did not fully sever his ties to the organization. It notes that Wirepoints’ leadership structure, donor base, and public messaging were developed during his tenure, and argues that those connections are relevant when evaluating the organization’s independence during the primary.
The filing also references a second Glennon article published October 16, 2025, titled “Ted Dabrowski smokes other Republican candidates for Illinois governor in third quarter fundraising.”
That article highlighted Dabrowski’s fundraising performance relative to other Republican candidates and discussed his standing in the race.
In addition, the complaint outlines Glennon’s political and professional relationships within Illinois Republican circles. It notes that Glennon has longstanding ties to Jeanne Ives and Dan Proft, and that he has been a business partner of Dabrowski. The complaint further states that Ives serves as Dabrowski’s chief political adviser and that Proft has provided Dabrowski with regular access to his Chicago-based radio program, which Proft hosts remotely from Florida.
Federal law prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from participating or intervening in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. The IRS evaluates potential violations using a “facts and circumstances” test that considers timing, content, and overall context.
The complaint also cites Wirepoints’ financial disclosures. Illinois Review’s review of the organization’s publicly filed IRS Form 990s shows declining revenues, limited reserves, and recurring operating deficits, which the complaint suggests may be relevant to governance considerations.
This is not the first instance in which Illinois Review reporting has led to federal scrutiny during the 2026 governor’s race. A prior Illinois Review article prompted a review by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into potential federal mail fraud related to communications targeting the Bailey campaign, according to sources familiar with the matter. That inquiry remains ongoing.
The IRS has not publicly commented on the complaint, and no findings have been issued to date.
