RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Long headquartered in Chicago, the aerospace and defense contractor Boeing Co. has faced repeated allegations in recent years that it has put the pursuit of profits over passenger safety in building and designing aircraft — including the 737 MAX now criss-crossing the skies.
One of the jetliners crashed in 2018 shortly after taking off from an Indonesian airport, killing all 189 people aboard. In 2019, another 737 MAX went down in Ethiopia, killing all 157 on board. Boeing initially tried blaming the pilots. But it turned out a flawed system that can affect flight controls — and Boeing wasn’t truthful about with the Federal Aviation Administration or airlines — was a factor in both crashes.
Congressional hearings, a U.S. Justice Department investigation, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission case, dozens of lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Chicago and two critical Netflix documentaries followed.
Boeing also stands to benefit financially from the war in Gaza through weapons production, according to published accounts and watchdog groups that accuse Israel’s military, a Boeing customer, of human rights abuses.
But none of that has stopped Illinois politicians from accepting campaign money from Boeing, with eight members of Congress from Illinois and northwest Indiana taking money from the company’s political action committee since the start of last year.
Three of them accepted $10,000 each, including U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a North Side Democrat running for Chicago mayor in next year’s election. He received four contributions in 2025 and four in 2026, according to Federal Election Commission records.
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a downstate Republican, accepted eight contributions from Boeing, two in 2026 and six last year, totaling $10,000.
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a downstate Republican, accepted seven campaign contributions, all in 2025, totaling $10,000.
Those political figures either couldn’t be reached or wouldn’t comment. Boeing officials declined to comment.
Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are shown on an assembly line in 2024.
Jennifer Buchanan / AP
Other recipients of Boeing cash include: U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, a former aide to Gov. JB Pritzker and downstate Democrat who accepted nine campaign contributions totaling $8,500 since last year. A Budzinksi campaign official pointed to the company’s presence downstate and nearby in Missouri, and Budzinski’s strong support for Boeing’s unionized workers.
U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a downstate Democrat, accepted $5,500 from Boeing, with the latest donation in June. U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, a north suburban Democrat, accepted $2,500 in 2025. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Naperville Democrat, accepted $1,000 in June.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, a Democrat representing parts of northwest Indiana, accepted three contributions this year and one last year totaling $6,000.
Melissa Bean, a former Chicago area congresswoman who’s now the Democratic nominee in the November general election to replace U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in Congress, accepted a $1,000 campaign contribution from Boeing in April.
During the same period, FEC records show Boeing, which moved its corporate headquarters from the Loop to Arlington, Va., several years ago, gave several million dollars to other causes and candidates.
The company, which has been making pilot-less planes for the Navy at a downstate factory, contributed $36,000 to state and local campaign funds in Illinois in 2025 and 2026, including those benefiting Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) and state Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), as well as the state Republican and Democratic parties.
The human rights group Amnesty International released a report last year saying it has “documented bombs and guidance kits manufactured by The Boeing Company (Boeing) being used in unlawful air strikes in the occupied Gaza Strip” since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in 2023.
“In particular, Amnesty International has documented the use of Boeing-manufactured Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) by the Israeli military in a series of deadly air strikes that killed scores of Palestinian civilians across the Gaza Strip, including many in children.”
The Wall Street Journal wrote last fall: "The American company that has brought in the most Israeli business since the Gaza war began is Boeing," with the U.S. government authorizing "an $18.8 billion sale of Boeing F-15 strike fighters last year to Israel for delivery beginning in 2029," among other military equipment.
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Boeing’s misconduct hasn’t stopped Illinois politicians from taking campaign cash from the company
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Boeing HQ departing Chicago
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