How We Score

TheJacket is a transparency tool, not an endorsement machine. Every score, flag, and fact on this platform traces back to a public record. Here's exactly how it works.

The A–F Transparency Score

Each candidate starts at 100 and loses points for specific, documented findings. The score measures what's publicly verifiable — not policy positions, ideology, or electability.

A (90–100)Clean public record. No dark money, no ethics violations, full financial disclosure available.
B (80–89)Minor issues — limited disclosure, some PAC concentration, or incomplete public record.
C (70–79)Notable concerns — significant PAC concentration, ethics inquiry, or limited transparency.
D (60–69)Serious flags — dark money, ethics findings, criminal record, or corporate PAC dominance.
F (below 60)No public financial record, confirmed ethics violations, or criminal conviction.

Every deduction links to a specific finding with a source. No points are deducted for unverified allegations — only confirmed public record.

Confirmed vs. Alleged

confirmed: true

The claim has been independently verified through official records, court documents, government filings, or multiple credible news sources. It is treated as fact.

confirmed: false

The claim has been reported or alleged but has not been independently verified through primary sources. It is flagged as an allegation. Allegations do not reduce a candidate's score — only confirmed findings do.

Data Sources

All data on TheJacket comes from public sources. No anonymous tips. No unverified claims.

  • —Illinois Sunshine (ILSBE): State and county campaign finance — committee filings, donor tables, cash on hand
  • —FEC: Federal campaign finance for U.S. Senate and House races
  • —Illinois State Board of Elections: Candidate filing records and official ballot certification
  • —Cook County Clerk: Official candidate filings and results for Cook County races
  • —Injustice Watch: Judicial candidate investigations, bar ratings, ethics complaints
  • —Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening: Judicial ratings: Highly Recommended / Recommended / Not Recommended / Not Rated
  • —Chicago Bar Association (CBA): Supplemental judicial candidate evaluations
  • —ProPublica Congress API: Voting records and bill sponsorship for federal incumbents

Data Freshness

Candidate data was last audited in March 2026 for the Cook County Primary. Financial data reflects ILSBE and FEC filings available as of that date. Each candidate profile shows alast_updatedfield indicating when that specific profile was last reviewed.

For November 2026 general election cycles, data will be refreshed as candidates file. Unknown or unavailable values are left null — we do not estimate or fill gaps.

Judicial Ratings

Judicial candidates are evaluated by the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, a coalition of Chicago-area bar associations. Their rating scale:

Highly RecommendedTop rating. Candidate meets the highest standards for the bench.
RecommendedQualified for the position.
Not RecommendedDoes not meet bar association standards.
Not RatedCandidate did not participate in the evaluation process.

Bar ratings are one signal among many. TheJacket also surfaces ethics complaints, Injustice Watch investigations, and disciplinary records for judicial candidates.

What TheJacket Does NOT Do

  • ✕Endorse candidates — we do not make voting recommendations
  • ✕Express editorial opinions on policy positions
  • ✕Advocate for or against any candidate, party, or issue
  • ✕Accept outside funding, advertising, or sponsored content
  • ✕Use anonymous sources or unverified tips to build profiles

About the Platform

TheJacket is a nonpartisan, independently operated civic transparency platform focused on Cook County, Illinois. It is not affiliated with any campaign, party, PAC, or outside organization. No outside funding. No ads. No monetization.

Built and maintained by a Chicago-based developer as a public service.

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