Madison Dearborn Partners, Associates of

Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP) is based in Chicago. MDP manages private equity investment funds with more than $4 billion of committed capital and portfolio investments, and specializes in management buyout and special equity investing. Along with providing a range of financial services, MDP focuses its investments in the communications, energy/power, and health care industries.  Partner Paul Wood is married to former Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood.

Associates of Madison Dearborn Partners are career patrons of former Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood.

From 1995 to 2001, associates of Madison Dearborn Partners gave $309,718 to candidates for Illinois statewide constitutional and legislative office, 99% of which was contributed to Republicans. In 2008, however, John Canning, MDP’s Chairman and long-time Republican donor, publicly switched allegiances to the Democratic Party during the Presidential race. Since 1994, $5,893,149 has been given to Illinois candidates from donors who list MDP as their employer, mainly the firm’s partners. Of that total amount, Gov. Corinne Wood received over $5 million in personal contributions, loans, and in-kind contributions. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley received the second highest amount, with $110,000.

Last revised June 2009.