Ken Griffin says he's moving out but is all in.

It seems not that long ago that Illinois’ wealthiest man, hedge funder Ken Griffin, said he was leaving Illinois forever.

Now he’s back in the news saying he wants to elect another Bruce Rauner as governor of Illinois.

In fact he says he’s all in.

I’m not sure he means all in when he says all in.

Ken Griffin is currently worth about $16.1 billion.

Griffin runs Citadel, a Chicago-based hedge fund firm that manages around $34 billion in assets, according to Forbes, a firm he founded in 1990.

Does all in mean $16.1 billion?

Nah.

He wants to find a Republican to run against our current billionaire governor, J.B. Pritzker and back the no-name with some of his millions.

Which is like fifty bucks to you or me.

It looks like we are about to have a billionaire pissing contest.

The latest polls show Pritzker with a fifty fifty split when it comes to approval and disapproval with about the same with both Democrats and Republicans.

That’s with Prtzker running against some no-name Republicans from which Griffin would have to choose from to throw his money at.

Like buying shoes off the Target rack.

See, Griffin is old school.

Unlike some rich folks who think their money qualifies them to run government directly, Griffin still buys his politicians.

For example, he loved Rahm Emanuel, who was a Democrat.

In 2012 Griffin was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune.

Q. What do you think in general about the influence of people with your means on the political process? Do you think the ultrawealthy have an inordinate or inappropriate amount of influence on the political process?

A. I think they actually have an insufficient influence. Those who have enjoyed the benefits of our system more than ever now owe a duty to protect the system that has created the greatest nation on this planet. And so I hope that other individuals who have really enjoyed growing up in a country that believes in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and economic freedom is part of the pursuit of happiness – (I hope they realize) they have a duty now to step up and protect that.

Q. What were you there talking to Rahm about?

A. Rahm has done a fantastic job of engaging the business community in Chicago. I believe that he understands the fundamental importance of this city needing to create jobs. So he has been very solicitous for advice on what it would take for us to bring more jobs to Chicago, and for Chicago-based employers to create more jobs here.

Q. So he was asking how you could help on that effort?

A. Not just help. I could help. But (it was about) what’s important for us as a city to provide as a value proposition to bring jobs to Chicago. For example, he’s very focused on our children having a full school day because having a working public school system is really important to attracting employers.

Q. So have you asked for something on that? On education?

A. I bring it up with him. But he’s a step ahead of me. He’s really engaged on the issue. I don’t have to.

Griffin may feel he is in a financial position to buy our next governor.

I’m less sure.

People tell me that he was personally responsible for defeating the Fair Tax amendment to our state constitution. And he did spend tens of millions to defeat it.

But changing the language of the state constitution is a tough rode to hoe.

Anything with the word “tax” in it scares a lot of folks. Even if it is called a “fair tax.”

It like the old story of the cop beating up a right-wing demonstrator. “But I’m an anti-communist,” pleads the right-winger. “I don’t care what kind of communist you are,” replies the cop.

And Illinois ain’t Virginia. We are a deep blue state.

If it is true that Griffin is back and has decided to go all in, maybe it means he will go all in and start paying his share of state taxes too.