(MCT) — Spawned by frustration with the status quo and fueled by anti-union sentiment, a new money-manager style of Republican activism is taking hold in Illinois with the potential to reshape the political landscape heading into the 2014 statewide elections.

Venture capitalists and hedge fund directors have been writing six-figure donations with increasing frequency since the 2010 state elections and are spending big on the presidential and congressional races, taking advantage of the new era of super political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on campaigns.