Big Money Starts to Flow Into Legislative Campaigns
Rep.Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine).
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As the calendar turns to September and the “traditional” start of the fall campaign season, big money has started to flow into legislative races.
In an analysis of publicly available campaign spending since September 1, more than $2.3 million has flowed in to support top targeted candidates.
House Democrats have overwhelmingly dominated the spending this month, spending more than $100,000 each on direct mail alone for five Democratic candidates in the past nine days.
The most money flowing this month for a House Democrat is to Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine), who has received around $240,000 in contributions and spending since September 1. House Democrats have spent $124,000 for her on mail, $32,000 on digital ads, and are paying for a staffer in the district. She raised another $80,000 in large contributions since September 1.
House Republicans have not reported any spending for their candidate, Tosi Ufodike, this quarter.
Former Rep. LaToya Greenwood, who faces Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) in a rematch of the 2022 race where Schmidt upset Greenwood, has brought in around $210,000 since September 1, including $124,000 in direct mail, $34,000 in digital ads, and $33,000 in cash.
The only House GOP expense for Schmidt so far this month is for a staffer in the district. He has been sending state-paid “franked” mail into the district in recent weeks.
In the open 76th House District to replace outgoing Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) shows another large discrepancy. Democrat Amy Murri Briel has brought in around $200,000, including $110,000 in mail from House Democrats. Republican Liz Bishop has received about $25,000 in direct mail from the House GOP this month.
The major discrepancy in massive early spending has left many Republican insiders concerned.
“This is the kind of wave of money that risks us losing 5 seats or more,” said one longtime GOP consultant. “Nobody expected Republicans to outspend Democrats in any of these races, but to see this kind of flood of mail and digital already should have Tony [McCombie, the House GOP Leader] on high alert.”
It appears Senate Republicans are going “all in” on one race this fall. After launching a cable buy last week for Philip Nagel in his race against Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex), the Senate GOP spent another $135,000 on Nagel’s race this month, mostly on what insiders describe as “paid voter contact.”
Senate Democrats are paying for multiple staff members in Joyce’s district, but sources tell The Illinoize that Joyce is going up on television as early as today. The buy information wasn’t available Monday night and the Senate Democrats did not respond to questions about the buy.
Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) moved around $250,000 into the Senate Republican campaign account in recent days and another $25,000 was moved to the Illinois GOP, likely for mail, so more spending for Nagel is expected.
“This is probably the only race Senate Republicans think they can play, so they’re going all in against Joyce,” the GOP insider said.
Some spending highlights since September 1:
Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton): $19,502.75, Jackie Williamson (D): $67,889.03
Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville): $216,886.98, Jay Keeven (R): $29,750.00
Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills): $1,000, Maria Peterson (D): $169,552.09
Rep. Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington): $224,966, Desi Anderson (R): $21,425
Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield): $108,320.97, Gabby Shanahan (R): $72,230.00
Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville): $16,268, Jarrett Clem (D): $61,907.44
(open 45th) Marti Deuter (D): $126,242.16, Dennis Reboletti (R): $28,000
