GOP Making Some Fundraising Gains, But Dems Still Ahead
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Republican leaders in Springfield continue to improve their fundraising numbers after nearly a decade of cash-strapped campaign apparatuses.
But with a billionaire Governor and a built-in union fundraising machine, Democrats continue to have a strong financial advantage headed into the fall campaign season.
Campaign finance reports that included the spring primary season were due late Monday night.
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) raised around $250,000 in the first quarter of the year, including a $100,000 loan from herself to break the contribution caps for the rest of the election cycle, allowing her to raise unlimited money from political action committees, businesses, individuals, and unions.
She finished the quarter with about $1.2 million cash on hand, which is around $250,000 less than her predecessor had on hand this time four years ago. The House Republican campaign arm accounts total around $482,000. The Democrats for the Illinois House committee reported around $270,000 cash on hand. But House Speaker Chris Welch continued his impressive fundraising, bringing in $1.3 million to his personal campaign account, ending the quarter with around $7.3 million in the bank.
Most Republicans in competitive races continue to trail in fundraising, though. Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton), potentially the most vulnerable House Republican in November, raised just $200 in the first quarter of the year.
Appointed Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville), who faces union electrician Jarrett Clem, trails the Democrat in fundraising. Schweizer got a late start in the race, entering in November, but Clem has built a $150,000 to $6,000 advantage in the Champaign-to-Danville district.
The most notable exception for Republicans is Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills), who has around $83,000 in the bank against his Democratic challenger Maria Peterson, who has around $36,000 on hand. Though, Democrats are expected to throw the kitchen sink at the suburban district in November.
In the Senate, Republicans have few pickup opportunities and their recruited candidates have posted lackluster, or non-existent, fundraising.
Republicans believed they could play in a handful of races in November, but Crystal Soltow, the Rock Valley College trustee challenging Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) has yet to open a campaign account.
The GOP came within 1,000 votes of defeating Sen. Mike Hastings (D-Frankfort) in 2022, but their preferred candidate was defeated in the primary by Samantha Gasca, who has around $600 cash on hand.
Sally Owens, the GOP challenger to Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) has around $38,000 cash on hand, but Koehler has around $410,000 in the bank. Uphill climb, for sure.
The Senate GOP has around $258,000 on hand, compared to around $427,000 for Senate Democrats.
But Senate President Don Harmon is sitting on more than $12.7 million. Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) has around $1.5 million.
