Potential Primaries Shape Up with Money Woes
Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), right, and Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) speaking at a statehouse news conference. Both Brady and Demmer are building war chests for a potential run for Secretary of State.
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As fundraising reports have been filed, we’re getting a better look at potential primary or general election races under the new legislative maps in 2022.
Of course, all of these are potential matchups, and we’ll see if the maps change and who decides to move to run in a different district.
(23rd Senate) Sen. Suzy Glowiak-Hilton (D-Western Springs) and Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) were drawn into the same district. Cullerton, as you know, is under federal indictment and Senate leadership may be trying to show him the door. Hilton has around $52,000 cash. Cullerton has around $1,500.
(37th Senate) Sen. Win Stoller (R-Peoria) is well liked among his Senate colleagues and has around $256,000 cash on hand. He could get a challenge from Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savana), who told us she’s planning to move into Stoller’s district. McCombie has around $217,000 on hand. Though, if Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) runs for another office, she could have an open House seat for the taking. More on Demmer below.
(46th House) Democrats put the screws to Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), moving her five houses out of a cushy Republican district. They’ve placed her in a potentially high profile General Election matchup with Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Elmhurst). Mazzochi, not one to back away from a fight, pumped $150,000 into her account last quarter. She filed with around $176,000 on hand. Conroy has around $177,000.
(47th House) Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) and Rep. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) are in the same district. Grant held on to defeat a well-funded Democrat last year while Lewis took out Democrat Diane Pappas. About a year out from the primary, Grant has around $6,000 cash and Lewis has around $13,000.
(50th House) This is one that could change. Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) and Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) are drawn into the new 50th District. Wheeler is sitting on around $163,000. Ugaste has around $16,000. Wheeler, we hear, may be instead be planning a battle with Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) in the new 75th House district. Wheeler hasn’t returned our calls about that, by the way. Welter has around $92,000 cash on hand.
(51st House) Democrats think Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) is too conservative for the suburbs, but haven’t been able to beat him out. Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) surprised Democrat Mary Edly-Allen last year. Morrison has around $46,000 on hand. Bos has around $8,000.
(99th House) Neither Rep. Randy Frese (R-Paloma) or Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) have a lot of opportunity to move to an open district. Davidsmeyer has around $221,000 on hand. Frese has $56,000.
(108th House) It remains to be seen if Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Springfield) and Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) end up in a primary together, but they have been drawn into the same district. Bourne, a rising GOP star, has around $65,000 cash on hand. Murphy has around $77,000. Many believe Murphy’s longtime relationship with Bourne’s family will help prevent a fight in this race.
(GOP Secretary of State) We mentioned Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) above. He’s still leaning toward running for Secretary of State, he tells The Illinoize, but says he hasn’t taken any option off the table. Demmer, 35, is seen as one of the best policy minds in the House GOP and losing him for a risky statewide race surely frustrates House GOP leadership.
Demmer, by the way, has around $460,000 cash in his campaign account.
He could be facing a primary for Secretary of State with Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington). Brady has openly said he’s thinking about jumping into the SoS race. Brady also had the poll a couple of weeks ago that showed him within a few points of Democratic frontrunner Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias, the former State Treasurer, has almost $3 million cash built up. Brady has around $178,000 cash.