Statewide Elected Officials Bringing In Big Fundraising Numbers
Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks during his inaugural address in January. Every statewide elected official other than Governor JB Pritzker, who is self funding), has more than $300,000 campaign cash on hand.
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If Governor JB Pritzker runs for re-election in 2026, it would be the first time an Illinois governor sought a third full term since 1986. Statewide elected officials seem to be keeping their campaigns flush with cash in case Pritzker doesn’t run again in 2026.
All five statewide elected officials have over $300,000 in their campaign accounts.
New Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias leads the way with around $1 million in the bank. Treasurer Mike Frerichs has around $700,000 in the bank and Attorney General Kwame Raoul has around $680,000 cash on hand. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza has around $305,000 cash on hand. All are considered potential future candidates for either Governor or U.S. Senate.
The other statewide officeholder, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, has increased her fundraising presence in 2023. Stratton, who maintains a personal campaign fund even though the Pritzker campaign handled the majority of the financial commitments in 2018 and 2022.
Stratton, who served one term in the House, had around $23,000 in her campaign fund in March, but now has around $305,000 cash on hand.
It isn’t clear, of course, who may make a run for higher office and it seems unlikely all five would ever end up in the same primary, but many Democrats believe angling has already begun.
“Whatever happens, it’ll be a free for all,” said a Democratic operative.
Pritzker, by the way, filed with around $89,000 cash on hand at the end of September, but pumped another $12 million of his personal wealth into his campaign fund earlier this month.