I've been tweeting a lot of interesting updates from recent disclosures and I thought I'd do a weekly roundup to try to summarize the week's interesting news and organize these developments into a format you can follow. Here is last week's roundup.
Reminder:
- A-1 reports are for contributions received by the committee of $1,000 or more.
- B-1 reports are for independent expenditures made independent of the candidate (cannot be coordinated).
- Regular expenditures (not independent expenditures) are not reported until the quarterly filings are due, next on 3/31.
What follows is not every development in each of these races, only the big and/or notable ones. For comprehensive coverage of all the campaign finance data subscribe to either or both of our Racing Forms, updated weekly. The Illinois Racing Form covers all the General Assembly races, the Cook County Racing Form covers all the county candidates, MWRD, judges and committeemen races.
It was a long week, over 100 tweets to summarize, let's get to it.
5th House (D) - Ken Dunkin (i) vs. Juliana Stratton
- On Tuesday IllinoisGO filed a new B-1 for $78K for TV and mail opposing Juliana Stratton.
- On Tuesday Juliana Stratton added $119K including $50K from the Operating Engineers Local 399, $40K from SEIU Illinois Council & $25K from the Illinois Pipe Trades. On Wednesday she added another $42K, including a small in-kind for phone banking from the 42nd Ward Democratic Organization.
7th House (D) - Chris Welch (i) vs. Chris Harris
- Last Friday the National Association of REALTORS filed a B-1 for $12K for mail supporting Chris Welch.
22nd House (D) - Michael Madigan (i) vs. Jason Gonzales vs. Joe Barboza vs. Grasiela Rodriguez
- Illinois United for Change, the independent expenditure committee funded largely with Blair Hull money that has been supporting Jason Gonzales had an eventful week. Last Friday they added $10K, on Tuesday they reported another $50K from real estate executive Irvin Kessler and on Thursday they reported receiving $20K from the Illinois Opportunity Project the same group led by Dan Proft that gave Ken Dunkin a record $500K contribution earlier this month. They also continued to spend money this week, on Tuesday filing a B-1 for $25K for field, Wednesday filing a B-1 for $15K for printing and Thursday filing a B-1 for another $15K for printing, all supporting Jason Gonzales.
- On Thursday Jason Gonzales added $10,800.
- Worth noting: the four funds controlled by Speaker Madigan have an estimated funds available of around $8.5 million.
- Interesting thought: Illinois United for Change has already spent almost $85K supporting Gonzales/opposing Madigan. If they spend more than $100K then the contribution limits would be removed for this race meaning the Speaker's candidate committee Friends of Michael J. Madigan could raise unlimited funds, something that could have a very significant impact not only for this race but also for the fall. So far Illinois United for Change has raised $300K and spent only about $85K on independent expenditures, they could have as much as $215K still available to spend on this race or others. If/when they exceed the threshold and blow the caps the impact would be far reaching and potentially enormous, I'll have much more on this if/when it happens.
26th House (D) - Christian Mitchell (i) vs. Jay Travis
- On Sunday Christian Mitchell added $25K from Democratic Majority, the leadership committee of the House Dems. Both Mitchell and Jay Travis added other smaller amounts during the week.
- On Thursday Chicagoans United for Economic Security PAC, an independent expenditure committee that has received significant funds from CTU filed a B-1 for $160K for cable TV and mail supporting Jay Travis.
40th House (D) - Jaime Andrade (i) vs. Harish Patel
- Last Friday the National Association of REALTORS filed a B-1 for $10K for mail supporting Jaime Andrade.
66th House (R) - Paul Serwatka vs. Daniel Wilbrandt vs. Allen Skillicorn vs. Carolyn Schofield
- On Tuesday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $2K for TV for Allen Skillicorn.
72nd House (D) - Jeff Jacobs vs. Michael Halpin vs. Katelyn Hotle vs. Glen Evans
72nd House (R) - Brandi McGuire vs. Jordan Thoms
- On Tuesday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $4K for graphic design for Brandi McGuire.
74th House (R) - Wayne Saline vs. Dan Swanson vs. Mike DeSutter
- On Tuesday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $9K for TV for Mike DeSutter.
95th House (R) - Avery Bourne (i) vs. Dennis Scobbie vs. Christopher Hicks
- Last Friday the Illinois Republican Party filed another B-1 spending $16K on mail for Avery Bourne. On Tuesday the Illinois Republican Party filed a new B-1 for $2K for live calls for Bourne.
- On Tuesday INCS Action Independent Committee filed a B-1 for $5K for mail supporting Avery Bourne.
99th House (R) - Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (i) vs. Kent Gray
- Last Friday the Illinois Republican Party filed another B-1 spending $5K on mail for Sara Wojcicki Jimenez. On Tuesday the Illinois Republican Party filed a new B-1 for $2K for live calls for Wojcicki Jimenez.
102nd House (R) - Brad Halbrook vs. Randy Peterson vs. Jim Acklin
- Last Friday Brad Halbrook disclosed a $53K contribution from Governor Rauner's campaign committee.
- On Monday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $24K for TV for Brad Halbrook. On Tuesday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $2K for TV for Brad Halbrook. On Thursday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $41K for TV supporting Brad Halbrook.
- On Tuesday Jim Acklin filed an A-1 for $40K, including four identical contributions from the IEA all on 2/22, all for $5K. On Wednesday Acklin filed another A-1 for $32K, including six identical contributions from the IEA all on 2/23, all for $5K. It's hard to tell if those are a bunch of accidental duplicates or if that is just an atypical contribution/disclosure method.
- On Thursday Randy Peterson filed an A-1 for $15K from current 102nd district Republican incumbent Adam Brown.
110th House (R) - Reggie Phillips (i) vs. Jonathan Kaye
2nd Senate (D) - Angelica Alfaro vs. Omar Aquino
- On Tuesday IllinoisGO filed a new B-1 for $12K for mail supporting Angelica Alfaro. On Thursday IllinoisGO filed a new B-1 for $12K for mail supporting Angelica Alfaro.
5th Senate (D) - Patricia Van Pelt (i) vs. Bob Fioretti
- The Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund, the leadership committee of President Cullerton has had a history of supporting their incumbents facing primaries and has been supporting Van Pelt this cycle. Last Friday she filed an A-1 for an in-kind contribution from the Victory Fund for $18K paid to their pollster for "RENT" but was probably for polling. Later on Friday she filed another A-1 for $50K including $30K from the Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund. Then on Saturday she filed another A-1 once again for an in-kind contribution from the Victory Fund for $18K paid to their pollster for "RESEARCH" (polling), which was likely just a correction of the A-1 filed the day before, however Van Pelt has not filed a letter with the State Board indicating such.
- On Tuesday IllinoisGO filed a new B-1 for $17K for mail supporting Patricia Van Pelt. On Thursday IllinoisGO filed a new B-1 for $17K for mail supporting Patricia Van Pelt.
26th Senate (R) - Dan McConchie vs. Casey Urlacher vs. Martin McLaughlin
- On Monday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $49K for TV for Dan McConchie. This $49K for McConchie put the total Liberty Principles spending for this race over the $100K threshold and the contribution limits have been removed. On Tuesday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $2K for TV for Dan McConchie.
- On Wednesday Dan McConchie filed an A-1 which included a $2,500 contribution from Chicago Bears owner Virginia McCaskey, notable because one of McConchie's opponents is Casey Urlacher, brother of Chicago Bears great Brian Urlacher. This is not McCaskey's only contribution, she does have a long donor history going back to the 90's of donating to Republican candidates and conservative causes, including a $5K donation earlier this week to Tom Morrison.
- On Thursday Casey Urlacher filed an A-1 loaning himself $34K.
50th Senate (R) - Sam McCann (i) vs. Bryce Benton
- On Saturday Sam McCann filed an A-1 for $33,500 in mostly labor money.
- On Tuesday Liberty Principles filed a new B-1 for $40K for TV and mail for Bryce Benton.
Cook County State's Attorney (D) - Anita Alvarez (i) vs. Kim Foxx vs. Donna More
- Illinois Safety & Justice, the independent expenditure committee supporting Kim Foxx added significant funds this week. On Friday they added $50K from George Soros and then on Wednesday they added another $100K from Soros. The large donations from Soros to the IE were a bit perplexing, there are no contribution limits in this race so he could have made these donations directly to the Foxx campaign. In fact Illinois Safety & Justice added so much money from George Soros that on Wednesday they had to amend their statement of organization to list Soros as a sponsoring entity. You may remember this "sponsoring entity" issue from my previous mention regarding Dunkin (who still hasn't amended his D-1). They quickly started spending this money on Tuesday spending $40K on direct mail, and then again on Thursday spending another $40K on direct mail. That last $40K put them over $100K spent on this race which would normally eliminate the contribution limits but the caps were already off, however it did still trigger an official notification.
- Also this week Kim Foxx added significant funds to her campaign committee, last Friday she filed an A-1 for $235K including $200K from Fred Eychaner, $15K from attorney Arthur Loevy and $5K from Jack Franks' candidate committee.
- On Monday Donna More added $90K, $82K came from herself as in-kinds for mail & consulting. She added an additional $14K on Wednesday.
- On Tuesday Anita Alvarez added $94K, including two identical $30K donations from the plumbers/pipefitters (possible duplicates?).
Other Notable Contributions Received
- Last Friday judicial candidate Kathleen Mesich loaned herself $25K.
- Last Friday the Illinois Republican Party added $161K, including $150K from Governor Rauner. The party has been making a number of independent expenditures supporting two of Rauner's favored candidates facing Republican primaries, Avery Bourne, a former Rauner campaign worker and Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, the First Lady's former Chief of Staff.
- On Sunday Support Independent Maps reported another $12K.
- A new PAC, New Urban Conservative PAC, whose purpose is "To advance the conservative cause in urban areas" added $21K from Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein.
- On Monday the Cook County Democratic Party added $40K from the Foxx campaign, their slated candidate for State's Attorney.
- On Monday MWRD candidate Marty Durkan added not one, not two but three A-1's totaling $45K.
- On Monday Toni Preckwinkle added $142K, including $50K from the Operating Engineers Local 150, $20K from the Illinois Pipe Trades and $10K from Midway Airport Concessionaires.
- On Tuesday the International Union of Operating Engineers added $50K to their PAC.
- On Tuesday Stand for Children moved $65K to its independent expenditure committee.
- On Tuesday Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti added $2,500 from the Realtors.
- On Wednesday Chicagoans United for Economic Security PAC added $28K, including $25K from CTU and $3K from the Cook County College Teachers. On Thursday they added another $200K from CTU.
- On Thursday Michelle Harris moved $48K from her aldermanic candidate committee to her circuit court clerk candidate committee.
- On Thursday the House Republican Organization added $45K while Leader Durkin added $8K.
- On Thursday the IL Lunch Pail Republicans PAC filed not one but two separate A-1's totaling $100K from the Operating Engineers.
- On Thursday Alderman Brendan Reilly moved $15K from his aldermanic campaign committee over to the ward organization, 42nd Ward Democratic Org. The ward organization has been spending money to support both Juliana Stratton and Jay Travis.
Seriously, don't make your staff stay until midnight to file something they could have filed at 8:30. Knock it off.
Other Interesting Developments
- Two Fridays ago the Realtors added $27K to their fund and then immediately spent it on independent expenditures. Last Friday they did the same thing, first they added $22K from their members and then they filed a B-1 for mailers for Chris Welch ($12K) and Jaime Andrade ($10K).
- On Wednesday the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee created an Illinois registered PAC.
You can find the complete list of all the funds available, every A-1 filed, every B-1 filed and a complete listing of all the candidates and districts in our Racing Forms. The Illinois Racing Form covers every General Assembly race while the Cook County Racing Form covers all the countywide, judicial, MWRD and Chicago committeemen races, full details below.
The Illinois Racing Form
- District profiles for every General Assembly race including district map, current candidate listing, candidate headshots and past electoral performance.
- Current financial status for each candidate's campaign committee as well as other relevant committees, such as the Governor, legislative leaders and IE's.
- Latest candidate filings.
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The Cook County Racing Form
- District profiles for every countywide, judicial, MWRD and Chicago committeeman race including district map, current candidate listing, candidate headshots and past electoral performance.
- Current financial status for each candidate's campaign committee as well as other relevant or related committees.
- Latest candidate filings.
- Candidates' social media presences, including websites, Facebook , LinkedIn and Twitter.
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