Schneider's donations top rivals in 2nd quarter
Former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider dramatically outraised his rival for the Democratic nomination in the 10th District race during the year's second quarter, new documents show.
Even so, Schneider is lagging behind Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering when it comes to the overall size of their campaign war chests.
And neither of them is as flush as Republican incumbent Robert Dold, whose team is the only one who's banked more than $1 million for the 2016 campaign.
The 10th District includes parts of Cook and Lake counties. It stretches from Lake Michigan into the North and Northwest suburbs.
Schneider received more donations between April 1 and June 30 than either of the other candidates, according to campaign finance reports filed Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission.
Those documents are available for viewing at fec.gov.
Schneider, of Deerfield, defeated Dold, of Kenilworth, to win the seat in 2012. Dold won the rematch in 2014.
Both men raised and spent millions of dollars in the last showdown. It was one of the costliest House races in the nation.
In the most recent quarter, Team Schneider received about $615,235 in donations.
An estimated $332,633 of that sum was funneled through a Democratic organization called Act Blue. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other groups fed donations to Schneider's campaign, too.
Notable Schneider backers included:
• Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's campaign committee, which gave $2,000.
• A political action committee for Illinois letter carriers, which gave $2,000.
• Former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing, who gave $250.
"I am incredibly grateful to have received such a warm response from so many supporters who agree that Washington is broken and holding us back," Schneider said in a news release. "I look forward to returning to Washington to get to work on the issues that matter."
After expenses, the Schneider campaign ended the quarter with about $482,834 in the bank. The campaign also reported $11,500 in outstanding debts.
Rotering, who has been Highland Park's mayor since 2011, is making her first bid for Congress.
Her campaign raised about $228,864 during the second quarter. Most of the donations came from Highland Park residents or other suburbanites, documents indicate.
"We are proud to have the support of thousands of individuals around the district who want to see change in Congress and are excited about Nancy's record of getting things done," Rotering spokesman John Keig said. "And that's why we have more cash-on-hand to win the primary and take on Bob Dold in the general."
Notable donors included:
• Former state Rep. Julie Hamos of Evanston, who gave $250.
• Moraine Township Clerk Gail F. Brown, who gave $300.
• Dee Beaubien, the widow of former Barrington-area state Rep. Mark Beaubien. She gave $350.
Rotering's campaign reported no donations from traditional Democratic fundraising groups, nor any cash from national political action committees.
After expenses, Team Rotering ended the quarter with about $660,655 in the bank. The campaign also reported a $200,000 loan from the candidate.
Dold first was elected to the U.S. House in 2010 and served two years before losing to Schneider in 2012.
His campaign raised about $598,642 during the second quarter. Notable donors included:
• Chicago Cubs Chairman Todd M. Ricketts of Wilmette. He gave $400.
• Former Chicago Cubs and Chicago Tribune owner Sam Zell, who gave $5,400.
• Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.'s political action committee, which gave $2,500.
After expenses, the Dold campaign ended the quarter with more than $1 million in the bank.
Dold also reported nearly $148,702 in outstanding debts.
In a news release, the Dold campaign touted being the first candidate in the race to reach the $1 million mark.
"I am humbled by the strong, broad base of support our campaign has built across the political spectrum," Dold said in the release.