In GOP cross-heirs, Foster keeps up fundraising

With Republicans likely targeting him next year, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Batavia has been keeping his fundraising up.

The freshman Democrat reported having $801,643 cash on hand at the end of the summer's campaign finance reporting period, which covers July 1 to Sept. 30. Foster's report, made public late Thursday, showed he raised $317,910 in the those three months.

A little less than half of Foster's summer fundraising came from interest groups and political committees, including several donations from the financial industry, such as banks and credit companies, and labor unions. Corporate donors included Motorola, Boeing and Siemens.

Since his election last year, Foster has raised more than $1 million as he gears up for a fight to keep his seat in the far West suburban 14th District, which spans from Aurora and Elgin to near the Mississippi River.

Foster, a scientist, won the seat in a 2008 special election after veteran incumbent Dennis Hastert stepped down in late 2007 as the Republicans' longest-serving House speaker. Foster then held the seat in the following fall's general election.

National Republicans are hoping Foster's victories were a fluke and not just another result of growing Democratic leanings in the suburbs.

Hastert's son, Elburn resident Ethan, is in the running in the GOP primary along with state Sen. Randy Hultgren of Winfield Township, Elgin resident Mark Vargas and Geneva resident Jeff Danklefsen.

Hastert reported raising more than $225,000 over the summer while Hultgren said he had taken in about $75,000. Vargas said he will not report raising any cash over the summer, and Danklefsen said he raised about $1,000.