Bean dominates cash race in 8th Congressional race
Starting off a general election contest to represent the Northwest suburbs in Congress, U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean is dominating challenger Joe Walsh in money to wage the battle.
Walsh, a Winnetka Republican who edged out five competitors in the GOP primary, reported $46,299 in his campaign fund as of March 31 in recently released disclosure reports.
Bean, a Barrington Democrat seeking her fourth term, reported having more than $1 million in her war chest. Reports were due in late Thursday night.
Bean has maintained her seat in the 8th District despite strong challenges. She took the seat by defeating the longest-serving Republican in the House at the time, Phil Crane.
Bean declined to comment Friday.
Walsh said he is just getting started with raising money for the Nov. 2 election and he plans to "have enough money to compete."
"I'm not worried at all about raising money. We will raise money," he said. "Gearing up and putting it all together takes a little bit of time."
Walsh reported raising $94,891 between Jan. 14 and March 31. He also spent $69,500 in that time. Walsh's campaign is reporting a debt of more than $75,000, described as being owed to himself, campaign workers and other entities.
Contributors to Walsh include the former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who used to represent the district; Alen Herbert, chairman of Libertyville-based Hollister International, a major medical products manufacturer; and the political committee for the Duchossois Group, which owns a number of companies, including the horse racing and gambling titan Churchill Downs.
Bean reported raising $323,145 in the year's first quarter.
The donors include myriad financial industry companies, unions and local businesses. Bean is a member of the House committee overseeing the financial industry and played a key role in negotiating landmark reform legislation.
Contributors include Bank of America, American Express, Capitol One, Ameriprise, Allstate, the CEO of Motorola, chairman of the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, several Exelon executives, Laborers International Union of North American, American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.