Big gaps between Democratic, Republican campaign coffers in suburban House races
With less than four months until voting begins in the midterm general election, Democratic congressional candidates running in the North, West and Northwest suburbs are far better funded than their Republican rivals, records reveal.
Several Democrats have at least $1 million ready for their Nov. 3 showdowns, quarterly financial reports filed last week with the Federal Election Commission show. No Republican hopefuls have that much in the bank.
In fact, at a time when competitive congressional campaigns typically cost millions of dollars, only one suburban Republican reported having more than $100,000 saved.
“This little cash so late in the game means few are taking them seriously,” said Melissa Mouritsen, a political science professor at the College of DuPage.
Federal candidates who reach a $5,000 fundraising or spending threshold must regularly submit financial reports. Documents can be viewed at fec.gov.
3rd District
Democratic U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez of Chicago is significantly better funded than her Republican challenger, business owner Angel Oakley of Wheaton.
Ramirez, who’s running for a third term, had more than $946,000 in her campaign coffers as of June 30, records show. She’s received about $1.5 million in donations and spent about $1 million during the cycle so far.
Oakley, a former Winfield trustee, has raised less than $8,100 and has spent more than $4,300 so far. Her campaign had less than $3,800 saved as of June 30.
The 3rd District includes parts of Cook and DuPage counties.
5th District
Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley is seeking a 10th term in Congress while simultaneously running for mayor in Chicago, a post that’ll be on the ballot in 2027. This November he’s pitted against Republican Tommy Hanson, a real estate agent from Chicago who’s unsuccessfully challenged Quigley every two years since 2018.
Quigley ended June with nearly $1.2 million in his congressional campaign fund. He’s raised nearly $730,000 and spent more than $765,000 so far this cycle; that latter sum includes $171,000 in transfers to his mayoral campaign, records show.
Hanson hasn’t filed any campaign finance reports this cycle.
The 5th District includes parts of Cook and Lake counties.
6th District
Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten’s campaign war chest dwarfs that of his Republican rival, Glen Ellyn’s Niki Conforti.
Casten, who’s seeking a fifth term, ended June with nearly $1.3 million in his campaign account. He’s raised about $2.1 million and spent nearly $1.6 million this cycle. That latter sum included $69,000 in donations last quarter to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and candidates across the country, records show.
Casten’s campaign also reported nearly $456,000 in debts to the candidate dating back to 2017.
Conforti, an energy consultant making her third run for Congress, had less than $23,000 in campaign cash as of June 30. She’s raised more than $313,000 and spent more than $311,000 this cycle.
The 6th District includes parts of Cook and DuPage counties.
8th District
Barrington Democrat Melissa Bean, who represented this district from 2005 to 2011, will face Republican Jennifer Davis of Huntley for the open seat. Democratic incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg opted to run for U.S. Senate but lost in the primary.
Bean ended June with $1.4 million in her campaign coffers. She’s raised nearly $2.1 million and spent about $1.9 million this cycle.
Bean’s campaign also reported more than $396,000 in debts to the candidate and vendors.
Team Davis has raised nearly $1.5 million this cycle, including $1 million in loans from the candidate. It’s also spent nearly $746,000 and finished June with more than $730,000 saved.
The 8th District includes portions of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties.
9th District
Victorious in a 14-way Democratic primary, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss will face Republican John Elleson in November for the 9th District seat. Veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky isn’t running again.
Biss has raised about $2.9 million so far this cycle but spent much of it on the primary, which was the state’s most expensive congressional battle. Team Biss ended June with a little more than $262,000 in the bank.
Elleson — a pastor from Arlington Heights who won a four-way primary for the GOP nomination — has yet to report his campaign finances.
“The good people of the 9th Congressional District want someone who is going to fight for them in Washington, not someone who is going to raise political money for their coffers,” Elleson said.
The 9th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.
10th District
In his bid for a sixth consecutive term, Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park finished June with $1.7 million in campaign funds. He’s raised about $3 million during the cycle and spent about $2.5 million.
Republican challenger Carl Lambrecht of Highland Park hasn’t filed reports with the FEC.
The district includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.
11th District
Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville is running for an eighth consecutive term against Republican Jeff Walter, who’s been Elburn’s mayor since 2017.
Foster had $2.5 million in campaign cash at the year’s midpoint. He’s received about $2.2 million and spent nearly $1.4 million this cycle.
Walter ended June with less than $23,000 for the contest ahead. His team has raised more than $311,000 and spent nearly $289,000 during the cycle.
The 11th District encompasses portions of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, DeKalb and Boone counties.
Campaign cash
Fundraising efforts by Democratic candidates for suburban congressional seats have been far more successful than their Republican rivals this cycle. Here's what their campaigns had in the bank as of June 30.
3rd District
· Delia Ramirez* (D): $946,222
· Angel Oakley (R): $3,738
5th District
· Mike Quigley* (D): $1.2 million
· Tommy Hanson (R): No fundraising data
6th District
· Sean Casten* (D): $1.3 million
· Niki Conforti (R): $22,661
8th District
· Melissa Bean (D): $1.4 million
· Jennifer Davis (R): $730,401
9th District
· Daniel Biss (D): $262,130
· John Elleson (R): No fundraising data
10th District
· Brad Schneider* (D): $1.7 million
· Carl Lambrecht (R): No fundraising data
11th District
· Bill Foster* (D): $2.5 million
· Jeff Walter (R): $22,765
* Denotes incumbent
Source: fec.gov