High-profile races lead to big money spent on campaigns

SPRINGFIELD – Those mailers aren't flooding your mailbox, and the radio and TV commercials have mercifully stopped.

For both parties, the appetite for wins and seats in the Illinois General Assembly cost millions of dollars.

But what did all that money buy?

For Democrats in the suburbs, it was money well spent. The controlling party lost only one seat each in the House and Senate in Chicago-area races, despite the trends that delivered victories for the GOP in other Illinois locales.

Statewide, Democrats maintained control of the state House and Senate, as well as, it appears, the governorship, with Pat Quinn the projected winner. But, Republicans were able to cut the margins of the Democratic majorities, picking up six seats in the House and two in the Senate.

Democrats trying to gain or keep House seats got more money from Speaker Michael Madigan than Republicans got from Minority Leader Tom Cross.

“We were outspent by the speaker, and that makes it difficult,” said Cross spokeswoman Sara Wojcicki.

More than $1 million was spent by both parties in a record 15 Illinois races, several in the suburbs, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Two years ago, only six races crossed the $1 million spending thresh hold.

A huge amount of that money comes from party leaders, who divert their resources to most competitive campaigns in the state.

And that, some watchdogs groups say, means the lawmakers who won with help from party money will be beholden to their party leaders.

Lawmakers protest that idea, though. And in an effort to try to demonstrate their independence to voters, a handful of Illinois Democrats this year even suggested they would consider voting against House Speaker Michael Madigan if they won.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said spending is simply an essential function of parties trying to help their candidates win. Democrats spent a lot, but Republicans did, too.

“Everybody spent a lot of money,” Brown said.

Illinois Campaign for Political Reform Deputy Director David Morrison said if one candidate starts to spend big, the other has to follow in order to be competitive.

“The dynamic is you have to spend enough to get the message out,” he said.

A candidate doesn't necessarily have to win the money race to win a campaign, though, Morrison said.

Case in point: Republican David Harris of Arlington Heights.

Harris won one of those $1 million races when he prevailed over Democratic state Rep. Mark Walker Tuesday night after a lengthy, difficult campaign.

Harris spent $380,000 compared to Walker's $687,900, according to Morrison's latest numbers. Harris said Walker's money was spent creating a too-negative campaign.

“In the end, elections are about issues,” Harris said Wednesday.

There was another exception in Lake County. Republican Suzi Schmidt of Lake Villa defeated Democratic state Sen. Michael Bond of Grayslake for the GOP's other suburban flip. Schmidt spent $551,000 to Bond's $816,700, according to the latest figures.

In the Elgin area, state Sen. Michael Noland, an Elgin Democrat, spent $855,000 to Republican Steve Rauschenberger's $730,000. With some ballots still to be counted, Noland holds the lead.

And in another expensive race, Schaumburg Democrat Michelle Mussman defeated Schaumburg Democrat Ryan Higgins. Mussman has spent $735,900 on the race. And Higgins spent $505,400.

Big money likely will be part of politics on all levels for the foreseeable future. But next campaign cycle in Illinois, how that money is raised could change significantly.

Under legislation sponsored by Oak Park state Sen. Don Harmon, beginning Jan. 1 candidates must report contributions and expenditures four times a year, up from two times a year. Donations of $1,000 or more must be reported to the state board of elections within two business days.

Among the contribution caps, businesses, unions and associations are limited to giving $10,000 to any candidate and $20,000 to any political party, legislative caucus committee or political action committee per election.

While political parties and legislative caucus committees are limited in how much they can give to candidates in the primary, the cap based on whether they are seeking statewide or district office, the law allows for unlimited contributions to candidates during the general election.

Morrison said his group supports additional limits to extend the limits on parties and leaders in the general election period.

Yet Sen. Harmon questions whether that would work.

“You cannot constitutionally say that you may not spend money to advance a particular campaign,” he said. “Even if there were limits on parties contributing money to candidates, they would still spend it (in another way). It just wouldn't be disclosed as a contribution.”

<p>Millions doled out </p>

<p>The four legislative leaders and their parties doled out millions to candidates:</p>

<p>Democrats $9,859,000 </p>

<p>Republicans $6,512,000</p>

<p>Party money accounted for 2/3 of all legislative campaign spending this election.</p>

<p> <i>Source: Illinois Campaign for Political Reform </i></p>