Congressional incumbents have lucrative summer campaigns

Last year, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale appeared caught off guard when a little-known challenger bested her in campaign fundraising early in the race.

Now, the six-term Republican representing the 13th District is hoping that won't happen again as she is set to face a rematch next year.

Biggert reported Thursday having more than $560,000 on hand at the end of the summer on federal campaign finance records. She is on course to face off against Lockport Democrat Scott Harper, who, like Biggert, doesn't yet appear to have a primary challenger according to federal filings.

Petitions to get on the February ballot are due by Nov. 2.

Biggert raised $140,639 over the summer reporting quarter, which covers July 1 to Sept. 30, with about half of that coming from interest groups and political committees, according to campaign spokeswoman Kathy Lydon.

Harper, meanwhile, appears to be just getting his rematch campaign off the ground. He reported raising $54,327 over the summer, all of it from individual donations as opposed to funding from political committees run by politicians or interest groups. His campaign fund spent about $45,000 in the same time for a small staff, phone and Web services.

Harper has raised about $135,000 since he lost to Biggert last year and now has about $40,000 on hand. The quarterly campaign finance reports were due in Thursday by midnight.

In 2008, Biggert ended up outspending Harper $1.4 million to about $1 million. This time both candidates are expecting big support from their national parties in the general election, meaning millions of dollars could be spent to flood TV screens and mailboxes with campaign ads.

The district is centered in southern DuPage and northern Will counties and includes Naperville, Lisle and Downers Grove.

In the near North suburban 9th District, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky reported raising $116,650 this summer with $492,151 on hand at the end of the Sept. 30 reporting period. The six-term lawmaker collected most of her $19,100 in political committee contributions from unions, including the AFL-CIO and machinists.

Schakowsky's possible Republican opponent, Skokie lawyer Joel Pollak, raised $5,087, all from individuals, with $3,698 left at the end of the summer quarter. Neither appears to have a primary challenger yet.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton does not yet have a GOP primary challenger, and the Democratic primary in that 6th District race remains vacant. Roskam reported raising $230,000 in the summer quarter and having about $336,000 on hand at the end of the reporting period.