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Democrats putting cash in to effort to turn 65th House district blue

State Republican Party organizations are spending a pretty penny to make sure that the 65th House District seat continues to be filled by a Republican.

But Democrats are spending at least four times more to turn the district.

From July 1 to Sept. 30, House District 65 Republican candidate Daniel Ugaste of Geneva received $108,580 in support, via in-kind contributions from the Illinois Republican Party and the House Republican Organization, according to a quarterly report filed with the state board of elections.

His opponent, Democrat Richard Johnson of Elgin, received $388,058 of support via in-kind contributions during the quarter, according to the report for Johnson for Illinois.

Johnson also received $74,000 in transfers, the largest of which ($55,000) came from the Friends of Anna Moeller. Moeller is the representative for the 43rd House District.

The Democratic Party of Illinois spent $370,581 during the third quarter on Johnson, including $37,000 for "persuasion calls."

The money and support continued to roll in after Oct. 1, with the DPI spending another $61,824 for printing and mailing campaign materials.

The Friends for Marty Moylan kicked over $25,000 to Johnson, as did the Friends of Michelle Mussman, which gave $55,000. Moylan represents the 55th District; Mussman, the 56th.

For Ugaste, the House Republican Organization spent $6,500 for digital advertising, according to an Oct. 15 supplementary report.

In the 2012, 2014 and 2016 elections, Republicans ran unopposed for the 65th House seat.

It is held now by Steven Andersson of Geneva, who did not run for re-election.

The 65th House District includes parts of Geneva, St. Charles, Campton Hills, Plato Center, South Elgin, Elgin, Hampshire and Huntley.

Senate 33

The spending is more muted in the state Senate District 33 race between Democrat Nancy Zettler of Algonquin and Republican Don DeWitte of St. Charles.

The Friends of Nancy Zettler campaign committee received a total of $82,351 in cash, transfers in and in-kind donations, according to its third-quarter report. The Senate Democratic Victory Fund is a major supporter, with cash contributions of $5,000 and $27,180 spent on campaign worker salaries.

Since Oct. 1, the SDVF has also spent $36,873 on mailings for Zettler.

DeWitte raised $57,848 in cash, transfers and in-kind donations. Of that, the Republican State Senate Committee paid for $19,149 of expenses, mostly for campaign staff.

But he has got a large infusion of cash - $50,400 - earlier this month from the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management political action committee. The RSSC also has spent $32,494 this month on mailers for DeWitte.

Billionaire investment banker Ken Griffin also gave $5,600 this month to DeWitte. Griffin gave the same amount to 13 other Republicans running for House or Senate seats, including Ugaste.

Senate District 33 includes parts of Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia.

Richard Johnson
Don DeWitte
Nancy Zettler
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