Sen. Mark Kirk ahead of Rep. Tammy Duckworth in Senate fundraising

WASHINGTON — Fundraising totals for the first three months of 2015 were released on Wednesday, and Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., has a substantial campaign cash lead over his major rival, Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

However, Duckworth was on maternity leave until mid-February and just announced her Senate bid at the end of March.

Kirk raised $1,013,939.73 and has a cash-on-hand total of $2,833,151.54.

“This quarter was Senator Kirk’s most successful fundraising quarter since being elected to the Senate,” said the Kirk campaign’s Kevin Artl.

Duckworth raised $520,000 in six weeks this year and has about $1.5 million cash-on-hand.

Duckworth was hosting a fundraiser reception in Washington late Wednesday afternoon. The contribution levels ranged from $5,000 to be a PAC “chair” to $500 for one guest.