WASHINGTON — In the biggest Chicago-area Democratic primary, embattled Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., enters the final weeks of the 3rd Congressional District campaign with more cash-on-hand than chief rivals Marie Newman and Rush Darwish.
And in the major Republican primary in the Chicago region, the willingness of state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, to self-finance his bid — he’s put in $1 million so far — puts him ahead of his key competitors in the seven-way contest for the 14th Congressional District seat held by freshman Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill.
His main competition, state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and Ted Gradel, a Naperville businessman, also made substantial loans to their bids. They each outraised Oberweis in the last quarter of 2019.
KRISHNAMOORTHI FUNDRAISING CHAMP
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., is the Illinois House fundraising champion, and he faces only nominal primary opposition and no Republican opponent. He has stockpiled a stunning $6,895,927 in campaign cash — more than twice than Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., who ranks second with $3,330,558 cash on hand.
That balance lets Krishnamoorthi inoculate himself against future challengers, bankroll a future Senate bid or donate lavishly to House colleagues to help him climb into a leadership post.
FUNDRAISING SNAPSHOTS
Here’s a snapshot heading into the March 17 primary, based on Federal Election Commission reports for 2019 filed last week reflecting cash-on-hand as of Dec. 31:
3rd Congressional District
Lipinski, from Western Springs, is in a three-way March Democratic contest against Newman, from La Grange, who almost beat him in 2018, and Darwish, from Palos Hills, who runs a radio and television production business.
LIPINSKI
Receipts
4th quarter: $330,751
Entire cycle: $1,022,232
Disbursements
4th quarter: $156,036
Entire cycle: $582,927
Cash–on-hand: $867,803
NEWMAN
Receipts
4th quarter: $308,741
Entire cycle: $1,199,968
Disbursements
4th quarter: $195,247
Entire cycle $572,441
Cash-on-hand: $627,731
DARWISH
Receipts
4th quarter $231,184
Entire cycle: $656,648
Disbursements
4th quarter: $178,168,24
Entire cycle: $371,128
Candidate loan: $80,750
Cash-on-hand: $371,128
6th Congressional District
Freshman Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., and Republican Jeanne Ives have no major primary foes. Their focus is already on the November election, with Casten holding a substantial fundraising edge.
CASTEN
Receipts
4th quarter: $639,054
Entire cycle: $2,552,391
Disbursements
4th quarter: $165,024
Entire cycle $932,344
Candidate loan: $141,756.15
Cash-on-hand: $1,921,568.20
IVES
Receipts
4th quarter: $267.997
Entire cycle: $608,295
Disbursements
4th quarter: $177,428
Entire cycle: $294,927
Cash-on-hand: $313,366
14th Congressional District
Underwood does not face a primary and is, like Casten, a major GOP target.
UNDERWOOD
Receipts
4th quarter: $878,087
Entire cycle: $2,636,906
Disbursements
4th quarter: $370,765
Entire cycle: $1,400,221
Cash-on-hand: $1,681,428
Republicans
OBERWEIS
Receipts
4th quarter: $123,765
Entire cycle: $379,670
Disbursements
4th quarter: $204,389
Entire cycle: $322,787
Candidate loan: $1,000,000.00
Cash-on-hand: $1,073,397.35
GRADEL
Receipts
4th quarter: $269,648
Entire cycle: $838,408
Disbursements
4th quarter: $116,617
Entire cycle: $189,281
Candidate loan: $230,000.00
Cash-on-hand: $649,126.92
REZIN
Receipts
4th quarter: $217,073
Entire cycle: $462,596
Disbursements
4th quarter: $113,890
Entire cycle: $133,207.01
Candidate loan: $200,000.00
Cash-on-hand: $329,389.18
None of the other Republicans running had more than $32,000 cash-on-hand. That’s Catalina Lauf, from Woodstock, who worked for Uber and the Trump Commerce Department; Jerry Evans, from Warrenville, who owns a music school; James Marter, from Oswego, a former Kendall County Republican Party chairman; and Anthony Catella of St. Charles.
DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS FUNDRAISING LAGS
Democratic incumbents in several congressional districts in and around Chicago have challengers. None have mustered a fundraising advantage. Here’s a look at other congressional districts near the city:
1st: Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., who represents a South Side district, has $69,277 cash-on-hand, just a bit more than challenger Sarah Gad, a former prisoner now a law student with $51,190 and Robert Emmons, a community organizer with $7,992.
7th: Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., whose district takes in Chicago’s Loop, parts of the South and West Sides and western suburbs, had $300,490 cash-on-hand. Rivals Kristine Schanbacher, an attorney, has $70,092 on hand, and Kina Collins, an organizer, has a $20,312 balance.
11th: Rep. Bill Foster, from Naperville with his $3,330,558 balance, overwhelms the $5,360 cash-on-hand of Will County Board Member Rachel Ventura, a Joliet resident.
Note: The cash-on-hand figures include monies raised for the primary and general campaign. Under federal law, money raised for the general cannot be spent on the primary.