Democrat Rep. Lauren Underwood holds big fundraising lead over Republican Jim Oberweis

WASHINGTON — In the biggest Chicago area congressional contest, Democratic freshman Rep. Lauren Underwood enters the final weeks of the campaign with a commanding financial lead over GOP rival Jim Oberweis, even with him pouring $1.7 million of his own money into his bid.

And in the other big battle, freshman Democrat Sean Casten and Republican challenger Jeanne Ives were about evenly matched in their third quarter hauls, though Casten’s cash-on-hand total dwarf’s Ives’.

The Federal Election Commission reports filed on Thursday reflect fundraising for the third quarter covering July, August and September.

Here’s a fundraising snapshot of the main political warchests for the 6^th and 14^th districts encompassing suburban turf surrounding Chicago:

6th Congressional District

Casten, a Downers Grove resident is battling Ives, a former state representative from Wheaton.

Casten:

Receipts

3rd quarter: $1,146,452

Entire cycle to-date: $5,214,754

Disbursements

3rd quarter: $2,165,097

Entire cycle: $3,521,325

Cash-on-hand: $1,994,950

Ives:

Receipts

3rd quarter: $1,114,340

Entire cycle: $2,711,580

Disbursements

3rd quarter: $1,122,447

Entire cycle: $2,218,341

Cash-on-hand: $493,239

14th Congressional District

Underwood, who lives in Naperville, is facing Oberweis, a state senator from Sugar Grove.

Underwood:

Receipts

3^rd quarter: $1,848,998

Entire cycle: $6,752,670

Disbursements

3rd quarter: $2,726,593

Entire cycle: $4,895,985

Cash-on-hand: $2,301,427

Oberweis:

Receipts

3^rd quarter loan: $600,000

Entire cycle to date, loan: $1,700,000

3^rd quarter, including $600,000 loan: $986,202

Entire cycle, including $1.7 million in loans: $2,900,688

Disbursements

3^rd quarter: $483,777

Entire cycle: $2,024,847

Cash-on-hand: $875,841