U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the five-term congressman from the northwest suburbs, continued his torrid fundraising pace this summer in the race for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, besting the combined effort of his two top rivals, campaign reports from the Federal Election Commission show.
In the still-emerging Republican contest to challenge Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s bid for a third term, conservative activist Ted Dabrowski of Wilmette held nearly $1.5 million in his campaign bank account to begin this month, far ahead of his two main opponents, according to Illinois State Board of Elections campaign reports.
Wednesday marked the deadline for federal and state candidates to file campaign finance reports for the third quarter of the year, which spans July through September. The financial details came as candidates prepare to begin filing petitions to appear on the March 17 primary ballot. The filing process begins Oct. 27.
In the race to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg raised $3.1 million while also transferring nearly $9 million from his existing House campaign fund into his bid for Senate. After spending $5.9 million, he began the month of October with $18.1 million in cash on hand.
Krishnamoorthi is the only U.S. Senate candidate in the Democratic primary who is on TV with advertising and has maintained a steady ad schedule after launching his first campaign commercial in July. His campaign reports show he spent nearly $4.8 million on TV ads in the three-month period.
Kirshnamoorthi’s two chief competitors, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Lynwood, raised nearly $1.3 million combined — just over $1 million for Stratton and $277,758 for Kelly.
Stratton spent $747,314, largely on fundraising, consultants and staff, and she had $919,774 in her campaign fund to start this month.
Kelly spent $500,795, leaving her with $1.98 million in cash available to begin October.
Steve Botsford, who made an unsuccessful bid for the Chicago City Council in 2023, announced his U.S. Senate candidacy on Thursday after filing a campaign finance report showing he had given himself $101,791.
On the Republican side, former GOP state Chair Don Tracy of Springfield reported having just over $2 million in cash on hand, largely his own money.
No other Senate candidates reported having more than $10,000 in cash to spend as of the start of October.
In the GOP race for governor, Dabrowski, former president of the conservative activist Wirepoints organization, reported raising $1.5 million since formally announcing his candidacy in September. Among Dabrowski’s donors is ultra-conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein of Lake Forest, who gave $250,000. In the past, Uihlein has spent millions on Illinois candidates, including more than $50 million in 2022 on Darren Bailey’s unsuccessful candidacy for governor.
Bailey, a former state senator and unsuccessful 2024 congressional contender, announced last month that he would try again to challenge Pritzker. He reported $23,099 in cash on hand as of Oct. 1, but has since received $30,000 from Bull Valley businessman Gary Rabine, one of his unsuccessful primary rivals for governor. Rabine’s running mate in the 2022 race, Aaron Del Mar, is now serving as Bailey’s lieutenant governor candidate.
DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, who was the first Republican to announce for governor in February, reported raising $35,237 while spending almost $75,000 — including $30,000 for campaign workers, including former state Rep. Darlene Senger of Naperville.
Mendrick also reported giving $500 to the One Nation Under God Foundation, a group headed by longtime leaders of the state’s “pro-family” conservative movement who oppose abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. The group’s website said it promotes “pastor and voter education and Christian voter registration and turnout.”
In the Democratic race for state comptroller, an office being left open by incumbent Susana Mendoza’s decision to retire and pursue a potential Chicago mayoral bid, state Rep. Margaret Croke of Chicago reported having $510,168 in cash on hand after raising $425,541 and spending $177,313. Croke was the endorsed candidate of the Cook County Democratic Party.
State Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago, another Democratic contender, raised $239,548 and spent $26,817, leaving her with $215,000 in cash available.
Also in the race is Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim, who reported having $196,221 in cash on hand after raising $185,908 and spending $33,597 during the three-month period. Another candidate, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, raised $130,706, including a transfer of $72,000 from her legislative campaign fund. She spent $38,235 and had $92,471 to start the month of October.