* We’ll know the actual spending when the D-2s are filed next month, so this is just money raised by the campaigns. They could very well have money left over. From the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform…
In the Governor’s race, victor JB Pritzker (D) raised $124 per vote, and Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) raised an astonishing $215 per vote. In contrast, GOP challenger Jeanne Ives raised just $12 per vote, and received about 48% of the overall vote share in the Republican Primary race.
Amounts raised by winners of the Attorney General race paled in comparison, with Sen. Kwame Raoul (D) raising $8 per vote, and Erika Harold (R) raising just $2 per vote. Democratic Challenger Scott Drury raised the highest ratio in that race with $21 per vote. This was mostly due to a $1 million contribution he received from private funder Steven Miller.
Illinois Legislative Races
A few political newcomers pulled surprising upsets last night, showing that the most monied candidate is not always the victor. Aaron Ortiz, an educator, defeated Dan Burke, a 27-year state legislator and brother of prominent Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, to earn the Democratic nomination in the 1st State House district. Ortiz raised just $35 per vote to Burke’s $140. In the 8th State Senate District, Ram Villivalam defeated embattled State Senator Ira Silverstein for the Democratic nomination. While Silverstein had Senate establishment support, Villivalam still raised $25 per vote to Silverstein’s $38.
Other surprise upsets included self-funded candidate Fritz Kaegi declaring victory over Cook County Democratic Party Chair Joe Berrios in the race for Cook County Assessor. The two raised similar amounts of money, but Berrios relied heavily on property tax appeals lawyers and local party funds. In the hotly contested Illinois 3rd Congressional District, Democratic challenger Marie Newman was unable to best incumbent Dan Lipinski, even though Newman showed strong fundraising throughout the campaign. The two raised $73 and $68 per vote respectively.
*** UPDATE *** Ouch…
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 9:25 am:
Doug Bennett won IL10 despite having, like, $12.
- JakeCP - Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 9:38 am:
Wow, the Ives vs. Rauner Comparison is very interesting. Although the voter turnout was quite low on the GOP side in Chicago, Ives managed to beat Rauner in 24 wards and tie with Rauner in the 35th and 49th wards. There is no doubt, Rauner will have a serious challenge uniting the state GOP.
- Bored Chairman - Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 9:52 am:
Mickey Staub spent $532 per vote to get his clock creamed by Durkin. Great work there Proft and Sweeney!
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 9:55 am:
Wonder why Uihlein didn’t go larger for Ives?
Politico reports he’s the biggest national GOP donor this cycle. Funding a Rauner takedown would have been epic, making him the unquestioned king of the Illinois GOP.
Another biscuit for breakfast (say, $3M), and Ives goes yard. Warning track shots can be exciting for a moment, but, in reality, they’re just long outs.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 10:02 am:
Uline can spend his cash on long outs if he wants to. They sure are pretty.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 10:13 am:
That challenge to Durkin was weird to begin with — but $1.3M?
Sugar Daddy Dick might want to hire some whiz kids to run the ROI on his spending. Seems out of whack. That $1.3M might have put Ives over the top.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 10:37 am:
Wonder why ICPR uses word “raised” as if this is the only spending goin’ ?
Guessing GovJunk does lot of on-line stuff. Word is they are workin’ on makin’ copies of the Hultgren Code of Conduct — wait 4 months after police pinch an aide — for distribution to the entire work force.