* Federal candidates had until Saturday night to file their fourth-quarter 2025 paperwork. Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie on the numbers out of the 9th Congressional District…

A barrage of out-of-state donors supercharged State Sen. Laura Fine’s congressional campaign in the final quarter of 2025, giving the Glenview legislator more money in the bank entering 2026 than any of her competitors.

Financial disclosures filed Saturday night show that out-of-state support accounted for over 90% of the $1.26 million Fine raised in the final three months of 2025. […]

Biss reported raising about $658,000 in the final three months of the year, entering 2026 with just over $1.37 million in his war chest. His contributions last quarter came largely from inside Illinois, over 70%, according to an Evanston Now analysis of his donors. […]

In a statement, Fine’s campaign sidestepped questions about her out-of-state donors, instead suggesting Biss’ end-of-year fundraising shows he “struggles to raise money.”

“He is relying on hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-state money from independent expenditures to highlight a barely-there record that he keeps changing,” a spokesperson from Fine’s campaign told Evanston Now, saying her campaign is gaining momentum, citing her list of local endorsements.

* The Biss campaign’s response to Sen. Fine’s fundraising haul…

Recently released campaign finance reports show that state Sen. Laura Fine’s congressional campaign raised more money in the fourth quarter of 2025 from donors who previously gave to Donald Trump ($53,350) than from donors living in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District ($32,795). Since launching her campaign, Fine has taken in nearly $60,000 from Trump donors, who have collectively given more than $200,000 to Trump’s political committees (link).

“Laura Fine’s fundraising tells you everything you need to know about whose side she’s on,” said Biss for Congress Campaign Manager George Lundgren. “Fine raised more money from donors who backed Donald Trump than from people who actually live in the 9th District last quarter, and those same donors have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into Trump’s political operation. With Chicagoland and our democracy under attack, voters deserve a representative who will fight for us, not for Trump donors looking for another ally in Washington.”

* Sen. Mike Simmons also took a swing at Sen. Fine…

New Federal Election Commission reports show that Laura Fine’s congressional campaign is being funded by some of the country’s most prolific Republican megadonors. These major donors to Fine’s campaign are some of the country’s largest donors to Senator Ted Cruz, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“There will always be powerful interests trying to buy elections,” Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons said. “The real question is who is willing to take their money. I’m running because our communities deserve representation that answers to voters, not Republican donors or special interest groups. You can’t take on Republicans if they are the ones funding your campaign. Neighborhoods like the one I grew up in are never going to see real progress if we elect Democrats who accept contributions from Republican megadonors.”

This latest FEC report comes after Matthew Eadie’s article in Evanston Now detailed how AIPAC has been soliciting donations from across the country to support Fine’s campaign. The conservative special interest group has been backing candidates nationally that refuse to condemn Benjamin Netanyahu and have called for continued unconditional military aid to Israel. The Intercept reported that Fine even had a private fundraiser in Los Angeles hosted by AIPAC Board President Michael Tuchin.

Simmons has built his campaign around rejecting corporate PAC and AIPAC money and fighting for working families, immigrants, and communities too often ignored by politicians funded by wealthy insiders.

“This race presents a choice,” Simmons added. “You can have a candidate supported by Republican megadonors and special interests, or you can have someone who is accountable to the people who live here.”

* More fundraising numbers from the Daily Northwestern…

Abughazaleh reported a yearly total of $2.7 million, Biss raised $1.98 million and Fine raised $1.92 million, while Andrew collected $1.21 million and Huynh’s haul totaled just over $1 million. […]

According to FEC filings, Fine ended the year with the most cash on hand, with over $1.43 million — just ahead of Biss’ $1.37 million, followed by Andrew with $961,000, Abughazaleh with $810,000 and Huynh with $737,000. […]

In a statement to The Daily, a spokesperson from Amiwala’s campaign wrote she had completed her 270th meet and greet in the district and has one of the “strongest in-district donor bases and grassroots operations.”

“We’ve been thoughtful and responsible with every dollar because this is a people-powered campaign, backed by neighbors across IL-09,” the spokesperson wrote.

* In the 7th CD, Melissa Conyears-Ervin reported raising $112,000…

The Melissa Conyears-Ervin for Congress campaign for the 7th Congressional District kicked into high gear at the start of 2026 with a strong cash position of $215,000 on hand and an announcement she raised $112,000 in the first four weeks of the year.

Now, her campaign announced the addition of a new member of her growing coalition: the proud professionals of the Chicago Teachers Union. Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin released a statement at the beginning of Black History month about the final six week stretch of the campaign.

* In the 2nd CD, Sen. Robert Peters goes after Donna Miller. Press release…

The vast majority of the funds Donna Miller raised for her congressional campaign in Illinois’ 2nd District in the fourth quarter of 2025 came from donors who have a history of giving to Donald Trump or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to her quarterly filing with the Federal Election Commission posted Saturday night.

Miller, a Cook County Commissioner, reported raising $39,000.00 from Trump donors in the fourth quarter. A full listing of those donors is available here.

She also reported raising at least $875,350.92 in the fourth quarter (83% of her total) from donors who have given to AIPAC or its affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project, since 2023. A full listing of those donors is available here.

This represents a massive spike in fundraising for Miller, who prior to this quarter, had reported raising only $242.494.02. During the previous quarter, Miller reported only $250 from a single Trump donor, and $750 from a single AIPAC donor.

“Donna Miller should be honest with the voters of the 2nd Congressional District about who is funding her campaign–and why,” said Robert Peters campaign manager Matthew Fisch. “Right wing forces have apparently decided that Donna Miller is their best investment in this race. That should be a red flag for every voter as Trump wreaks havoc on our communities.”

State Sen. Robert Peters has raised $903,000 from more than 30,000 individual grassroots donors overall since entering the race in May 2025. He is supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and more.

* On Friday, 2nd CD candidate Jesse Jackson Jr. claimed a fire destroyed campaign paraphernalia…

Jackson’s opponent Sen. Willie Preston called for an investigation into his claim. Press release…

Illinois Sen. Willie Preston called for a full investigation late Saturday after fellow 2nd District Congressional candidate Jesse Jackson Jr. made claims that a Joliet printing plant explosion destroyed Jackson yard signs, mail and other materials.

The Joliet explosion at Union Signs occurred Thursday.

Yesterday, Jesse Jackson Jr., the former representative who was jailed for stealing campaign funds, claimed on Instagram that several of his signs and other campaign materials were “casualties” of the explosion.

Preston, chair of the Illinois Senate Black Legislative Caucus, is calling on state and federal authorities to investigate the Jackson explosion claims to ensure no broader wrongdoing.

* More…

* Press Release | National committee to preserve social security and Medicare endorses Melissa Bean for congress: Today, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare PAC (NCPSSM-PAC) endorsed Melissa Bean in the race for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District seat. […] “Our nation needs Melissa’s leadership, vision and determination to fight for working families and older Americans. We are proud to support her campaign because we know that she understands and supports the critical roles that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid play in the retirement and health security of our nation’s older citizens and their families. Melissa is well-prepared to serve the needs of seniors and will make the preservation and improvement of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid a priority in Congress.”

* Daily Herald | Candidate’s supporters come together to knit, crochet for people in need: People filled Democratic 9th District hopeful Kat Abughazaleh’s office in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood to knit and crochet hats, gloves and scarves. The items subsequently were given away to people in need of warm gear during the cold snap. “It has been so cold, we gave them away right away,” campaign spokesperson Ramiro Sarmiento said. Abughazaleh, of Chicago, has been known to knit during candidate forums and other public events. But the former journalist and internet personality wasn’t at the gathering.