* Whew…

The Dunkin/Stratton race has now blown past the $5 million mark. pic.twitter.com/Q76PGk2KnJ

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 11, 2016

The McCann/Benton race is approaching the $3.5 million mark. pic.twitter.com/uF5YbdquPW

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 11, 2016

* Stratton just received a big influx of cash from some of Rep. Dunkin’s House Democratic colleagues…

Juliana Stratton adds $450K including 8 $50K donations. Should help up the buy for the ad w/the President. https://t.co/qYxjWUMin1

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 11, 2016

Notable: a lot of House Dems kicked in. Lang, Willis, Moeller, Mussman, Moylan, Manley & Conroy. https://t.co/lfdT3TPCxz

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 11, 2016

She also got $50K from Emanuel pal Michael Sacks.

* And IllinoisGO is still pumping cash…

IllinoisGO: $261K TV against Stratton
Mail against:
$9K Travis
$17K Fiorettti
$12K Aquino
For:
$18K Robinsonhttps://t.co/z7ouRPgzS1

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 10, 2016

…Adding… From Kent Redfield…

Hi Rich,

I keep trying to be retired and this stuff just sucks me back in.

Two points of reference

My quick back of the envelope figures using the same metrics as the Racing Form shows the State’s Attorneys race in Cook County at $5.33 million. I know it is three candidates, but the idea of spending as much or more on a primary in a house district as is being spent on a contested county-wide primary race in Cook County is beyond stunning.

Also it appears the most expensive legislative primary before this year was the H-26 Mitchell/Travis race from 2014 at around $1.2 million. (H-39 Berrios/Guzzardi and H-81 Sanddack/Matune in the same year were close to $1 million)

It is really hard to overstate how big money from individuals and independent expenditures have reshaped the political landscape since 2013.

Before my head explodes I am off to the driving range to work on something I kind of understand and maybe can fix - my slice.

I hope all is well with your health and you are still working hard on that new life style.

Take care, Kent

* In other campaign news, it appears that Rep. Mike Smiddy is not happy that Rep. Verschoore disclosed (or, according to Smiddy, lied about) their private converation because he just upped the ante…

Mike Smiddy, who 2 days ago gave Mike Halpin $75K, adds $32,500 https://t.co/j1MoOlTz3u

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 11, 2016

More on this race below.

* Tweet of the week…

Fix Illinois Now! just filed their D-2 Final Report. So … I guess we're all good. https://t.co/MNVqEWbjRS

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 10, 2016

* Related…

* QC lawmakers spar over campaign contribution in 72nd Ill. House race: “He said ‘You’re probably not gonna be happy, but I got a call over the weekend to make a donation [to Mike Halpin].’ So, I asked him, I said ‘Did the call come from the Speaker?’ and he said ‘No.’ And I said ‘Did it come from Will Cousineau?’ and he said ‘Yes.’”

* Halpin TV ad partially financed by Rep. Smiddy

* @bobfioretti16 has a pair of new TV commercials running that feature Jesse Jackson

* Shimkus campaign spent $2500 at D.C. strip bar in 2005, watchdog group finds

* Rush’s campaign receives financial support from some of Emanuel’s closest political backers: A little more than a month after the news conference with Emanuel, Rush’s campaign cashed 24 checks, all on the same day — each the maximum allowed contribution of $2,700 and totaling $64,800. They came from Sacks, members of Sacks’ family, Sacks’ co-workers, friends and associates.

* Follow the money: Former 4th Ward Ald. Will Burns gave $25,000 to state Rep. Christian Mitchell, who has a rematch against Jay Travis in a Democratic primary for a Chicago House seat. That amount will buy a lot of promoted attack tweets against his challenger.