 While the vast majority of those House races aren't competitive,
there are a few downstate races where the candidates have dug in
their heels and contributors have poured in upwards of $1 million in
cash and donated services since July.Political science professor
Chris Mooney with the University of Illinois at Springfield said he
would not be surprised if this was the most expensive election
period for General Assembly races in the state's history.
"You're not usually getting this many House races that are $1
million. It used to be you get one or two Senate races that would be
$1 million or $2 million. But now, this is just almost unheard of,"
he said.
This week, candidates were required to submit "pre-election"
reports to the Illinois State Board of Elections, documenting the
contributions received between July 1 and Oct. 3. Candidates are
also required to submit timely reports to the state agency on any
donations of $500 or more they receive up to a month before the
election.
Central Illinois is host to at least three Illinois House races
that have already surpassed the $1 million mark, according to
records posted by the Illinois State Board of Elections.
One of the state's most expensive races as of Tuesday is the
fight for the 98th House District in central Illinois, according to
submitted records.
Democrat Charles Landers and Republican Wayne Rosenthal are vying
for the seat that formerly belonged to Gary Hannig, who now serves
as secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Landers has received more than $1.45 million in cash
contributions and donated services, such as mailing, polling and
advertising, between July and October. In that same period,
Rosenthal has received more than $550,000.
Landers has been the beneficiary of several contributions from
the Illinois Democratic Party, ranging from $70,890 to $84,930 over
the past month.
House GOP Leader Tom Cross' campaign fund has fueled Rosenthal's
bid with donations between $20,000 and $65,000 going back to
September.
Mooney said Republicans are targeting the seat because of the
area's small-town demographics.
"That's the heartland for Republicans. There are Democrats
around, but it seems like there are fewer and fewer of them and
they're having a harder and harder time making districts that are
safe for Democats," he said.
A similar analysis by ISN earlier this week indicated that the
battle over the state's 49th Senate District, between Democrat
incumbent Deanna Demuzio and GOP challenger Sean McCann, was among
the most expensive state Senate races. The 49th Senate District
includes the 98th House District.
In the Peoria area, state Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, is locked in
an electoral battle with Republican East Peoria City Councilman Mike
Unes to keep his seat.
Contributors have invested more than $670,000 in Smith's campaign
and $490,000 in Unes' bid between July and September.
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Another incumbent, state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Decatur, also faces a
well-backed challenge from Republican Decatur City Councilman Adam
Brown.
Flider has been given $503,000 in cash and donated services since
July, while Brown has raised $513,000 over that same time period.
David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for
Political Reform, said downstate campaigns can be expensive because
candidates are buying broadcast time in a large district.
"It's very expensive to buy (media) time in Chicago, but you only
have to buy time on a handful of stations and you'll cover the whole
district. If you're especially from one of those downstate
districts, you have to buy broadcast time in three or four different
media markets. Each ad will cost you less, but to get the same
saturation across the district, it'll cost you just as much," he
said.
One constant throughout these expensive races is the consistent
flow of money from both political parties.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, the chair of the Democratic Party
in Illinois and head of the House Democratic Caucus, has received
more than $1.59 million in cash and services since July.
Contributors have been nearly as generous with Madigan's
counterpart across the aisle, House Republican Leader Tom Cross,
donating more than $1.45 million in that same time period.
Neither Madigan nor Cross is involved in a competitive election
race, which means the leaders are using their money to help fund
other lawmakers' races, according to Morrison.
"They raise a lot of money and they hand it out. Donors give to
leaders because leaders are going to win, they are going to be in
office, they are probably going to be head of the caucus next time.
They are people who are in a position to do favors," he said.
For more information on campaign contributions, visit the website
of the Illinois State Board of Elections:
http://www.elections.il.gov/.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By KEVIN LEE]
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