For Immediate Release October 15, 2004

Contact: Cindi Canary (312) 335-1767

With just over two weeks to go before Election Day, Illinois’ political campaigns are reporting dramatic, and sometimes record shattering, fundraising totals. For those who may have worried that the Presidential race would be a sleeper in the Prairie State, other contests are more than making up for that.
The race for Illinois’ only open Supreme Court seat, in the farthest southern reaches of the state, has already shattered the fundraising total for previous general election high court contests. Republican Lloyd Karmeier and Democrat Gordon Maag have combined reported receipts of over $2.4 million, counting cash on hand on June 30, 2004 plus reported receipts since July 1.

District Candidate	Reported Fundraising*	Race Total	5th District
Lloyd Karmeier (R)	$1,427,013.42 $2,459,435.02
Gordon Maag (D)	$1,032,421.60

Neither candidate had a primary opponent; since declaring for office more than a year ago, both have combined to raise $2.9 million. The bulk of that money, $2.3 million, came in during the last 10 days.
Most of the funds “raised” by both candidates actually consists of “in-kind” donations of goods and services: two-thirds of Karmeier’s recent funds, and 98% of Maag’s. In-kinds represent funds raised and spent by outside groups intending to benefit a particular candidate. Maag has a self-imposed contribution limit of $2,000, forcing his supporters who wish to exceed that limit to give through in-kinds or independent expenditures.
The bulk of Gordon Maag’s support is coming through the Democratic Party of Illinois, which has taken hundreds of thousands from personal injury trial lawyers. For Lloyd Karmeier, the funds are coming from a variety of PACs, though only a few donors predominate. The Illinois Republican Party is the main donor of in-kind funds. The Illinois Civil Justice League (JUSTPAC) comes in second; their support typically comes from insurance companies, large manufacturers, and national tort reform groups. A host of other groups have been recently created to support Karmeier. New groups like the Southern Illinois Medical Alliance for the Survival of Healthcare (SMASH), Saving Healthcare and Industry for Tomorrow (SHIFT), and BalancePAC-IL, all formed in the last year, show significant fundraising from insurance, manufacturing, and tort reform interests.
Among legislative contests, a few stand out:

Seat	Candidate	Reported Fundraising*	Race	Total
38th Senate	Pat Welch (D) -I	$304,791.56	$338,988.59
	Gary Dahl (R)	$34,197.03
47th Senate	John Sullivan (D)-I	$264,294.58	$373,703.70
	Tom Ernst (R)	$109,409.12
59th Senate	Gary Forby (D) - I	$396,300.50	$466,663.20
	Ron Summers (R)	$70,362.70
92nd House	Ricca Slone (D) - I	$145,898.92	$265,270.71
	Aaron Schock (R)	$119,371.79
108th House	Bill Grunloh (D)-I	$273,141.98	$346,699.18
	David Reis (R)	$73,557.20

* - Reported fundraising is cash on hand plus investments as of June 30 plus reported totals since July 1. Totals do not include fundraising between July 1 and October 4, which are not due to be reported until October 18.
What each of these legislative races share is massive infusions of money from the two major parties and the four legislative caucuses. Consequently, their fundraising is as notable as is that of the candidates themselves.
The House Democrats show $372,000 raised in October, the biggest block coming from lawyers, though labor unions, nursing homes, and medical interests are giving as well. House Democrats were showing $2.3 million on hand as of June 30.
The Senate Democrats show $268,300 in October, including large sums from lawyers, labor (mostly from the IFT), and liquor interests. Senate Democrats were showing $2.9 million on hand as of June 30.
The Senate Republicans show $253,700 in October, including contributions from lawyers, medical interests (mostly the State Medical Society), and manufacturers and the Chamber. Senate Republicans were showing $1.5 million on hand as of June 30.
The House Republicans show $129,400 in October, mostly transfers from Republican lawmakers, but also showing receipts from gambling and business interests. House Republicans were showing $1.3 million on hand as of June 30.
None of these figures include giving between July 1 and October 4; data for those dates is due to be filed with the State Board of Elections by October 18.
Both the Sunshine Project (located at the University of Illinois at Springfield) and the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform are nonprofit, nonpartisan projects that work to increase public awareness of how political campaigns are funded in Illinois.  For additional information on campaign fundraising in election 2004, please visit www.ilcampaign.org. To learn more about judicial elections, visit www.illinoisvotersguide.org.

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