Marie Newman Out-Raises Incumbent Lipinski 2 to 1

Lipinski Edges Newman by Just Over $100,000 in Spending

Congressional candidates filed their Pre-Election reports last night, giving us insight into their fundraising and spending patterns heading into the March 20th Primary Election contest. In the first two months of 2018, incumbents Dan Lipinski (D-3rd) and Peter Roskam (R-6th) and established candidate Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-4th) reported steady or lagging fundraising numbers compared to earlier filing periods. However, challengers Marie Newman (D-3rd) and Sol Flores (D-4th) significantly increased their contributions and spending during this shortened reporting period compared to the entire 4th quarter of 2017,and Kelly Mazeski (D-6th) reported spending more than five times as much in 2018 as the 4th quarter of 2017. These three women, who are less politically established than their competitors, also reported a high percentage of individual donations, showing a potential for considerable grassroots support.

In the contentious democratic Primary Election battle between incumbent Congressman Dan Lipinski and businesswoman Marie Newman, the political newcomer has been showing strong fundraising numbers as the race heats up. In the first two months of 2018, Newman raised $533,875, while Lipinski collected a considerably lower $226,950.

Lipinski reported higher spending figures than Newman in 2018, with $511,555 in expenditures to Newman’s $401,480. Previously, Newman showed a spending advantage over Lipinski in the 4th quarter of 2017, spending $123,000 to his $86,000.

Newman received $511,440 (96%) from individual donors, while Lipinski received about half of his contributions ($100,900) from other political committees, including significant union and corporate support. Newman also received important endorsements that turned into campaign cash, collecting $2,500 from Planned Parenthood, $5,000 from EMILY’s List, and $5,000 from SEIU.

Community activist Sol Flores reported raising $159,697 and spending $160,775 in early 2018. Flores stepped up her campaign this year, spending with a 101% burn rate in January and February. In the 4th quarter of 2017, Flores reported spending just $1,400. 

Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who showed early polling strength in this race, reported $185,522 raised in the first two months of 2018. This shows a slight lag in fundraising compared to the $190,000 Garcia raised in December 2017 alone. Garcia also spent considerably more than he raised, with $259,820 in reported expenditures.

Garcia’s main source of income was individual donors, who account for $146,256 (79%) of his total funds raised. Garcia also received $39,264 from other political committees, including $5,000 from SEIU, Electrical Workers, Operating Engineers, the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Flores received $151,647 (95%) from individual donors, and just $8,050 from political committees, including $5,000 from EMILY’s list.

Incumbent GOP Congressman Peter Roskam may have avoided a Primary Election, but the Democratic competition to face him in the General Election is hotly contested. Roskam reported raising $303,193, with 54% coming from other political committees, including corporate PAC donors such as Baxter, Lowe’s, Capitol One, Cigna, and Abbvie.

Democratic candidate Kelly Mazeski raised $155,215, and reported an unusual burn rate of 331% in early 2018, spending over $500,000. In the entire 4th quarter of 2017, Mazeski spent just $95,500. Mazeski received 91% of her money from individual donors, and $14,000 from political committees, including $5,000 from the Illinois Democratic County Chairman’s Association, who endorsed Mazeski in December.

Democrat Sean Casten committed an additional $200,000 in loans to his campaign, bringing his fundraising within $20,000 of Roskam’s at $284,923. Casten also spent $191,340, the second highest in the race, for a burn rate of 67%.

Carole Cheney, who was recently endorsed by the Chicago Tribune in this race, raised $105,619, entirely from individual donors. Cheney’s spending was far lower than Mazeski’s, but still showed a 106% burn rate at $112,030.

*As of publication, Jennifer Zordani and March Lorch had not filed Pre-Election reports with the FEC.