Bolstered by large campaign contributions from organizations controlled by Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and two current state representatives, 20th House District candidate Michelle Darbro has so far left her primary opponent in the dust.
Democrat Michelle Darbro, a Chicago firefighter, has so far raised $152,018 for her March 17 primary campaign against fellow Democrat R. Cary Capparelli. Approximately $52,000 of that amount has been donated to Darbro’s political committee by Democratic Majority, an organization based in Springfield that supports party candidates for public office. Another $50,000 was contributed to Darbro by the organizations Friends of State Rep. Kathleen Willis of Addison and $40,000 from Friends of Natalie Manley, a House member from Joliet. Those two amounts were raised by Willis and Manley and then transferred into Darbro’s committee to assist a fellow Democrat.
To what degree Darbro will use the $152,000 that she’s so far amassed in the 20th District primary is uncertain. Her party opponent in R. Cary Capparelli, a former candidate for public office, told the Journal & Topics this week that he has so far raised less than $5,000 for his campaign.
“I expect our final expenditure to be between $10,000 to $25,000,” said Capparelli in an email sent to the Journal & Topics. “Given the enormous amounts of money my opponent is receiving from Madigan, the unions, and ‘parked’ money from other pro-Madigan representatives, I must resort to a very cost-effective strategy to be competitive.” Darbro has also received a total of $10,000 from two teachers’ unions.
Until last summer, the 20th House District was represented for more than two decades by Chicago north side Republican Michael McAuliffe. After he resigned his seat he was replaced by Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens.
The 20th district includes a large portion of Rosemont, and small sections of southern Des Plaines, Niles, Park Ridge, Schiller Park, Norridge, and the northwest side of Chicago.
While Darbro and Capparelli will face each other in the March primary, it’s believed that her enormous financial backing by state Democrats will propel her to victory. If that happens, the stage will be set for a major showdown pitting Darbro against Republican Stephens in the November general for a two-year seat. In previous 20th District elections, Madigan has poured in huge sums of money for Democratic contenders in unsuccessful attempts to unseat McAuliffe. He is expected to do the same against Stephens. Rosemont’s mayor, however, is no slouch when it comes to raising money. He controls several political committees that raise funds. He is also Republican committeeman of Leyden Township.
Approximately $70,000 is on deposit in Stephens’ state representative political committee.
26-Delivered,E-AFFI Chuck,19-Legal,24-ILGA,AllPol
Feeds,News,Region: AH,City: Arlington Heights
via Journal & Topics Media Group https://ift.tt/2HYmw9d
February 18, 2020 at 08:12AM
Illinois Delivered 