Illinois Senate candidate Rachel Ruttenberg overtook primary opponent Patrick Hanley in fundraising during the last quarter of 2025.

The two 9th District Democrats vying for State Sen. Laura Fine’s (D-Glenview) soon-to-be-vacant seat have both broken six figures in campaign finances since announcing their candidacies in May. 

Hanley’s campaign held a steady lead for most of those months, raising $124,808 to Ruttenberg’s $91,415 prior to October. But between then and December, Ruttenberg doubled her amount of cash on hand and pulled ahead of Hanley. 

Her fundraising boost was driven by a $72,800 donation to her campaign from the Jewish Caucus PAC in December, hitting Illinois’ limit for PAC donations to one candidate in an election cycle.

“This is a critical seat for Jewish representation in the Illinois State Senate,” Ruttenberg told The Daily during a video interview in January. “That caucus PAC is also made up of elected officials who I’ve partnered with and worked with on bills in the past, and they understand the moment of time that we’re in.”

Ruttenberg also received contributions from Ald. Tom Suffredin (6th) and Chicago 50th Ward Committeeman Bruce Leon during the quarter. The latter is a pro-Israel Democrat who withdrew from the crowded race to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District in early January.

Hanley’s largest fourth-quarter PAC contribution came from the Ironworkers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity PAC, which donated $20,000 in December. Former 1st Ward aldermanic candidate Stephen Hackney also contributed to Hanley’s campaign.  

In a January video interview with The Daily, Hanley said his campaign would not take “corporate PAC money.” He said he viewed such large contributions as flaws in the statewide campaign finance system. 

“Folks realize that the system’s broken,” Hanley said. “We’ll continue to raise money in our grassroots way from individual donors.” 

The winner of the March 17 primary election will face Republican candidate Tom Lally, who has not yet fundraised or campaigned, in the Nov. 3 general election. 

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Related Stories:

— Full Interview: Illinois Senate candidate Rachel Ruttenberg 

— Full interview: Illinois Senate candidate Patrick Hanley 

— Filing deadline closes, Ruttenberg and Hanley to meet in March matchup for state Senate