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MOORE’S SUMMARY: Gov. JB Pritzker spent $10 million successfully boosting Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat, a recent filing with the Federal Elections Commission confirmed.

WHY IT MATTERS: Television and digital advertisements run by Illinois Future PAC — a pro-Stratton Super PAC run by former Pritzker aides — helped propel Illinois’ lieutenant governor to a come-from-behind victory in the March 17 primary, making her the heavy favorite to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin next year.

TOTAL SPEND: A $5 million Pritzker donation had previously been disclosed. New records show Pritzker donated another $3.5 million to the PAC on Feb. 26 — the first day he could without having to disclose it prior to the primary election — and $1.5 million on March 3.

The outside money was necessary for Stratton to get her message out. As a first-time federal candidate, she started out at a significant financial disadvantage to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, who began with $18 million in his campaign account.

There was some grumbling from runner-up Krishnamoorthi and third-place finisher Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Lynwood, about Pritzker’s financial influence on the race. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus – which endorsed Kelly – accused the governor of “heavy-handing” the race. And there were gripes about the timing of the donations, which ensured that the full extent the governor’s involvement wouldn’t be disclosed ahead of the primary.

Still, Illinois Future PAC had to disclose its spending in the run-up to the election. And its spokesperson told us in March that they were “overwhelmingly funded by Gov. Pritzker.” The group spent just over $12 million, so Pritzker’s donation shouldn’t be a surprise.

And it’s worth noting that Stratton was still outspent. According to the most recent campaign finance reports, which were due earlier this week, Krishnamoorthi’s campaign spent about $28.2 million in the primary. Stratton’s campaign spent about $4.1 million and Kelly’s $3.2 million.

Krishnamoorthi, for what it’s worth, still has $3.1 million in his campaign account. At the very least, it keeps the door open to a future run for office. He’s only 52, after all.

Stratton’s campaign had $695,247 on hand as of March 31. Republican Senate nominee Don Tracy had more than $1.5 million stockpiled.

GOVERNOR: No one’s going to outspend billionaire Pritzker, who reported $14.2 million in his campaign account as of March 31. The Pritzker campaign spent $9.1 million last quarter, including nearly $5 million on paid media.

Republican nominee Darren Bailey raised $603,927 last quarter and spent $557,141, leaving him with just $81,839 in the bank. Half of Bailey’s haul came from small-dollar donors. The downstate farmer easily defeated three Chicago-region opponents in the GOP primary last month despite being heavily outspent.

His closest opponent, conservative researcher Ted Dabrowski, spent $1.7 million during the first quarter. The largest expenditure? Paying back the $250,000 he loaned himself at the beginning of the campaign to bust fundraising caps.

STATEWIDES: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias faces nominal Republican opposition for reelection in November but continues to rake in massive amounts of campaign cash amid buzz that he may run for mayor of Chicago in 2027.

Giannoulias raised an eye-popping $12 million in the first three months of 2026 and is sitting on $18.3 million in his campaign war chest, according to campaign finance records.

Six- and seven-figure donations came in from a hodgepodge of trade unions – including International Operating Engineers Local 150 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 – as well as a smattering of the city’s civic and business elite.

Republican Secretary of State nominee Dianne Harris had only $13.62 in her account.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who isn’t seeking reelection, is also viewed as a possible challenger to incumbent Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Mendoza raised $125,766 last quarter and has $1.6 million cash on hand. State Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, the Democratic nominee for comptroller, had $149,776 on hand as of March 31 compared to Republican nominee Bryan Drew’s $26,868.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul raised $270,422 and has $1.6 million on hand while Republican nominee Bob Fioretti had just $36,162 in his account. Treasurer Mike Frerichs raised $259,640 and has nearly $1.6 million in his account. Republican Max Solomon, who waged a write-in campaign to get on the ballot, had just $4,317 in his account.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS: Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, reported more than $21.6 million between two campaign accounts he controls, placing him far-and-away ahead of the other “Four Tops” in financial strength.

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch reported nearly $11.2 million between his personal campaign account and the House Democrats’ campaign arm.

Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, reported about $3.4 million between two campaign accounts he controls while House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, had nearly $1.6 million.

While Republicans were able to stave off most Democratic offensives in 2024, when President Donald Trump performed better-than-expected at the top of the ticket, 2026 is shaping up to be a challenging one for the GOP.

Trump is deeply unpopular in Illinois. House Republicans are defending five seats and Senate Republicans are defending three seats in districts carried by Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Democrats, benefiting from a heavily gerrymandered legislative map, are less exposed.

With an unfavorable midterm climate and a massive resource disadvantage, Republicans are in danger of becoming an even smaller superminority next year.