Marsia Geldert-Murphey’s campaign reported a series of contributions of $1,000 during the second and third quarters of 2026 following Geldert-Murphey’s primary election victory. Her contributions include large transfers from political action committees and organizations based outside the Metro East.

Geldert-Murphey, the Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent state Sen. Erica Harriss in the 56th Senate District, reported several large contributions and in-kind donations in August and September, according to Illinois State Board of Elections filings. The campaign committee, Marsia Geldert-Murphey for Senate, was created in October 2025.

At the end of the second quarter (April to June), Geldert-Murphey had $27,667.04 in funds. She received $35,724.97 in contributions and money transfers during that period and incurred $9,013.28 in expenses. 

Harriss finished the second quarter (April to June) with $173,940.65 after receiving $7,854.10 in contributions and money transfers during that period. She had $4,693.52 in expenses during the second quarter. 

Since April, the largest reported transfer to Geldert-Murphey for Senate was $50,000 from the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund, or ISDF, on Sept. 22. The ISDF also made a pair of contributions of $40,000 on Sept. 10 and Oct. 1. The Oak Park-based committee also reported a $6,000 in-kind contribution to Geldert-Murphey’s campaign through Spiros Consulting on July 27, along with four $2,329.92 in-kind contributions reported on Aug. 14, Aug. 31, Sept. 15, and Sept. 30. 

The Democratic Party of Illinois made in-kind contributions of $91,407.84 on Sept. 16, followed by $122,302.12 of in-kind contributions on Sept. 22 to the Marsia Geldert-Murphey for Senate campaign, all of which went to The Strategy Group for mailings. 

Other contributions of more than $5,000 included a $15,000 transfer Sept. 11 from the IBEW Illinois PAC and a $20,000 contribution Aug. 17 from the Carpentry Advancement PAC in Chicago.

Several smaller contributions came from organizations based in the Metro East.

The Iron Workers Local 392 PAC in East St. Louis and the Southwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council PAC in Collinsville each contributed $1,000 to Geldert-Murphey’s campaign on July 20.

The Collinsville-based Electricians Local 309 Voluntary PAC contributed $1,000 on June 29 and Aug. 17.

On Sept. 17, Geldert-Murphey’s campaign reported $1,000 contributions from O’Fallon-based Clayborne Law PLLC and the campaign committee of state Sen. Christopher Belt. 

On Aug. 7, the campaign reported a $1,000 contribution from the IUPAT Political Action Together Legislative Education Committee, based in Maryland.

Harriss’ campaign has also reported multiple contributions of more than $1,000 during the same period, including $1,025 from Citizens for Amy Elik on Sept. 20. 

The Erica for Illinois campaign committee reported more than 15 such contributions in its recent filings.

Among the largest were two transfers from the Illinois Senate Republican Campaign Committee: $121,420 on Sept. 1 and $132,750 on Sept. 15.

The Illinois Republican Party provided in-kind contributions of $42,428.78 to Curtis Scott Advertising Inc. to benefit the Erica Harriss campaign on Oct. 1. That followed an earlier in-kind contribution of $42,428.78 on Sept. 14, also to Elmhurst-based Curtis Scott Advertising Inc. for direct mail. 

On Sept. 30, Harriss received $8,164 from the Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC. 

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Nick Hobin donated to the Marsia Geldert-Murphey for Senate campaign. In fact, the ISDF made a $1,975.83 in-kind contribution to Geldert-Murphey’s campaign to compensate Hobin for work performed for the campaign.