Oct. 16--Former Democratic congressman Brad Schneider outraised primary challenger Nancy Rotering from July through September, but the Highland Park mayor held a narrow cash advantage in the race to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Dold, campaign reports showed.
Schneider, who won the north suburban 10th Congressional District seat from Dold in 2012 only to lose it to him last year, raised $423,471 in the three-month period and had $700,620 in his campaign fund, according to records newly filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Rotering raised $250,161 during the third quarter and had $793,537 in her campaign fund to start October. Rotering lent $45,000 to her campaign fund last month. Overall, she has lent her campaign $245,000.
The winner of the March 15 primary will face Dold in what's expected to be one of the nation's most competitive and costly congressional battles. Dold, of Kenilworth, raised $434,467 in the three-month period, narrowly outpacing Schneider, but had $1.25 million in his re-election bank account.
Schneider, of Deerfield, attended an event at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics on Friday that featured House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who told the audience, "We look forward to welcoming (Schneider) back to the Congress."
In the northwest and west suburban Democratic race in the open-seat 8th Congressional District, Raja Krishnamoorthi, of Schaumburg, moved out to a big cash advantage over two primary rivals. Krishnamoorthi raised $420,010 in the campaign's third quarter and had $945,833 in his campaign bank account, federal records showed.
Rival Democratic candidate Mike Noland, a state senator from Elgin, raised $77,493 during the time period and started October with $71,774 on hand.
Another Democratic candidate, Villa Park Village President Deborah Bullwinkel, reported raising $41,095 and had $38,955 left. Bullwinkel entered the contest in late August and her receipts include a $5,000 personal loan.
The three are vying for the Democratic nomination for the congressional seat being given up by Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who is running for the seat held by Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk.
In the statewide special election for comptroller, state Sen. Daniel Biss held a near $1 million cash advantage over Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza on the Democratic side, documents filed with the State Board of Elections showed.
Biss, of Evanston, raised $268,537 and had $1.44 million in his campaign bank account to start October and has added another $8,000 in larger contributions since then. Mendoza raised $204,713 and had $496,460 in cash on hand to start this month. She has added another $39,000 in large contributions since Oct. 1.
Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger, appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner to the position following the December death of Judy Baar Topinka, reported raising $54,326 and had $131,322 to end September. Munger reported raising another $9,000 since Oct. 1.
In the contest for the Democratic nomination for Cook County state's attorney, Anita Alvarez, seeking a third term, raised $252,286 and had a campaign bank balance of $326,616 to end September. She has raised another $29,500 since Oct. 1.
Challenger Kim Foxx, a former chief of staff to County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, raised $190,735 in the three-month period and had $182,916 left. Foxx has raised another $10,700 this month.
Another challenger, Donna More, a former state and federal prosecutor, raised $68,950 in the three-month period and ended September with $101,474 in her campaign fund. She has since raised another $1,000.
rap30@aol.com