With his political future and Congress' political direction hanging in the balance, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove significantly outraised Republican challenger Keith Pekau in the weeks before and after their showdown last fall, federal records show.
"Casten was able to dominate the last phase of the campaign with his spending and his campaign organization and win comfortably," said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield. by signing up you agree to our terms of service Of that rake, nearly $390,502 came from individual donors, including $800 from state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray of Naperville and $100 from former Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein.
Casten and Pekau were on opposite sides of virtually every hot-button issue during the campaign, including abortion, LGBTQ rights and gun control. The TV and digital ads were critical to sharing Casten's political message across the newly redrawn district in the West and Southwest suburbs, campaign spokesman Jacob Vurpillat said.
About $183,756 of Pekau's receipts came from individuals, including $1,100 from former 6th District congressman Peter Roskam and $2,900 from real estate developer and former Navy Pier Vice Chairman Patrick Daly.• $5,000 from the National Pro-Life Alliance. Additionally, Pekau received $17,426 in financial transfers from various sources, including about $12,113 from a joint fundraising committee called the Pekau Victory Fund and $2,471 from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's 25 for 22 Victory Fund.