Based on recent fundraising totals released by local political candidates, the 2012 election is shaping up positively for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) – and the new shape of Illinois’s congressional districts may be contributing.
Schakowsky, who represents Evanston and other communities in Illinois’s 9th District, raised $202,416 for her campaign between April 1 and June 30, campaign representatives announced July 15. Her total fundraising for this election cycle amounted to $455,706.01 by June 30.
Currently Schakowsky has no rivals to spend this money against. She is running unopposed, despite June redistricting based on the 2010 Census that placed U.S. Rep. Robert Dold’s (R-Ill.) residence in the same district as hers. Dold currently represents the 10th District and plans to run for re-election there.
Even with no opponents, Schakowsky will find plenty of uses for her campaign funds, a representative of Schakowsky for Congress said. Part of the money will cover dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as the cost of supporting other candidates.
Schakowsky raised $363,706 from individuals and $92,000 from non-party political action committees, according to the Federal Election Commission.
“A good majority of what we raise is from individuals, and we do take PAC money, but we don’t take any corporate or pharmaceutical money,” the representative said. “We take mainly from associations and labor PACs, but the majority of the money is individual.”
Dold raised $541,330 between April 1 and June 30. In a recent news release, he accused Democratic legislators in Springfield who worked on redistricting of trying to disenfranchise some suburban individuals who might vote Republican.
“This map was gerrymandered to ensure suburban voters will have little voice in Congress,” Dold said in the release. “This proposal appears to be little more than an attempt to undo the results of the election held just six months ago. My Republican colleagues and I will take whatever steps necessary to achieve a map that more fairly represents the people of Illinois – they deserve nothing less.”
Redistricting is a typical occurrence, especially when a state loses a Congressional seat as Illinois did, Northwestern political science Prof. Laurel Harbridge said.
“It’s fairly standard for the party in control of redistricting to use that power to their benefit, so it’s no surprise that Illinois Democrats have written a map that favors Democrats and that the Republicans are unhappy,” Harbridge said.
