Map of the Illinois state legislative districts for the Metro East region.
(Map courtesy of Illinois Secretary of State’s Office)

With more than $2 million raised for campaign treasuries over the first half of this year, the contest for Metro-East’s 114th District seat in the Illinois House of Representatives is shaping up to be among the costliest and most controversial on the state’s November general election ballot.

Since establishing their campaign committees earlier this year, populist Republican political reformer Bob Romanik of Belleville and Democratic East St. Louis City Councilmember LaToya Greenwood have reported raising a combined total of $2,067,865.05, according to the most recent data filed with the office of the Illinois Secretary of State.

Based on quarterly campaign finance reports filed with the Illinois Secretary of State for the period ended June 30, the campaign watchdog website Illinois Sunshine (www.illinoissunshine.org) ranks the 114th District race the most expensive in the state.

Ranking second: the high-profile, statewide battle for Illinois comptroller; with incumbent Democrat Susana Mendoza and GOP challenger Leslie Munger between attracting a total of $1,645,712.14 in contributions.

The next-most-expensive Illinois House race so far this year is in District 79, where Democratic challenger Kate Cloonen and Republican incumbent Lindsay Parkhurst have so far raised a total of $794,026.25.

Shocking Metro-East political observers perhaps even more than the campaign finance totals in District 114th is the distinct funding lead held by Republican Romanik — who is largely self-funding his campaign with a $2 million loan.

Romanik’s campaign committee had a total of $2,051,943.69 in funds available on June 30.

Greenwood’s campaign, though supported by the powerful St. Clair County Democratic Central Committee, had a mere $6,326.36 in cash on hand, as of the same date.

Following release of the June campaign finance reports, Democratic Party figures infused the Greenwood campaign with another $9,595.00 last month.  However, that still left Greenwood with total campaign funding of only $15,921.36 at the end of July, according to Illinois Sunshine.

Romanik and Greenwood seek the Illinois House seat currently held by Rep. Eddie Jackson (D) of East. St. Louis.  The more-or-less U-shaped district includes East St. Louis, unincorporated areas south of Belleville and O’Fallon.

With Romanik enjoying a more than a 100-to-1 campaign funding advantage, Democratic leaders now fear the loss of an Illinois General Assembly seat, which like most elected positions in Metro-East has been solidly in the hands of Democrats for decades.

In Metro-East’s 108th Illinois House District, incumbent Republican Charles Meier faces no opposition in the November general election and has done no fundraising this year; although $51,269.17 remains in his committee coffers from previous campaigns.

In the 112th District, incumbent Republican Dwight Kay has $72,222.44 in the war chest for his re-election battle against Democrat Katie Stuart, who has $25,998.52.

In the 113th Illinois House District, incumbent Democrat Jay Hoffman has raised $272,067.46 in campaign funding. Republican challenger Katherine Ruocco has $506.61 in her campaign treasury.  However, she has also amassed $59,717.56 in campaign debts and obligations. No other Metro-East General Assembly candidate has reported significant outside campaign debt or obligations.

In Illinois House District 116, incumbent Democrat Jerry Costello II has $93,527.76 in his campaign treasury, with a mere $50 in campaign debt or obligations. Rep. Costello faces no Republican opposition in the general election.  Independent challenger Bubba Harsy has not established a campaign committee, according to state records.

In Illinois Senate District 58, Democrat Sheila Simon (D) has raised $105,963.89 in campaign funding with Republican Paul Schimpf raising $108,315.42 to date.  Schimpf is so far the only Metro-East candidate for the Illinois General Assembly to receive support from an independent political action committee.

The Chicago-based Liberty Principles PAC  — which also supports Gov. Bruce Rauner —  declared a $8,129.00 expenditure in support of Schimpf on March 30.

For additional information see www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/CandFiling.aspx candidate filings or www.illinoissunshine.org

— Metro-East could see $2 million General Assembly race —