by Emma Fleming
Have you seen the commercials? Heard the radio messages? As the 2018 midterm election approaches, campaign funding is at an all-time high for Illinois candidates. Both the 13th Congressional District candidates and Illinois Gubernatorial candidates are spending more on campaign funding than in previous elections. Not only is the money coming from fundraising, but a large sum is coming from the candidates’ pockets.
The two candidates running for the 13th District representative office are democratic candidate Betsy Londrigan and incumbent republican candidate Rodney Davis. According to Tom Kacich, reporter for The News Gazette, the two have spent more than $8.8 million, collectively. Davis, as of Sept. 30 has raised $3.08 million, and Londigran has raised $3.03 million on her campaign.
These two campaigns are attracting attention from people all over the nation. According to Kacich, the Londrigan campaign has received funds from Barbara Streisand, David Rockefeller, David Stern, and several University of Illinois employees. Some of Davis’ key donors are Dave Downey, Marlene Ricketts, the Major League Baseball commissions office, and Koch Industries. These two candidates are receiving generous donations from donors outside the 13th District.
The Illinois governor’s race is also one of the most expensive races in history. According to Sarah Maslin Nir, reporter for The New York Times, democratic candidate JB Pritzker and republican incumbent candidate Bruce Rauner, have spent $244 million so far. Out of the $165 million that has been raised for the Pritzker campaign, $162 million has been contributed by Pritzker. According to NPR.org, Pritzker has spent $80 million on TV and digital ads, alone.
According to Nir, Rauner has spent approximately $80 million on campaign funding, and nearly $58 million has been spent from his own pocket. Rauner has spent $36 million on TV and digital ads.
After reaching out to several republican party members — including Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, Adam Kinzinger and Rauner’s campaign team — and receiving no response, it seems like campaign funding is an issue that no one wants to discuss.
Not only did the republican party members avoid the questions, but so did the democratic party members. Neither the Londrigan campaign nor the Pritzker campaign would offer a response on whether campaign funding is positive, why candidates have been spending so much or what these hefty expenses mean for the state of Illinois.
So, what is the point of campaign funding, anyway? According to Britannica.com, campaign finance refers to “the spending of money intended to influence a political vote, such as the election of a candidate or a referendum. Political parties and candidates require money to publicize their electoral platforms and to pursue effective campaigns.” As most of us know, campaign funding is intended to publicize a candidate or to get a politician’s name in the media. But in these two races, it has been more about influencing the voter, and voters are becoming tired with the publicity efforts. According to NPR.org, people are responding to Pritzker’s campaign ads on social media. People are frustrated with how the political ads are infiltrating Spotify, radio stations and television. Despite people turning to social media in complaint, Pritzker’s ads continue to flow through the media.
Just because the gubernatorial and 13th District candidates can spend on campaign funding does not mean that they should. Could the money being spent on republican and democratic campaigns be used for something else? Of course, it can. The millions of dollars that Davis, Londrigan, Rauner and Pritzker have spent could be used to improve the state rather than influence the voter. Campaign funding is at an all-time high, and this could mean more financial trouble for Illinois.