The Illinois treasurer's race might not be the most exciting or talked about in the state, but it's one of the most hotly contested statewide elections on the 2014 ballot.
Former House leader and current state Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, who has served since 1993, and eight-year Democratic state Sen. Mike Frerichs of Champaign, are vying for Republican Treasurer Dan Rutherford's office.
A new Reboot Illinois/We Ask America poll conducted on Sept. 4 shows Cross with a 6-point lead over Frerichs, receiving significant support from independents and collar county voters, though his support in Chicago is waning.
At the second quarter filing deadline, Cross had $510,000 cash on hand after reporting $256,277 in expenditures. Since then, Cross has pulled in an additional $29,300. Frerichs more than doubles his opponent with roughly $1.3 million on hand, and spent only $66,717 during the same time period, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Perhaps more worrisome for Cross is the $90,000 Frerichs has raised since June 30, including the $1.1 million the Democrat secured for a planned advertising blitz during the fall. However, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the state's top business group, granted its first-ever political endorsement to Cross, which should also keep Frerichs' camp preoccupied.
But the real question voters should be asking is where exactly are these guys getting their funding? Well, we've got the answer.
Looking between Jan. 1, and Sept. 4 of this year, we've compiled a list of the top 10 donors for Cross and Frerichs using the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
Five donors for Cross
The Exchange
Chicago-base company that buys, sells and trades entertainment products such as movies, music and videogames
MacNeil Auto Products
Provides automotive products, notably, WeatherTech floor liners
Ernie Semersky of Semersky Enterprises, Inc.
Highland Park-based company that operates in the new car dealers industry
Oak Street Capital Management LLC
Chicago-based hedge fund
Eby-Brown Company
Supplier and wholesale distributor of tobacco, candy and other convenience store products
Five donors for Frerichs
Working Forward PAC
Chicago-based union PAC established in 2011
UA Political Education Committee
A large national trade union PAC based in Annapolis, Md., totaling 370,000 members
Primarily supports plumbers, fitters, welders and HVAC service technicians in the U.S., Canada and Australia (United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada and Australia
Illinois Federation of Teacher COPE
Springfield-based teachers' union
Created in 1976
SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana PAC
PAC formed for the members of SEIU Healthcare IL IN to communicate with elected officials about membership issues.
Formed Jan. 2009 in Chicago
AFSCME Illinois Council 31 PAC
Chicago-based union PAC
See the top five donors for both candidates at Reboot Illinois.
NEXT ARTICLE: Newest Reboot Illinois poll shows Republican Tom Cross still leads in Illinois treasurer's race, but Mike Frerichs is poised for big ad blitz in the fall
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