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AIPAC-Linked Groups Ramp Up Illinois Primary Spending Ahead of March 17

New filings show a late surge of money reshaping key Chicago-area races, with donor details not due until after the March 17 vote.

FILE - Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin smiles as she walks into Marshall Metro high school to vote in Chicago, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Overview

  • WBEZ reports AIPAC donors and affiliates have put $13.7 million behind preferred candidates in four Illinois primaries set for March 17.
  • Fresh disclosures show Elect Chicago Women spent $1.5 million supporting Laura Fine in IL-09 and Melissa Bean in IL-08, while Affordable Chicago Now reported $830,978 for Donna Miller in IL-02.
  • A new filing shows United Democracy Project added $736,577 in IL-07, complementing at least $1.9 million previously reserved to boost Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Danny Davis.
  • Recently formed outside groups are not required to reveal their funding sources until after the primary, and their ads focus on domestic issues rather than Israel.
  • Despite a widely viewed setback in a New Jersey special primary, AIPAC’s super PAC says it will engage in dozens more contests this cycle, with FEC records showing more than $221 million spent since late 2021.