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Where’s the Money Going?

by Chicago Agent

By Carlo Calma

At press time, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has contributed a total of $2,178,830 to federal candidates in the 2012 election cycle, according to data released by The Center for Responsive Politics from the Federal Election Commission. The research group broke that figure down by political party and revealed that Democratic candidates received $998,445, while Republican candidates received $1,179,385.

On a local level, NAR has contributed a total of $76,322 to 20 candidates in the Chicagoland area (nine Republicans and 11 Democrats). Those candidates are listed below, and are organized by the contribution amount. Also, we looked at the reasons for those contributions based on the candidate’s voting records, as compiled by VoteSmart.org. Among those listed, NAR had made contributions to only two districts that had running opponents: Brad Schneider (D-IL), who received $1,000, is running against incumbent Robert Dold (R-IL), who received $6,000 in the 10th District; also, Cheri Bustos (D-IL), who received $1,000, is vying for the 17th District seat against incumbent Bobby Schilling (R-IL), who received $4,000.

Below are the candidates from the Illinois area:

    • Peter Roskam (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 6th
      Cities in District: Algonquin, Barrington, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton
      Contributions: $7,000
    • Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 9th
      Cities in District: Evanston, Skokie, Niles, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove
      Contributions: $6,300
    • Judy Biggert (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 13th
      Cities in District: Aurora, Bolingbrook, Lemont, Lisle, Naperville, Plainfield, Romeoville
      Contributions: $6,000
    • Robert Dold (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 10th
      Cities in District: Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Libertyville, Waukegan, Wheeling, Zion
      Contributions: $6,000
    • Mike Quigley (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 5th
      Cities in District: Franklin Park, Elmhurst, La Grange Park, Northlake, Melrose Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park
      Contributions: $6,000
    • Daniel Lipinski (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 3rd
      Cities in District: Bridgeview, Burbank, Lyons, Oak Lawn, Berwyn, Brookfield, Burr Ridge
      Contributions: $5,010
    • Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 4th
      Cities in District: Irving Park, Logan Square, Belmont Cragin, Pilsen, South Lawndale, Cicero
      Contributions: $5,000
    • Randy Hultgren (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 14th
      Cities in District: Batavia, Crystal Lake, Geneva, Huntley, McHenry, Oswego, Yorkville
      Contributions: $5,000 
    • Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 2nd
      Cities in District: Burnham, Calumet City, Flossmoor, Harvey, Homewood, Pullman, Chicago Heights
      Contributions: $4,000
    • Bobby Rush (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 1st
      Cities in District: Gresham, Chatham, Englewood, Hyde Park, Washington Heights, Beverly
      Contributions: $4,000
    • Dick Durbin (D-IL)
      Office: Senate
      District: IL
      Cities in District: IL
      Contributions: $3,500
    • Danny K. Davis (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 7th
      Cities in District: The Loop, Near North Side, Bellwood, Forest Park, Maywood, Oak Park
      Contributions: $3,000
    • Joe Walsh (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 8th
      Cities in District: Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Gurnee, Palatine, Mundelein
      Contributions: $3,000
    • Don Manzullo (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 16th
      Cities in District: Rockford, Crystal Lake, Belvidere, Freeport, Galena, DeKalb
      Contributions: $2,250
    • Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 17th (Running)
      Cities in District: Rock Island, Moline, Galesburg, Canton, Decatur
      Contributions: $1,000
    • Bobby Schilling (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 17th
      Cities in District: Rock Island, Moline, Galesburg, Canton, Decatur
      Contributions: $4,000 
    • Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 11th
      Cities in District: Bloomington, Normal, Kankakee, LaSalle, Ottawa, Streator
      Contributions: $2,000
    • Barack Obama (R-IL)
      Office: President
      District: U.S.
      Cities in District: U.S.
      Contributions: $1,262
    • Mark Kirk (R-IL)
      Office: Senate
      District: IL
      Cities in District: IL
      Contributions: $1,000
    • Brad Schneider (R-IL)
      Office: House
      District: 10th (Running)
      Cities in District: Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Libertyville, Waukegan, Wheeling, Zion
      Contributions: $1,000

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Comments

  • Ken says:

    I can understand giving money to politicians to help them get elected. I have never quite understood why we give money to politicians to keep them in office. Especially if they’ve been there awhile, which it seems is all the time. I believe term limits will curtail much of the corruption and good ole boy problems. They will then work on the real problems instead of working on getting re-elected. I’m done contributing to an organization (NAR) for them to give money to political lifers.

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