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
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.