February 12, 2025
Local News

Underwood leads in third quarter contributions over GOP challengers

Oberweis leads all GOP candidates in campaign finances

By DREW ZIMMERMAN
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U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood speaks to the Northwest Herald editorial board Sept. 3 at the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake. (Matthew Apgar)

At the end of the third quarter, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, leads campaign contributions by a large margin over the seven GOP candidates seeking the nomination to run against her in November.

Underwood raised almost $1.7 million by the end of the third quarter and spent almost $557,000, according to federal campaign finance data.

Leading among her GOP challengers is state Rep. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, who has raised $745,895 – $400,000 of which he loaned his campaign – and spent more than $194,000 since Jan. 1.

In terms of individual contributions, however, Ted Gradel – a financial futures trader from Naperville – leads the pack with almost $439,000 in contributions reported since April 1.

“I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of our supporters as we work to defeat Lauren Underwood,” Gradel said in a statement. “Let’s build on this powerful momentum to bring a principled voice for freedom to Washington.”

Gradel also has loaned his campaign $130,000, records show. He has spent almost $73,000.

State Rep. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, came in third in quarterly spending with about $246,000, $127,000 of which was individual contributions. She also loaned her campaign $100,000, records show.

She spent more than $19,000 in the third quarter.

Catalina Lauf, a 26-year-old candidate from Woodstock, raised $104,000 in the third quarter and spent almost $11,000.

Former Kendall County Republicans Chairman James Marter has raised almost $34,000 since Jan. 1, including nearly $16,000 in individual contributions and about $15,000 in loans to his own campaign, records show.

Two other candidates, Danny Malouf of Crystal Lake and Anthony Catella of St. Charles, have raised and spent less than $5,000 each.

In the 6th Congressional District, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, announced raising more than $700,000 in the third quarter, more than double the estimated $340,000 raised by Wheaton Republican Jeanne Ives, his likely opponent in November 2020.