Millionaires Declare Their Campaign Funds in 14th District

Millionaires Declare Their Campaign Funds in 14th District

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Illinois is home to some very expensive Congressional races. But candidates in one suburban race stand out.

It’s called the millionaire form. Congressional candidates who give more than $350,000 to their own campaigns have to turn the form in to the Federal Election Commission.

Take a look at those forms and Illinois’ 14th Congressional District jumps out. That’s former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s district.

Republican dairy magnate Jim Oberweis wants the job, and everybody knew he’d put his own money in. But just how much? Try 1.6 million.

That puts Oberweis far above every other Congressional candidate who’s contributed to themselves. Oberweis’ campaign says most of the money’s gone toward advertising.

And Oberweis isn’t the only 14th who’s been generous to himself. Democrat Bill Foster, a former Fermilab scientist, loaned his campaign $800,000. When you combine the two, no other races for Congress anywhere come close to what candidates have put into their 14th District campaigns.