House Democrats Spend $2 Million in Suburban TV Dump
Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman (D-Plainfield) (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
House Democrats are dumping $1 million each into TV ads in the two of their most hotly competitive suburban districts ahead of Election Day in two weeks.
The House Dem campaign arm reported Monday the $1 million ad buys for appointed Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman (D-Plainfield) and Maria Peterson of North Barrington, the challenger to Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills).
Both candidates have already been up on broadcast TV. House Democrats have been running this ad for Heitman on broadcast TV in recent days. A similar attack ad against McLaughlin that has been running on Chicago broadcast TV wasn’t immediately available.
The move is similar to one made two years ago, when House Democrats spent $1.4 million in broadcast TV for then-Rep. Harry Benton to save his campaign in the final weeks of the race. Heitman was appointed to replace Benton after he resigned in scandal this summer. Heitman faces Republican Gabby Shanahan, who lost to Benton two years ago.
House Republicans have spent around $350,000 on digital advertising for Shanahan in the race. in addition to direct mail. Kamala Harris won the southwest suburban district by about 4 points in 2024 and Gov. Pritzker won it by about 7 points in 2022.
House Democrats have already been pumping broadcast TV money into Peterson’s race, which they believe is one of their top pickup opportunities of the cycle. Peterson lost to McLaughlin by 47 votes two years ago.
Republicans have spent around $300,000 on digital advertising for McLaughin in the race so far, in addition to mail. Kamala Harris won the district by around six points in 2024, Governor Pritzker won it by around seven in 2022.
“We just don’t have the firepower,” one Republican consultant said. “Maybe its overkill, maybe it’s shouting into the abyss, but we just can’t compete with that kind of money. And it may be what costs us seats in the end.”
Republicans are going up on broadcast TV in at least one district, though.
Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville) launches broadcast TV ads Tuesday morning in the Champaign-Decatur-Springfield market in his dogfight for re-election with Democrat Mary Catherine Roberson.
The scope of the buys wasn’t yet available.
We’re told Schweizer is running this attack ad that has been running on cable. Roberson launched broadcast ads last week. This is the most recent ad Democrats released against Schweizer.
Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group funded by the former Koch Brothers organization, reported Monday it is spending on five legislative races. The group is sending mail in the 52nd House District race (McLaughlin/Peterson), 65th House District (Ugaste/Rivard), 76th House District race (Briel/Bishop), and the 114th House District race (Schmidt/McClellan).
American Future PAC, a sportsbook-funded committee, is sending mail for Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia), House candidate Saba Haider. They’re also running what would appear to be contrast mail for George McClellan in his race against Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt).
