Elmhurst Lawmaker Outpaces Rival In Fundraising

ELMHURST, IL – State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, an Elmhurst Republican, remains far ahead of her Democratic opponent in fundraising.

As of the end of the last quarter, Mazzochi reported $202,000 in her campaign bank account. That was more than 17 times the $11,500 in the account of her opponent, Jenn Ladisch Douglass of Elmhurst, who had $11,500.

They are running in the 45th House District. Mazzochi represents the 47th District now, but redistricting shifted her to the 45th.

Last quarter, Mazzochi raised $38,000, much of it from business political action committees. Douglass pulled in $4,400.

Mazzochi's PAC donations included $10,000 from the Realtors, $5,000 from Illinois Manufactured Housing and $1,000 each from Illinois Bankers, Illinois Construction Industry, Contractors for Free Enterprise and Manufacturers.

She also received $1,000 from Elmhurst-based Superior Ambulance, which has been the city of Elmhurst's ambulance contractor for decades.

Mazzochi spent nearly $42,000 in political money last quarter, including for advertising, mailers and campaign consulting.

The question remains whether the Democratic Party and its affiliated organizations plan to invest heavily in Douglass' campaign.

Often, non-incumbents in state representative races get no financial support from their parties. They are seen as having no chance in races that are considered foregone conclusions.

However, the Democrats have targeted Mazzochi before. In the last race, Mazzochi's Democratic opponent, Jennifer Zordani, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from Democratic organizations. But the party money came in the third quarter, not the second.

In the last quarter, Douglass received $500 from the campaign of state Rep. Will Guzzardi, a Chicago Democrat. She got no money from Democratic organizations.

Among her other donations were $500 from Vegas Hair Transplants and $250 each from Zordani and the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2.

Mazzochi prevailed in the 2020 race with 54 percent of the vote.

This year's election is Nov. 8.