Durkin Rakes In Half Million For Campaign

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Compared to most state lawmakers, Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, pulls in far more campaign donations. It helps that he has been the state House Republican leader since 2013. Because he easily defeats his Democratic opponents or runs unopposed, Durkin has little need to spend the money for his own campaigns, so he uses the cash to help other GOP candidates. His 82nd House District includes all or parts of La Grange, Burr Ridge, Darien, Western Springs, Lemont, Homer Glen and Orland Park.

In the last quarter, Durkin raised just shy of a half million, according to his state Board of Elections report. He ended the quarter on Dec. 31 with $1.4 million in the bank. For context, the half million in contributions could fund the Western Springs Fire Department for more than three and a half months.

Although Durkin's fundraising haul is big, it comes nowhere close to his Democratic counterpart, House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago. In the last quarter, Madigan raised $5.3 million, which could fund the Western Springs Fire Department for more than three years. Madigan had $11.4 million in his account at the close of the quarter, his elections board report said.

Durkin's opponent in the November election is Democrat Kassem Moukahal of Orland Park. He did not file a report for the last quarter, indicating he may not have reached the threshold of $5,000 that triggers reporting requirements.

Durkin's 2018 Democratic opponent, Tom Chlystek, a Darien alderman, raised $12,079 in his campaign, compared to Durkin's $9.2 million. Durkin's fundraising haul was more more than 750 times Chlystek's. Durkin won with 62 percent of the vote.

In an interview, Chlystek said he knew it was a long shot challenging Durkin, who had run unopposed in the three previous general election cycles. "If no one is running against him, why would he have to listen to his constituents?" he said.