Illinois voters cast ballots in the March 19 primary.

The 2024 primary season was marked by expensive races to unseat incumbents along with several big-spending candidates who fell short of their bids to be their party’s nominees.  

How much did candidates in top races for the General Assembly spend per vote in the first three months of 2024 and was it enough to win over voters on the March 19 primary?

Note: All vote totals are according to the latest numbers reported by the Associated Press. Final results will be official when the State Board of Elections meets on Friday. Campaign spending numbers reflect spending between Jan. 1 and March 30 as stated in quarterly reports to the State Board of Elections this month. Spending numbers reflect direct expenses by the campaigns and in-kind contributions from other organizations in favor of the candidate.  

20th Senate Democrats  

The most closely watched General Assembly primary was also one of the most expensive. Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) went all in to help appointed Sen. Natalie Toro (D-Chicago) retain her seat against a progressive backlash over the appointment, but it fell short after Graciela Guzman, a Chicago Teachers Union organizer, received 51 percent of the vote in the four-way field.  

Guzman reported spending $643,212 between Jan. 1 and March 30 and received 13,521 votes, coming out to a per-vote spending rate of $47.57. Guzman reported raising $432,485 in the first quarter of the year from accounts related to the union, including $113,385 that was reported on Sunday.  

Toro’s spending rate for votes blew the rest of the field in the primary away. Finishing second with 7,701 votes, Toro spent $2.2 million on the primary, equaling $282.89 per vote.   

Also with a large spending rate and little success at the ballot box was Dave Nayak, a doctor and farmer from the district. Nayak’s quarterly report shows he lent his campaign $867,700 and was able to raise just $5,000 outside of loans. By accumulating 3,973 votes and spending $743,911, Nayak spent $187.24 per vote.   

Geary Yonker, who finished last in the race, has a negative campaign account balance of $5,000 according to his report. Yonker received 1,153 votes after spending $19,450, coming out to a rate of $16.87 per vote.   

31st House Democrats  

Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) backed Michael Crawford in his bid to remove Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) from the House. Crawford was victorious thanks to 7,998 votes boosted by $1.7 million of spending with help from Welch’s organizations and labor unions. That came out to a rate of $211.07 per vote. Flowers wasn’t entirely left without help and received late contributions from perennial Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, AFSCME Council 31 and Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). Flowers received 3,577 votes and spent $57,652 — a rate of $16.12 per vote.   

110th House Republicans  

The race was closely watched as Illinois teachers unions attempted to oust Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) over his anti-union positions. Despite a massive amount of spending, Wilhour came out on top after spending $150,510 to receive 10,677 votes — a rate of $14.10 per vote. Wilhour’s top two largest expenses were for radio advertising and partnering with consulting firm Tactical Campaigns, which also works with Darren Bailey’s congressional campaign and other members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus.   

Wilhour’s opponent, Matt Hall, was heavily funded by the teachers unions but spent less than Wilhour. Hall spent $195,564 on 2,860 votes — a rate of $68.38 per vote.   

Another closely watched race between the Freedom Caucus and teachers unions featured a write-in Republican primary between Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) and Jim Acklin. Final vote numbers in the race won’t be clear until they are certified by the State Board of Elections, though Niemerg has declared a decisive victory.   

Additional spending in both races came from the Illinois Working PAC, created by the Illinois Education Association to support Acklin and Hall. The political action committee reported spending $259,988 on both candidates.   

76th House Democrats   

Some of the closest vote margins in a General Assembly primary came in the 76th House District in north-central Illinois where three candidates were vying for the seat being vacated by Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa). Yednock’s chief of staff Amy “Muri” Briel came out on top after receiving 2,356 votes. Briel spent $44,851, or $19.03 per vote, which was far less per vote than her other three opponents.  

DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes spent $100,385 and finished second with 2,077 votes, which equals $48.33 per vote. DeKalb Ald. Carolyn Zasada spent $69,356 to finish third with 2,038 votes, which equals $34.03 per vote.  

36th House Democrats  

Both Rick Ryan and Sonia Anne Khalil posted strong spending and fundraising numbers, but Ryan came out on top. Ryan received 6,963 votes behind $566,665 — a rate of $81.38 per vote. Khalil received 5,263 votes and spent $610,457 — a rate of $115.99 per vote.   

88th House Republicans  

Regan Deering, a Freedom Caucus-backed candidate, easily won the primary for Rep. Dan Caulkins’ (R-Decatur) seat over McLean County Board member Chuck Erickson. Deering received 7,257 votes and spent $121,237, or $16.70 per vote. Erickson received 3,307 votes and spent $37,080, or $11.21 per vote.   

58th Senate Republicans   

Wesley Kash, a far-right candidate, tried to oust Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). But Bryant tallied 19,883 votes behind $537,346 to equal a rate of $27.03 per vote.   

Kash funded his campaign with family loans. Most of his spending was to repay the loans but he also spent $30,000 to hire door knockers. Following his defeat, Kash has already closed his campaign account. Kash received 8,676 and spent $253,361 — a rate of $28.98 per vote.