State Rep. Julie Hamos
(Chicago, IL) — January 28, 2010. State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) is the candidate to beat in the 10th Congressional District Democratic primary.
Hamos has racked the more cash and endorsements than any candidate.
Hamos reported $527,540 in money raised during the last filing period, with $385,346 cash on-hand.
Her primary opponent, Dan Seals, raised $181,752 and reported $145,760 cash on-hand. Hamos raised $567,000 in the previous fundraising period (July 26 through September 30), bringing her total to $1.1 million for the primary election.
She received $209,870 from 504 district residents this period. That’s twice the total amount Seals raised in district, from three times as many donors.
“The strong financial report is testament to Julie Hamos’ skill as a campaigner and her expanding support in the district,” said Julie Sweet, campaign manager.
In addition to dominating the money race, Hamos has also taken the lead in the endorsement race. The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Pioneer Press have all endorsed Hamos.
“Our endorsement goes to state Rep. Julie Hamos of Wilmette. She has a fine record on ethics reform, domestic violence laws and early childhood education. She patiently and quite skillfully engineered new law that shored up the finances and instituted critical pension reforms for Chicago-area mass transit.” Chicago Tribune, 1/18/2010.
“This is an easy call for us: We endorse Julie Hamos. Hamos’ qualifications are excellent. [S]he has been an impressively independent and yet effective legislator since arriving in Springfield in 1998. Julie Hamos has more than earned your vote.” Chicago Sun-Times, 1/20/2010.
“Hamos repeatedly demonstrated an ability to be practical and work with others. She demonstrated many times an ability to work both sides of the aisle in getting legislation passed. Her diligence averted a meltdown in the state’s public transportation system.” Pioneer Press, 1/14/2010.
Besides nods from the newspapers, has locked up the support of dozens of local organizations, including the Illinois Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter; Stonewall Democrats of Illinois; UAW-Region 4; Teamsters Joint Council 25; AFSCME Council 31; and Waukegan’s influential Chapala Group, a group of 70 Latino leaders who mobilized their community to bring an upset victory for Mayor Robert Sabonjian Jr.
Hamos has the momentum in the 10th district contest. No doubt.
Gov. Pat Quinn
This is what happens when you read a few articles and spend no time around the voters. Hamos is way behind, and she will not win this race. Dan Seals has all the township endorsements, and the vast, vast majority of volunteers and fundraisers behind him. Julie has the politicians and the money from EMILY’s list, while Dan’s donations are actually from district voters. He has gained supporters at every public appearance and debate, and every time the candidates have appeared together there have been Hamos supporters who switched camps. There is just no comparison. Hamos has been a lackluster campaigner, and her voting record is a poor fit with the moderate voters of the 10th. Polls have Seals way ahead.
Posted by NSDem | January 28, 2010, 2:19 PMDear NSDem,
Now how would you know where I have been and with whom I spoke?
Thank you for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | January 28, 2010, 5:02 PMI’m only inferring, since your information is so far off. It’s the kind of assessment one could only make based on total donations, talking to local politicians (months ago – they know better now), and reading articles by equally uninformed reporters.
Posted by NSDem | January 31, 2010, 3:40 PMNSDEM,
I see. So you are the only informed source on the full state of play of all dimensions of the race? How remarkable.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | February 1, 2010, 8:45 AMJust because you aren’t well-informed doesn’t mean I’m alone in being informed. Most of the active Democrats in the district agree about the outcome – even the ones on Hamos’ side. I wonder if you spoke with anyone beyond a few local pols.
Posted by NSDem | February 1, 2010, 3:51 PMNS Dem,
An anonymous commenter, citing anonymous polls, anonymous Democrats, and anonymous Ex-Hamos supporters making windy assertions hardly ranks as “informed” about of much anything. When you have some “facts” that make your case, we’ll be happy to publish them.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | February 1, 2010, 4:46 PMWow I am amazed by what you’ve stated here- it reads just like Julie’s website! I just heard Chuck Todd on MSNBC run through the races in Illinois, and he claims that Seals is the frontrunner. I thought so too, since I went to a candidates’ forum in Wheeling recently, attended by about 250, and the vast majority were wearing Dan Seals’ buttons, with a rally outside by even more Seals supporters. Richardson and Hamos had about 10 supporters each, including staff members. And yes, many of Seals supporters were canvassing and volunteering for him instead of sitting through the debate the way I did- I like to listen to what candidates have to say about the issues.
I am part of an active group of a local township Democratic organization and all the grass roots organizations, including ours, has endorsed Dan Seals, the largest, with 92% of the vote! Are you saying this is a money race and basing your prediction on her ability to raise a lot of money? It’s true that the local politicians have all been fundraising like mad for Julie, along with a weekly plea from EMILY’s list for money, but I thought Dan would win based on local support and his winning the sign war. I also canvass along the North Shore and HIghland Park, and have found that people have been favoring Dan about 3 to 1. I am amazed by what you say – especially since Hamos was heard to admit at the Wheeling forum that her campaign was finished, and she’d already lost the race. I have never favored the kind of top-down campaign that she has run, relying on political cronies and clout. I guess we’ll see soon enough who’s right!!!
Posted by another country heard from | February 1, 2010, 5:01 PMDear Another,
Well, if Dan Seals is winning a yard sign, then he must be the front-runner.
Thank you for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | February 1, 2010, 5:12 PMSo I guess the best defense for the lightly informed is a ridiculous offense?
Posted by NSDem | February 1, 2010, 5:49 PMHamos has done 2 polls in the last several weeks and published neither result – what does that tell you? By every quantitative measure, Seals has been up at least 2.5 to 1. I’m sorry you don’t have the facts, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. “Another” is right – every Dem organization in the district that made an endorsement endorsed Dan. If you’re a fan of Julie’s, that’s fine, but you’re a bit full of it.
NS Dem,
Up until now, hiding behind a handle, you have cited nothing beyond you own breezy unquantified assertions and unverifiable claims, and that makes you an oracle? Piffle.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | February 1, 2010, 6:04 PMSo you say a few sentences of nothing without even countering the claims with statistics. I’m ashamed of you David… I wonder if your stubbornness will last till tomorrow.
Posted by Shao Guo | February 1, 2010, 6:36 PMShao,
What statistics?
If anyone can point to recent published public opinion polling, I’m ready to acknowledge it. And if the arm-chair experts could point to where on the FEC filing disclosures that identify the campaigns’ expenditures on recent polls, that would be helpful, too. But you can’t.
Asserting shapeless fiction as hard fact while hiding behind a veil of anonymity hardly amounts to claims worthy of the name or that merit any serious counter.
Amateurs.
Thank you for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | February 1, 2010, 11:01 PM