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Barbara Hernandez D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Representative District 50

March 19, 2024 primary: won with 3,863 votes (100%) · November 5, 2024 general: won with 21,233 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Representative in 2026 ($205,102 raised), 2022 ($309,583 raised).

Worth a look

Worth a look Contribution limits

1 source gave more than the contribution limit ($1,000 over in all)

A candidate's committee may accept only so much from one source in an election cycle: in 2025–26, $7,300 from an individual, $14,600 from a corporation, union or association, and $72,800 from a PAC or another candidate's committee. The most over: Carpentry Advancement PAC gave $69,500 in the primary cycle, against a limit of $68,500 for a PAC or candidate committee.

What to check
  • Excess returned to the source (or given to charity) within 30 days of the Board's notice isn't a violation; a refund the committee listed under another name or purpose isn't subtracted here.
  • Two different people with the same name and ZIP code would be added together.
  • Spouses are separate sources, as are a business and the person who owns it.
  • Whether a corporation's or union's own PAC gave instead (the PAC limit applies to it).
The entries (1)
NameKindCycleContributionsGivenLimitOver
Carpentry Advancement PACa PAC or candidate committeeprimary3$69,500$68,500$1,000
Rule: Contributions over the limit
“During an election cycle, a candidate political committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over the following: (i) $5,000 from any individual, (ii) $10,000 from any corporation, labor organization, or association, or (iii) $50,000 from a candidate political committee or political action committee.”10 ILCS 5/9-8.5(b) (adjusted for inflation each odd year, 9-8.5(g)) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Campaign money

$622,764raised, 360 itemized contributions, plus $8,069 in small ones
$0from the candidate (incl. loans)
$563,947spent
$119,888cash on hand on December 31, 2024
Where their money comes from (besides their own)

IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsParties and legislative caucusesOther candidates and officeholders

Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $563,947

Contributions to other committees$346,134
Consultants and field$88,621
Other (as described)$77,893
Donations and sponsorships$26,085
Office, printing and supplies$7,955
Fundraising and events$7,178
Travel and meals$5,156
Staff pay$4,685
Digital and online$240

Largest payees: Democrats for the Illinois House $233,150 Contributions to other committees · Friends of Theresa Mah $43,000 Contributions to other committees · Tamarack Golf Course $41,181 Other (as described) · Friends of Edgar Gonzalez $36,500 Contributions to other committees · 1833 Group $33,511 Consultants and field · Si se Puede Conmigo $30,446 Consultants and field · Dover Strategy Group Inc $24,487 Consultants and field · Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation $14,675 Fundraising and events

Grouped by the purpose each payment lists (“direct mail”, “consulting”), so the groups are approximate; a consultant's payments to others (ads, mail) show under the consultant.

Top contributorsTypeTotal
Carpentry Advancement PAC
Chicago
Committee$74,500
IPACE
Springfield
Committee$65,000
Illinois Laborers Legislative Council
Springfield
Committee$50,000
Democratic Party of Illinois
Springfield
Business or group$40,126.99
LIUNA Chicago Laborers District Council PAC
Burr Ridge
Committee$38,600
AFSCME Council 31 PAC
Springfield
Committee$22,500
SMART Local 265
Carol Stream
Committee$16,000
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Washington
Committee$15,000
Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor Mgmt Committee
Countryside
Committee$14,500
SEIU Healthcare IL IN PAC
Chicago
Committee$11,500
Realtor PAC
Springfield
Committee$8,500
Illinois Bankers PAC
Springfield
Committee$7,500
Stand for Children IL PAC
Chicago
Committee$7,500
ABDI PAC
Springfield
Business or group$6,456.09
Lydia Group ICF LLC
Skokie
Business or group$5,950

Committee: Friends of Barbara Hernandez (every report they filed is on the State Board of Elections' site). Data current as of October 12, 2026.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2024 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
Carpentry Advancement PAC
Group or PAC · Chicago
$74,50031
IPACE
Group or PAC · Springfield
$65,00030
Democratic Party of Illinois
Party or caucus committee · Chicago
$40,12752
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Labor union · Burr Ridge
$38,60071
AFSCME Council 31 PAC
Labor union · Springfield
$22,5004
SMART Local 265
Labor union · Carol Stream
$16,00014
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Labor union · Washington
$15,0004
SEIU Healthcare IL IN PAC
Labor union · Chicago
$11,50070
Realtor Political Action Committee
Group or PAC · Springfield
$8,50086
Stand for Children Illinois PAC
Group or PAC · Chicago
$7,50022
Illinois Bankers PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$7,50052
ABDI-PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$6,45614
Lydia Group ICF LLC
Business · Skokie
$5,95021
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$5,00089
Verano Holdings LLC
Business · Chicago
$5,00033