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David Vella D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Representative District 68

March 19, 2024 primary: won with 4,228 votes (100%) · November 5, 2024 general: won with 33,688 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Representative in 2026 ($472,439 raised), 2022 ($2.7M raised).

Worth a look

Worth a look Late reports

1 contribution of $1,000 or more ($50,000) with no A-1 found

Each contribution of $1,000 or more must be reported on an A-1 within days of receipt, ahead of the quarterly report. These appear on a quarterly report, but no A-1 entry from the same contributor for the same amount within a week of the date was found. The largest: $50,000 from JB for Governor on 2024-10-08.

What to check
  • The A-1 may list the contributor under another spelling or a different amount (a split check).
  • A contribution received and returned within the same period needn't be reported on an A-1.
  • Search the committee's A-1 filings on the State Board of Elections' site to confirm.
The entries (1)
NameReported onDateAmount
JB for GovernorQuarterly2024-10-08$50,000
Rule: Large contributions with no A-1 found
“A political committee shall file a report of any contribution of $1,000 or more electronically with the Board within 5 business days after receipt of the contribution”10 ILCS 5/9-10(c) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Context Late reports

19 large contributions ($40,950) reported on an A-1 after the deadline

A contribution of $1,000 or more must be reported to the State Board of Elections within 5 business days (2 in the last 30 days before an election the candidate is on the ballot for). The latest: $1,000 from Ben Lazare Consulting, received 2023-09-14, reported 2023-09-22: 6 business days, 1 past the deadline.

What to check
  • The receipt date is what the committee reported; a correction or a typo there changes the count.
  • A contribution received and returned within the same quarterly period needn't be reported on an A-1.
  • The Board decides on fines and can waive them (inadvertence, clerical error, days late).
The entries (19)
NameDateA-1 filedBusiness daysAllowedAmount
Ben Lazare Consulting2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Friends of Natalie Manley2023-09-142023-09-2265$2,450
Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 72023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Manufacturers PAC2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Laborers' Intl Union of NA Local 322023-09-142023-09-2265$5,000
Painters District Council No. 30 Political Action Account2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Ironworkers Local 498 PAC Fund2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 17 PAC2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Plumbers & Pipefitters UA Local 23 PAC2023-09-142023-09-2265$10,000
DENT-IL-PAC2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Sheet Metal Workers Local 219 PAC Fund2023-09-142023-09-2265$2,500
DeRango & Cain, LLC.2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Vince Zammuto2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, LLC.2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Montel Technologies, LLC.2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Barbara Vella2023-09-142023-09-2265$5,000
Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11 PAC2023-09-142023-09-2265$2,500
Healthcare Service Corporation Employees' PAC2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,000
Andrew Vella2023-09-142023-09-2265$1,500
Rule: Large contributions reported late
“A political committee shall file a report of any contribution of $1,000 or more electronically with the Board within 5 business days after receipt of the contribution, except that the report shall be filed within 2 business days after receipt if (i) the contribution is received 30 or fewer days before the date of an election”10 ILCS 5/9-10(c) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Campaign money

$958,101raised, 256 itemized contributions, plus $3,384 in small ones
$0from the candidate (incl. loans)
$697,284spent
$443,227cash on hand on December 31, 2024; $20,000 in debts
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: $697,284

Contributions to other committees$575,900
Staff pay$33,820
Office, printing and supplies$33,140
Donations and sponsorships$29,058
Print ads and billboards$9,825
Other (as described)$5,008
Fundraising and events$4,720
Travel and meals$2,223
Legal, accounting and fees$1,875
Consultants and field$1,500

Largest payees: Democrats for the Illinois House $300,000 Contributions to other committees · Democratic Party of Illinois $121,000 Donations and sponsorships · Friends of Jarrett Clem $63,000 Contributions to other committees · Friends for Marty Moylan for State Representative $50,000 Contributions to other committees · Nicholas Larson $25,824 Travel and meals · Maria for 52 $17,000 Contributions to other committees · Friends of Nick Meyer $10,000 Contributions to other committees · Boone County Shopper, Inc. $9,825 Print ads and billboards

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
IPACE
Springfield		Committee$80,000
LIUNA Chicago Laborers District Council PAC
Burr Ridge		Committee$71,500
United Assn of Journeymen & IL, Pipe Trades Assn, PAC Account
Springfield		Committee$69,500
Carpentry Advancement PAC Fund
Chicago		Committee$68,500
IBEW Illinois PAC
Washington		Committee$68,500
North Central Illinois Laborers' District Council PAC
Peoria		Committee$68,500
UAW Illinois PAC
Lincolnshire		Committee$60,000
JB for Governor
Chicago		Committee$50,000
IBEW Local 364 Political Action Fund
Rockford		Committee$30,000
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC
Washington		Committee$30,000
Associated Firefighters of IL PAC Fund
Springfield		Committee$16,000
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Countryside		Committee$14,000
J&J Ventures Gaming, LLC.
Effingham		Business or group$13,000
IMHA PAC
Springfield		Committee$10,000
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
Springfield		Committee$10,000

Committee: Friends of Dave Vella (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
IPACE
Group or PAC · Springfield		$80,00030
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Labor union · Burr Ridge		$71,50071
United Assn of Journeymen & IL, Pipe Trades Assn, PAC Account
Group or PAC · Springfield		$69,5002
Carpentry Advancement Political Action Committee Fund
Group or PAC · Chicago		$68,50065
IBEW Illinois PAC
Labor union · Washington		$68,50066
North Central Illinois Laborers' District Council PAC
Labor union · Peoria		$68,5009
UAW Illinois PAC
Labor union · Lincolnshire		$60,0008
JB for Governor
Candidate or officeholder committee · Chicago		$50,00033
IBEW Local 364 Political Action Fund
Labor union · Rockford		$30,0006
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC
Labor union · Washington		$30,0004
Associated Firefighters of IL PAC Fund
Labor union · Springfield		$16,0005
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Countryside		$14,00097
J & J Ventures Gaming LLC
Business · Effingham		$13,000101
Plumbers & Pipefitters UA Local 23 PAC
Labor union · Rockford		$10,0005
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
Labor union · Springfield		$10,00071