Candidates › State House
Emanuel "Chris" Welch D
Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Representative District 7
March 17, 2026 primary: won with 15,142 votes (100%) · November 3, 2026 general
🔓 Contribution limits are off in their race (self funding disclosure).
Also ran for State Representative in 2024 ($16.8M raised), 2022 ($22.0M raised).
Campaign money
$7,658,971 of it in 253 large contributions reported on A-1s since their last quarterly report (through June 30, 2026): $1,000 or more from one source must be reported within days, ahead of the next quarterly.
Democratic Party of Illinois $3,300,000 2026-09-18 · Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC $500,000 2026-07-30 · LiUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC $500,000 2026-07-30 · Carpentry Advancement PAC Fund $307,200 2026-09-30 · Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE $300,000 2026-10-05 · Engineers Political Education Committee Separate Education Fund $250,000 2026-09-30 · Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee $210,000 2026-09-24 · Downstate IL Laborers District Coouncil PAC Fund $100,000 2026-09-24 · North Central Illinois Laborers' District Council PAC $100,000 2026-09-24 · Health Care Council of Illinois PAC $75,000 2026-09-24
IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsParties and legislative caucusesOther candidates and officeholders
Compare with all state candidates →
How it was spent: $3,244,091
Largest payees: Democrats for the Illinois House $1,000,000 Contributions to other committees · Tulchin Research $201,500 Polling · The Godfrey Hotel Chicago $116,490 Fundraising and events · Cook County Democratic Party $105,000 Contributions to other committees · TaQuoya McConnico $102,271 Travel and meals · Emanuel C Welch $100,001 Other (as described) · Democratic Party of Illinois $100,000 Contributions to other committees · Nelson Wurth Consulting, LLC $91,000 Consultants and field
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 contributors | Total |
|---|---|
| Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC Countryside | $3,515,000 |
| Democratic Party of Illinois Chicago | $3,300,000 |
| LiUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC Burr Ridge | $1,245,000 |
| Carpentry Advancement PAC Fund Chicago | $654,400 |
| Sports Betting Alliance Lubbock | $530,000 |
| Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE Springfield | $477,500 |
| Engineers Political Education Committee Separate Education Fund Washington | $450,000 |
| United Assn of Journeymen & IL Pipe Traders ASSN Pac Account Springfield | $440,000 |
| Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee Springfield | $310,000 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 399 Political Education Fund Chicago | $262,000 |
| IBEW Illinois PAC Washington | $212,500 |
| I.P.A.C.E. Springfield | $210,600 |
| UA Political Action Fund Annapolis | $200,000 |
| Pipefitters' Assoc Local 597 UA Illinois PAC Fund Chicago | $160,000 |
| Affordable Assisted Living Coalition PAC Springfield | $150,000 |
Committee: People for Emanuel Chris Welch (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 2026 state candidates.
| Donor | To them | Candidates funded | By party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC Labor union · Countryside | $3,515,000 | 115 | |
| Democratic Party of Illinois Party or caucus committee · Chicago | $3,300,000 | 31 | |
| LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC Labor union · Burr Ridge | $1,245,000 | 72 | |
| Carpentry Advancement PAC Fund Group or PAC · Chicago | $654,400 | 72 | |
| Sports Betting Alliance Group or PAC · Lubbock | $530,000 | 103 | |
| Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE Labor union · Westmont | $477,500 | 88 | |
| Engineers Political Education Committee Separate Education Fund Group or PAC · Washington | $450,000 | 4 | |
| Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee Labor union · Springfield | $310,000 | 78 | |
| I.U.O.E. Local 399 Political Education Fund Labor union · Chicago | $262,000 | 20 | |
| IBEW Illinois PAC Labor union · Washington | $212,500 | 47 | |
| I.P.A.C.E. Group or PAC · Springfield | $210,600 | 52 | |
| UA Political Action Fund Group or PAC · Annapolis | $200,000 | 2 | |
| Pipefitters' Assoc. Local 597 UA Illinois PAC Fund Labor union · Chicago | $160,000 | 5 | |
| Affordable Assisted Living Coalition PAC Group or PAC · Springfield | $150,000 | 10 | |
| SEIU HealthCare IL IN PAC Labor union · Chicago | $145,600 | 68 |