Candidates › State House

Gabriella Shanahan R

Republican candidate for State Representative District 97

March 19, 2024 primary: won with 3,772 votes (100%) · November 5, 2024 general: lost with 25,205 votes (100%)

🔓 Contribution limits are off in their race (self funding disclosure).

Also ran for State Representative in 2026 ($406,875 raised).

Worth a look

Context Context

78% of their itemized money came from party and caucus committees

$535,204.64 of $685,329.07 came from political party committees, which in the General Assembly mostly means the committees the four legislative leaders control. Party money has no limit in a general election; it's how the leaders fund the races they target.

What to check

Which committees: see the donors on their page.

Rule: Mostly party and caucus money

Context, not a rule. How findings work

Campaign money

$685,329raised, 236 itemized contributions, plus $12,548 in small ones

$100,001from the candidate (incl. loans)

$196,103spent

$57,433cash on hand on December 31, 2024

Where their money comes from (besides their own)

13%78%

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

Plus $959 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $196,103

Other (as described)$104,772

Office, printing and supplies$37,369

Consultants and field$22,577

Contributions to other committees$13,917

Digital and online$11,118

Fundraising and events$2,404

Polling$1,500

Legal, accounting and fees$1,333

Donations and sponsorships$614

Staff pay$500

Largest payees: Gabriella Shanahan $100,001 Other (as described) · Premier Printing $19,350 Office, printing and supplies · The Newberg Group $17,347 Office, printing and supplies · House Republican Org $13,417 Contributions to other committees · High Ground Strategies $10,068 Office, printing and supplies · M3 Strategies $8,763 Digital and online · Innago $8,750 Office, printing and supplies · Strive Strategies $7,200 Digital and online

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	Type	Total
House Republican Org Naperville	Business or group	$304,236.64
Illinois Republican Party Springfield	Business or group	$230,968
Richard Uihlein Executive · Uline · Lake Forest	Person	$31,900
Voter Protection NFP PAC Chicago	Committee	$10,000
Julie Tillman Retired · Retired · Golf	Person	$6,900
Robert Isham Attorney · Isham Law · Dillon	Person	$5,900
Downstate GOP Alton	Committee	$5,000
Get Illinois Right PAC Naperville	Committee	$5,000
Illinois Policy PAC Chicago	Committee	$5,000
M3 Strategies Chicago	Business or group	$5,000
Edgar Bachrach Retired · Retired · Chicago	Person	$2,500
Elizabeth Bishop Retired · Retired · LaSalle	Person	$2,500
Craig Duchossois Executive Chair · The Duchossois Group · Chicago	Person	$2,500
Ernie Knight Commander · Universtiy of Chicago · Plainfield	Person	$2,500
Charles Sharp Owner · Sharp Property Solutions · Shorewood	Person	$2,500

Committee: Team Shanahan (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.

Donor	To them	Candidates funded
House Republican Org Party or caucus committee · Naperville	$304,237	9
Illinois Republican Party Party or caucus committee · Springfield	$230,968	23
Richard Uihlein Executive, Uline · Lake Forest	$31,900	7
Illinois Policy PAC Group or PAC · Chicago	$5,680	8
Downstate GOP Group or PAC · Alton	$5,000	17
Elizabeth Bishop Retired, Retired · Lasalle	$2,500	3
Edgar Bachrach Retired, Retired · Chicago	$2,500	2
Friends of Travis Weaver Candidate or officeholder committee · Edwards	$2,050	15
Michael Hansen Attorney, Self · Joliet	$2,000	3
McCombie for Illinois Candidate or officeholder committee · Savanna	$2,000	34
Kendall PAC Group or PAC · Oswego	$1,500	5
Jo Caulkins Retired, Retired · Decatur	$1,500	6
Citizens to Elect Michelle Smith Group or PAC · Plainfield	$1,500	4
NFIB Illinois PAC Group or PAC · Washington	$1,500	13
Regan for Illinois Candidate or officeholder committee · Decatur	$1,250	7