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Candidates › State Senate

John Curran R

Incumbent, Republican candidate for State Senator District 41

March 17, 2026 primary: won with 11,449 votes (100%) · November 3, 2026 general

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

Also ran for State Senator in 2022 ($634,286 raised).

Worth a look

Context How the money was spent

$26,641.26 in payments described as a vehicle purchase, lease or payment

The Election Code bars campaign money for club and gym dues, clothing, vehicles not used mainly for the campaign, and tuition, each with exceptions. These payments' descriptions name one of those.

What to check
  • Club: renting a club for a specific campaign event is allowed; dues aren't.
  • Clothing: costumes or items worn to advertise the campaign are allowed.
  • Vehicle: allowed when used primarily for the campaign or government duties.
  • Tuition: allowed for education directly tied to the official's duties.
The entries (20)
NameKindPurpose (as reported)DateAmount
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-03-11$1,376
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-04-06$1,376
Dick Wickstrom Chevroleta vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-02-20$1,375
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-05-20$1,375
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-06-01$1,375
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-06-22$1,375
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-01-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-02-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-03-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-04-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-05-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-06-23$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-07-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-08-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-09-22$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-10-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-11-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2025-12-22$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-01-21$1,313
GM Financiala vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCampaign vehicle lease2026-02-23$1,313
Rule: Car leases and other restricted spending
“For membership or club dues charged by organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational services”10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a)(7) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Context Late reports

1 contribution of $1,000 or more ($2,000) 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: $2,000 from Norfolk Southern Corporation on 2025-08-23.

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
Norfolk Southern CorporationQuarterly2025-08-23$2,000
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

Campaign money

$3,311,639raised, 751 itemized contributions, plus $5,798 in small ones
$100,001from the candidate (incl. loans)
$730,308spent
$3,059,627cash on hand on June 30, 2026

$1,591,043 of it in 149 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.

Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC $450,000 2026-09-30 · Engineers Political Education Committee Separate Education Fund $285,000 2026-08-18 · Health Care Council of Illinois Political Action Committee $100,000 2026-08-31 · Illinois Pipe Trades PEF $55,000 2026-09-17 · Illinois Hospital Association-PAC $30,000 2026-09-30 · Illinois Road Builders PAC $25,000 2026-07-31 · Marquis Energy LLC $25,000 2026-09-24 · Midwest Gaming & Entertainment LLC $25,000 2026-09-25 · Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois PAC $20,000 2026-09-02 · Downstate Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC $20,000 2026-09-17

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: $730,308

Contributions to other committees$410,740
Other (as described)$185,056
Donations and sponsorships$60,302
Fundraising and events$36,637
Office, printing and supplies$14,234
Staff pay$11,780
Travel and meals$10,776
Legal, accounting and fees$711
Postage and delivery$71

Largest payees: Senate Republican Victory Fund $390,000 Contributions to other committees · John Curran $104,719 Other (as described) · James M. Sweeney Golf Classic $50,000 Donations and sponsorships · GM Financial $25,266 Other (as described) · Internal Revenue Service $16,359 Other (as described) · Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse $13,486 Travel and meals · Illinois Dept. of Revenue $10,918 Other (as described) · Illini Country Club $8,130 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
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Countryside
Committee$625,000
Engineers Political Education Committee Separate Education Fund
Washington
Committee$385,000
Health Care Council of Illinois Political Action Committee
Springfield
Committee$110,000
BMO Harris Bank
Darien
Business or group$91,987.92
Illinois Pipe Trades PEF
Springfield
Committee$55,000
Midwest Gaming & Entertainment LLC
Des Plaines
Business or group$55,000
Illinois Road Builders PAC
Itasca
Committee$50,000
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Burr Ridge
Committee$50,000
Marquis Energy LLC
Hennepin
Business or group$50,000
Illinois Risk Management Services, Inc.
Naperville
Business or group$45,000
Manufacturers Political Action Committee
Springfield
Committee$45,000
Realtor Political Action Committee
Springfield
Committee$42,500
IMHA-PAC
Springfield
Committee$41,000
Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC
Bolingbrook
Business or group$40,000
Downstate Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Peoria
Committee$40,000

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

Committees

Subcommittees: Cannabis

Their seats in the current General Assembly, from ilga.gov. Compare with who funds them: their donors.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2026 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Countryside
$625,000115
Engineers Political Education Committee Separate Education Fund
Group or PAC · Washington
$385,0004
Health Care Council of Illinois PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$110,00065
BMO Harris Bank
Business · Palatine
$91,9882
Midwest Gaming & Entertainment, LLC
Business · Des Plaines
$55,00039
Illinois Pipe Trades PEF
Group or PAC · Springfield
$55,0009
Illinois Road Builders PAC
Group or PAC · Itasca
$50,00015
Marquis Energy LLC
Business · Hennepin
$50,00020
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Labor union · Burr Ridge
$50,00072
Illinois Risk Management Services, Inc.
Business · Naperville
$45,00010
Manufacturers PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$45,00073
Realtor Political Action Committee
Group or PAC · Springfield
$42,500101
Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$42,30769
IMHA PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$41,00038
Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC
Business · Bolingbrook
$40,000117