Illinois Files🔍 Search

Candidates › State House

Joseph E Mercado D

Democratic candidate for State Representative District 23

March 19, 2024 primary: lost with 819 votes (20.4%)

Worth a look

Worth a look Late reports

2 large contributions ($2,000) 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 Jeanne Simanek, received 2024-02-21, reported 2024-03-07: 11 business days, 9 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 (2)
NameDateA-1 filedBusiness daysAllowedAmount
Jeanne Simanek2024-02-212024-03-07112$1,000
Jeanne Simanek2024-02-222024-03-07102$1,000
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

$13,715raised, 31 itemized contributions, plus $2,227 in small ones
$0from the candidate (incl. loans)
$16,951spent
$3,486cash on hand on December 31, 2024; $11,519 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: $16,951

Print ads and billboards$11,519
Office, printing and supplies$3,675
Staff pay$1,392
Mail and literature$365

Largest payees: Clear Channel Outdoor $11,519 Print ads and billboards · Breaker Press Company $4,040 Office, printing and supplies · Red Barrel Restaurant $1,392 Staff pay

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
Government Accountability Alliance
Chicago
Business or group$3,664
Karen Mercado
Retired · Retired · Chicago
Person$3,661.21
Jeanne Simanek
Retired · Retired · Fort Myers
Person$2,300
Leonard Losoya
Chicago
Person$600
15th Ward Regular Democratic Org
Chicago
Business or group$500
New Archview Restaurant
Chicago
Business or group$500
S&M Auto Sales
Chicago
Business or group$500
Irma Ordaz
Chicago
Person$450
Camille Smith
Manhattan
Person$290
PFC Ted Stempien VFW Post 8821
Chicago
Business or group$250
William Boyle
Person$200
John Brady
Chicago
Person$200
Joe Flores
Chicago
Person$200
Sandy Mikrut
Chicago
Person$200
Sharon Prill
Chicago
Person$200

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

Their home

$100,000 – $200,000estimated market value, 2025 assessment
$335,800median home value in Cook County (Illinois: $280,700)

The Cook County assessor's estimate of the market value of the home at the address Joseph E Mercado filed with the State Board of Elections, shown as a range; the address isn't published here. Assessments trail the market and can be appealed, so treat it as a rough figure. How this works. Medians: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2024 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
Government Accountability Alliance
Group or PAC · Chicago
$3,6647