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Laura M Murphy D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Senator District 28

June 28, 2022 primary: won with 12,346 votes (100%) · November 8, 2022 general: won with 33,259 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Senator in 2024 ($530,031 raised).

Worth a look

Worth a look Contribution limits

1 source gave more than the contribution limit ($3,211.12 over in all)

A candidate's committee may accept only so much from one source in an election cycle: in 2025–26, $7,300 from an individual, $14,600 from a corporation, union or association, and $72,800 from a PAC or another candidate's committee. The most over: Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC gave $63,111.12 in the general cycle, against a limit of $59,900 for a PAC or candidate committee.

What to check
  • Excess returned to the source (or given to charity) within 30 days of the Board's notice isn't a violation; a refund the committee listed under another name or purpose isn't subtracted here.
  • Two different people with the same name and ZIP code would be added together.
  • Spouses are separate sources, as are a business and the person who owns it.
  • Whether a corporation's or union's own PAC gave instead (the PAC limit applies to it).
The entries (1)
NameKindCycleContributionsGivenLimitOver
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PACa PAC or candidate committeegeneral2$63,111$59,900$3,211
Rule: Contributions over the limit
“During an election cycle, a candidate political committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over the following: (i) $5,000 from any individual, (ii) $10,000 from any corporation, labor organization, or association, or (iii) $50,000 from a candidate political committee or political action committee.”10 ILCS 5/9-8.5(b) (adjusted for inflation each odd year, 9-8.5(g)) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Worth a look Late reports

4 large contributions ($8,000) 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 Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc., received 2021-02-12, reported 2021-03-04: 13 business days, 8 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 (4)
NameDateA-1 filedBusiness daysAllowedAmount
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.2021-02-122021-03-04135$1,000
Titlemax2021-02-122021-03-04135$1,000
Chicago Automobile Trade Association2021-02-122021-03-04135$1,000
Gun Violence Prevention PAC2021-02-122021-03-04135$5,000
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

Context How the money was spent

$11,816.28 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 (13)
NameKindPurpose (as reported)DateAmount
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-01-18$3,900
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-01-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-02-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-02-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-03-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-05-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-06-17$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-07-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-08-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-09-16$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-10-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-11-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2022-12-16$660
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 quarterly report filed late (up to 3 days)

Quarterly reports are due by the 15th of the month after each quarter. The report for the quarter ending 2022-03-31 was due 2022-04-15 and filed 2022-04-18.

What to check
  • A paper report postmarked 3 days before the deadline is on time; the Board records when it arrived.
  • The Board assesses fines for late reports and may waive them.
The entries (1)
Quarter endingDueFiledDays late
2022-03-312022-04-152022-04-183
Rule: Quarterly reports filed late
“A political committee shall file quarterly reports no later than the 15th day of the month following each period.”10 ILCS 5/9-10(b) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Campaign money

$835,877raised, 363 itemized contributions, plus $10,939 in small ones
$2,446from the candidate (incl. loans)
$648,784spent
$431,892cash on hand on December 31, 2022
Where their money comes from (besides their own)

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

Plus $3,196 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $648,784

Mail and literature$250,785
Other (as described)$180,226
Staff pay$65,727
Office, printing and supplies$50,861
Contributions to other committees$40,788
Fundraising and events$21,053
Travel and meals$13,594
Consultants and field$11,850
Donations and sponsorships$11,123
Legal, accounting and fees$1,287

Largest payees: Wildfire Mail $250,785 Mail and literature · Adelstein & Associates $78,250 Other (as described) · Chi-Town Printing $15,051 Office, printing and supplies · Lee Street Building $12,620 Office, printing and supplies · Asian American Leaders Caucus PAC $12,338 Contributions to other committees · Golf Mill Ford $11,816 Other (as described) · Ilana Feldman $9,682 Staff pay · Martin McAlpin $9,000 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 contributorsTypeTotal
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Burr Ridge
Committee$119,800
IBEW Illinois PAC
Washington
Committee$109,900
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Countryside
Committee$65,900
Illinois Pipe Trades PAC Account
Springfield
Committee$52,500
Carpentry Advancement PAC
Chicago
Committee$51,000
ISDF
Oak Park
Business or group$36,996.19
Rivers Casino
Des Plaines
Business or group$20,000
AFSCME
Washington
Committee$16,500
SEIU Healthcare IL IN PAC
Chicago
Committee$11,000
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Springfield
Committee$10,000
SEIU Illinois Council PAC
Chicago
Committee$10,000
Neil Bluhm
President · JMB Realty · Chicago
Person$7,500
Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE
Westmont
Committee$7,500
Associated Fire Fighters of IL PAC Fund
Springfield
Committee$6,000
Cari Sacks
None · None · Chicago
Person$6,000

Committees: Citizens To Elect Laura M Murphy, Citizens for Laura M Murphy (every report they filed is on the State Board of Elections' site). Data current as of October 12, 2026.

Outside spending for and against them

$69spent supporting them
$0spent opposing them
SpenderAmount
Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR
general · 2022-10-26
for$69

Independent expenditures reported by other committees since January 1, 2021. The candidate doesn't control them.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2022 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Labor union · Burr Ridge
$119,80091
IBEW Illinois PAC
Labor union · Washington
$109,90063
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Countryside
$69,111126
Illinois Pipe Trades PAC Account
Group or PAC · Springfield
$52,50028
Carpentry Advancement PAC
Group or PAC · Chicago
$51,00039
ISDF
Business · Oak Park
$36,99620
Rivers Casino
Business · Des Plaines
$20,00041
AFSCME
Labor union · Washington
$16,50074
SEIU Healthcare IL IN PAC
Labor union · Chicago
$11,00087
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Group or PAC · Springfield
$10,00015
SEIU Illinois Council PAC
Labor union · Chicago
$10,0002
Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$8,82497
Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE
Labor union · Westmont
$7,500119
Neil Bluhm
President, JMB Realty · Chicago
$7,5003
Associated Fire Fighters of IL PAC Fund
Labor union · Springfield
$6,00069