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Candidates › State Senate

Laura M Murphy D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Senator District 28

March 19, 2024 primary: won with 12,416 votes (100%) · November 5, 2024 general: won with 57,919 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Senator in 2022 ($835,877 raised).

Worth a look

Context How the money was spent

$34,257.34 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 (25)
NameKindPurpose (as reported)DateAmount
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payoff2024-07-15$18,000
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-09-06$774
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-08-29$737
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-10-11$737
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-11-12$737
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-12-11$737
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-01-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-02-17$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-03-17$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-04-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-05-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-06-16$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-07-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-08-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-09-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-10-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-11-17$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2023-12-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-01-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-02-16$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-03-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-04-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-05-17$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-06-18$660
Golf Mill Forda vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease2024-07-16$659
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 ($1,000) 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: $1,000 from SpotHero on 2023-12-04.

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
SpotHeroQuarterly2023-12-04$1,000
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

$530,031raised, 361 itemized contributions, plus $8,823 in small ones
$15,848from the candidate (incl. loans)
$408,342spent
$533,257cash on hand on December 31, 2024
Where their money comes from (besides their own)

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

Plus $16,348 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $408,342

Other (as described)$132,451
Contributions to other committees$106,852
Office, printing and supplies$46,755
Staff pay$42,353
Travel and meals$28,518
Fundraising and events$25,726
Donations and sponsorships$17,076
Legal, accounting and fees$3,367
Postage and delivery$2,266
Refunds$2,000

Largest payees: Committee for Natalie Toro $51,000 Contributions to other committees · Golf Mill Ford $34,257 Other (as described) · Lee Street Building $28,480 Office, printing and supplies · Katina Weller $22,750 Staff pay · Schaumburg Boomers $13,673 Fundraising and events · Eileen O'Neill Burke for State's Attorney $12,000 Contributions to other committees · Annie Kotowski $11,161 Staff pay · Double Tree Hotel- President Abraham Lincoln Springfield $9,828 Travel and meals

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
Carpentry Advancement PAC
Chicago
Committee$52,500
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Burr Ridge
Committee$40,000
Laura Murphy
State Senator · State of Illinois
Person$15,848.16
IBEW Illinois PAC
Washington
Committee$15,500
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
Springfield
Committee$15,000
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Springfield
Committee$15,000
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Countryside
Committee$14,000
IMHA PAC
Springfield
Committee$14,000
Midwest Gaming & Entertainment LLC
Des Plaines
Business or group$12,500
Rivers Casino
Des Plaines
Business or group$10,000
Realtor PAC
Springfield
Committee$8,500
Neil Bluhm
President · JMB Realty · Chicago
Person$7,500
Bridge & Structural Reinforcing Ironworkers Local 1 IPAL Fund
Forest Park
Committee$7,500
Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois PAC
Jerome
Committee$7,000
Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 7
Chicago
Committee$7,000

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.

Committees

Subcommittees: Firearms (sub-vice-chair) · Government Operations (sub-vice-chair) · Tobacco (sub-chair)

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 2024 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
Carpentry Advancement PAC
Group or PAC · Chicago
$52,50031
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Labor union · Burr Ridge
$40,00071
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Countryside
$17,21697
IBEW Illinois PAC
Labor union · Washington
$15,50066
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
Labor union · Springfield
$15,00071
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Group or PAC · Springfield
$15,00013
IMHA PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$14,00040
Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$12,67555
Midwest Gaming & Entertainment, LLC
Business · Des Plaines
$12,50020
Rivers Casino
Business · Des Plaines
$10,00031
Realtor Political Action Committee
Group or PAC · Springfield
$8,50086
Neil Bluhm
President, JMB Realty · Chicago
$7,5003
Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 7
Labor union · Chicago
$7,00018
Nicor Gas Company
Business · Birmingham
$6,00093
Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC
Business · Bolingbrook
$5,500116