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Michael J Zalewski D

Democratic candidate for State Representative District 21

June 28, 2022 primary: lost with 3,838 votes (47.7%)

🔓 Contribution limits are off in their race (board determination).

Worth a look

Context How the money was spent

$21,364.90 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
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar Payment2022-07-01$988
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2022-08-01$988
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2022-04-25$973
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2022-05-26$963
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2022-08-31$963
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2021-01-04$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2021-02-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2021-03-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-04-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-05-03$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-06-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-07-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-08-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-09-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-10-04$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-11-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2021-12-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2022-01-03$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2022-02-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2022-03-02$916
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2022-08-22$898
General Motorsa vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar payment2022-09-30$464
Old National Banka vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar Payment2022-11-01$464
Old National Banka vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar Payment2022-12-01$464
Old National Banka vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar Payment2022-12-30$464
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 All In With Lili on 2022-07-19.

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
All In With LiliQuarterly2022-07-19$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

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

$1,201,251raised, 464 itemized contributions, plus $10,504 in small ones
$1,406from the candidate (incl. loans)
$1,151,534spent
$54,940cash on hand on December 31, 2022; $184 in debts
Where their money comes from (besides their own)

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

Plus $1,906 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $1,151,534

Other (as described)$795,670
Contributions to other committees$88,250
Polling$73,045
Office, printing and supplies$60,339
Consultants and field$59,157
Fundraising and events$42,910
Legal, accounting and fees$14,027
Travel and meals$8,566
Donations and sponsorships$6,898
Digital and online$1,628

Largest payees: Morgan Stanley $466,700 Other (as described) · Dover Strategy Group $132,650 Other (as described) · Winning Connection $82,167 Consultants and field · Tulchin Research $73,045 Polling · Lost Dunes Golf Club $40,247 Fundraising and events · Devine Mulvey Inc. $32,855 Other (as described) · Democrats for the Illinois House $30,000 Contributions to other committees · The Dover Group $28,564 Other (as described)

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
Democrats for the Illinois House
Westchester
Business or group$85,283.28
Mod Caucus Pac
Chicago
Committee$59,900
JB for Governor
Chicago
Committee$55,000
Stand for Children Illinois Pac
Chicago
Committee$50,000
Realtor Political Action Committee
Springfield
Committee$46,000
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Countryside
Committee$37,000
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Springfield
Committee$35,000
Liuna Chicago Laborers' Distr. Co. PAC
Burr Ridge
Committee$35,000
Laborers' Political League Education Fund
Washington
Committee$30,000
IBEW Illinois PAC
Washington
Committee$22,500
SEIU HealthCare IL IN PAC
Chicago
Committee$20,500
Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE
Westmont
Committee$20,000
SEIU IL Council Pac Fund
Chicago
Committee$19,500
Friends of Theresa Mah
Chicago
Committee$15,500
CME Group, Inc. PAC
Chicago
Committee$15,000

Committee: Zalewski for State Representative (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

$87,176spent supporting them
$0spent opposing them
SpenderAmount
Illinois REALTORS Fund
primary · 2022-06-06 – 2022-06-20
for$63,533
Stand for Children IL IEC
primary · 2022-06-13
for$23,644

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

Their home

$1.0M – $1.3Mestimated market value, 2026 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 Michael J Zalewski 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.

Companies on the state register

Corporations and LLCs the Secretary of State lists Michael J Zalewski as an officer, manager or member of.

CompanyTheir roleStatusGave to the campaign
ZETA STRATEGIES LLC
LLC, since 2021 · file 10356806
manager, registered agentGood standing · last annual report 2026—

From the Secretary of State's business records of October 13, 2026, matched by name and ZIP code against the address the State Board of Elections has for the candidate (or by name when the company itself gave to their campaign). Someone listed only at another address isn't found; search the Secretary of State's business entity search by file number for the full record.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2022 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
Democrats for the Illinois House
Candidate or officeholder committee · Westchester
$85,28358
Mod Caucus Pac
Group or PAC · Chicago
$59,9002
JB for Governor
Candidate or officeholder committee · Chicago
$55,00018
Stand for Children Illinois PAC
Group or PAC · Chicago
$50,00035
Realtor Political Action Committee
Group or PAC · Springfield
$46,000134
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Countryside
$37,000126
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Group or PAC · Springfield
$35,00015
Laborers' Political League Education Fund
Labor union · Washington
$30,00013
IBEW Illinois PAC
Labor union · Washington
$22,50063
SEIU Healthcare IL IN PAC
Labor union · Chicago
$20,50087
Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE
Labor union · Westmont
$20,000119
SEIU Illinois Council PAC Fund
Labor union · Chicago
$19,50029
Gun Violence Prevention PAC
Group or PAC · Arlington Heights
$17,80326
Friends of Theresa Mah
Candidate or officeholder committee · Chicago
$15,50014
CME Group, Inc. PAC
Group or PAC · Chicago
$15,00012