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Robert "Bob" Rita D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Representative District 28

June 28, 2022 primary: won with 8,015 votes (100%) · November 8, 2022 general: won with 22,195 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Representative in 2026 ($875,487 raised), 2024 ($1.3M raised).

Worth a look

Worth a look Contribution limits

1 source gave more than the contribution limit ($4,000 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: Andrew Bluhm gave $10,000 in the primary cycle, against a limit of $6,000 for an individual.

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
Andrew Bluhman individualprimary2$10,000$6,000$4,000
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

1 large contribution ($6,000) 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: $6,000 from Bernadette Pappas, received 2021-11-08, reported 2022-01-15: 45 business days, 40 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 (1)
NameDateA-1 filedBusiness daysAllowedAmount
Bernadette Pappas2021-11-082022-01-15455$6,000
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

$5,120.76 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 (8)
NameKindPurpose (as reported)DateAmount
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2022-10-31$1,500
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2022-12-21$750
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2021-09-24$480
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2021-11-28$480
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2022-05-29$480
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2021-02-02$477
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2021-05-09$477
GM Financial Leasinga vehicle purchase, lease or paymentCar lease payment2022-03-27$477
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

Campaign money

$832,181raised, 476 itemized contributions, plus $6,577 in small ones
$0from the candidate (incl. loans)
$534,672spent
$343,060cash 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

Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $534,672

Contributions to other committees$217,500
Other (as described)$83,714
Office, printing and supplies$65,954
Legal, accounting and fees$58,516
Mail and literature$29,762
Fundraising and events$26,257
Polling$16,225
Donations and sponsorships$8,750
Print ads and billboards$6,624
Travel and meals$6,593

Largest payees: Calumet Township Regular Democrats $175,000 Contributions to other committees · Saul, Ewing, Arnstein & Lehr $50,617 Legal, accounting and fees · The Public Response Group $27,892 Mail and literature · Silvestri Printing $17,551 Office, printing and supplies · Margin of Era Research, LLC $14,450 Polling · 13001 S. Western, LLC $12,000 Office, printing and supplies · Palos Country Club $10,946 Staff pay · Chris Mallios $10,800 Office, printing and supplies

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
ABDI-PAC
Springfield
Business or group$39,060
Realtor PAC
Springfield
Committee$34,000
IBEW Illinois PAC
Washington
Committee$28,000
IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund
Washington
Committee$21,000
Rivers Casino
DesPlaines
Business or group$20,000
Andrew Bluhm
Investor · Delaware Street Capital · Chicago
Person$15,000
Comcast Financial Agency Corporation
Philadelphia
Business or group$12,000
Lakewest, Inc.
Chicago
Business or group$12,000
Linder Plaza LTD
Orland Park
Business or group$12,000
PGPRE LLC
Tinley Park
Business or group$12,000
Whatever It Takes, LLC
Oak Lawn
Business or group$12,000
Bernadette Pappas
Retired · Retired · Orland Park
Person$11,000
Lucy's Place LLC
Effingham
Business or group$10,560.13
Gold Rush Amusements, Inc.
Hoffman Estates
Business or group$10,500
Neil Bluhm
President · JMB Realty · Chicago
Person$10,000

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

Companies on the state register

Corporations and LLCs the Secretary of State lists Robert "Bob" Rita as an officer, manager or member of.

CompanyTheir roleStatusGave to the campaign
JNB GROUP LLC
LLC, since 2012 · file 04079914
managerGood standing · last annual report 2026—
WILLOWDAM LLC
LLC, since 2017 · file 06553605
managerInvoluntarily dissolved · last annual report 2022—

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
ABDI-PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$39,06021
Realtor Political Action Committee
Group or PAC · Springfield
$34,000134
IBEW Illinois PAC
Labor union · Washington
$28,00063
IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund
Labor union · Washington
$21,00044
Rivers Casino
Business · Des Plaines
$20,00041
Andrew Bluhm
Investor, Delaware Street Capital · Chicago
$15,0003
Comcast Financial Agency Corporation
Business · Philadelphia
$12,00063
Lucy's Place LLC
Business · Effingham
$10,5605
Gold Rush Amusements Inc
Business · Hoffman Estates
$10,5006
J & J Ventures, Inc.
Business · Effingham
$10,00012
Neil Bluhm
President, JMB Realty · Chicago
$10,0003
Greg Carlin
CEO, Rush Street Gaming · Chicago
$10,0004
J & J Ventures Gaming LLC
Business · Effingham
$10,000125
Fair Share Gaming LLC
Group or PAC · Tinley Park
$9,37423
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$8,500105