Candidates › State House

Sonya M Harper D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Representative District 6

June 28, 2022 primary: won with 5,055 votes (71.7%) · November 8, 2022 general: won with 16,019 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Representative in 2026 ($44,160 raised), 2024 ($292,473 raised).

Worth a look

Worth a look How the money was spent

$1,300 in rent, mortgage or utility payments to the candidate, family or their home

Campaign money can't pay expenses relating to a personal residence. These payments describe rent, a mortgage or utilities and went to the candidate, a family member, or the candidate's home address on file with the State Board of Elections.

What to check

A campaign office rented at fair market value in a separate property the candidate owns is a different question from their home; the reports don't say which.
Security for the candidate's home is allowed when their public duties make it necessary.

The entries (1)

Name	Purpose (as reported)	Date	Amount
Sonya Harper	Rent Reimbursement	2022-05-12	$1,300

Rule: Rent, mortgage or utilities to the candidate or their home

“For the satisfaction or repayment of any debts or for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal residence.”10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a)(4) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Context How the money was spent

$10,340.25 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 (21)

Name	Kind	Purpose (as reported)	Date	Amount
Capitol One Auto	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2021-08-27	$533
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2021-04-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2021-05-25	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2021-06-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2021-07-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2021-08-24	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2021-09-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2021-10-25	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2021-11-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2021-12-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2022-01-25	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2022-02-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2022-03-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2022-04-25	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2022-05-24	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2022-06-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2022-08-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car payment	2022-09-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2022-10-25	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car Payment	2022-11-23	$490
Ally	a vehicle purchase, lease or payment	Car lease	2022-12-23	$490

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 How the money was spent

$1,300 paid by the campaign to the candidate

Campaign money may go to a candidate or their family only as pay for work actually done; reimbursing campaign costs they paid out of pocket (mileage, travel, supplies) is common and allowed. The purposes the campaign wrote are listed with each payment.

What to check

Whether each payment is a reimbursement for campaign costs, or pay for work done.
Family is matched by last name and the home address on file with the Board; relatives elsewhere aren't found.

The entries (1)

Name	Who	Purpose (as reported)	Date	Amount
Sonya Harper	the candidate	Rent Reimbursement	2022-05-12	$1,300

Rule: Mileage, reimbursements and pay to the candidate

“For payments to a public official or candidate or his or her family member unless for compensation for services actually rendered by that person.”10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a)(11) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Campaign money

$326,240raised, 122 itemized contributions, plus $11,543 in small ones

$0from the candidate (incl. loans)

$161,425spent

$44,592cash on hand on December 31, 2022

Where their money comes from (besides their own)

15%19%19%45%

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

Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $161,425

Other (as described)$77,799

Office, printing and supplies$45,169

Travel and meals$15,656

Donations and sponsorships$7,839

Fundraising and events$5,128

Refunds$3,500

Digital and online$3,195

Consultants and field$2,640

Contributions to other committees$500

Largest payees: Precision 1 on 1 Properties $13,313 Office, printing and supplies · Ally $9,807 Other (as described) · Nelson Wurth Consulting, LLC $6,000 Other (as described) · Amazon $5,690 Office, printing and supplies · United Airlines $4,793 Other (as described) · Mikala Barrett $4,670 Other (as described) · Nick Spinso $4,400 Other (as described) · Uber $4,347 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 contributors	Type	Total
Democrats for the Illinois House Westchester	Business or group	$121,074.65
IPACE Springfield	Committee	$30,000
People for Emmanuel Chris Welch Westchester	Business or group	$23,532.46
Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE Westmont	Committee	$21,500
CTU Local 1 PAC Chicago	Committee	$11,500
SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana PAC Chicago	Committee	$10,750
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Mgmt PAC Countryside	Committee	$6,000
RAI Services Company Winston-Salem	Business or group	$6,000
Comcast Philadelphia	Business or group	$5,000
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association PAC Springfield	Committee	$5,000
Restore Justice Illinois Evanston	Business or group	$5,000
Amazon.com Services, LLC Seattle	Business or group	$4,500
J and J Ventures Gaming LLC Effingham	Business or group	$4,000
Ameren St. Louis	Business or group	$3,000
John Deere PAC Moline	Committee	$3,000

Committee: Friends of Sonya Marie Harper (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, 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 Sonya M Harper 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 2022 state candidates.

Donor	To them	Candidates funded
Democrats for the Illinois House Candidate or officeholder committee · Westchester	$121,075	58
IPACE Group or PAC · Springfield	$30,000	38
People for Emmanuel "Chris" Welch Candidate or officeholder committee · Westchester	$23,532	2
Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE Labor union · Westmont	$21,500	119
CTU Local 1 PAC Labor union · Chicago	$11,500	23
SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana PAC Labor union · Chicago	$10,750	8
RAI Services Company Business · Winston-Salem	$6,000	74
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor Mgmt PAC Labor union · Countryside	$6,000	12
Comcast Business · Philadelphia	$5,000	50
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association PAC Group or PAC · Springfield	$5,000	105
Restore Justice Illinois Business · Evanston	$5,000	4
Amazon.com Services LLC Business · Seattle	$4,500	67
J & J Ventures Gaming LLC Business · Effingham	$4,000	125
Public Sector Solutions LLC Business · Chicago	$3,000	11
Ameren Business · St. Louis	$3,000	38