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Sue Scherer D

Incumbent, Democratic candidate for State Representative District 96

June 28, 2022 primary: won with 5,001 votes (100%) · November 8, 2022 general: won with 17,916 votes (100%)

Also ran for State Representative in 2026 ($166,498 raised), 2024 ($222,011 raised).

Worth a look

Context How the money was spent

$1,360.06 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 (2)
NameWhoPurpose (as reported)DateAmount
Sue Schererthe candidateOffice equipment2022-12-05$720
Sue Schererthe candidateOffice equipment2022-12-05$640
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

Context Late reports

1 large contribution ($2,500) 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: $2,500 from Decatur Building & Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO, received 2021-06-24, reported 2021-07-03: 6 business days, 1 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
Decatur Building & Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO2021-06-242021-07-0365$2,500
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 Late reports

1 quarterly report filed late (up to 1 days)

Quarterly reports are due by the 15th of the month after each quarter. The report for the quarter ending 2021-03-31 was due 2021-04-15 and filed 2021-04-16.

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
2021-03-312021-04-152021-04-161
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

$379,842raised, 125 itemized contributions, plus $3,960 in small ones
$964from the candidate (incl. loans)
$320,492spent
$106,286cash on hand on December 31, 2022; $35,182 in debts
Where their money comes from (besides their own)

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

Plus $964 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $320,492

Other (as described)$72,012
TV and streaming ads$50,461
Contributions to other committees$50,000
Staff pay$34,362
Digital and online$24,378
Consultants and field$20,337
Office, printing and supplies$15,836
Donations and sponsorships$11,063
Print ads and billboards$9,638
Postage and delivery$8,940

Largest payees: Resonance Campaigns, LLC $50,461 TV and streaming ads · Buying Time LLC $50,000 Contributions to other committees · Kathryn Hogan $35,600 Staff pay · Hustle Inc $20,633 Digital and online · Tulchin Research $20,000 Consultants and field · CEFCU $13,848 Legal, accounting and fees · Donna Scherer $12,225 Staff pay · US Post Office $9,106 Postage and delivery

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
Democratic Party of Illinois
Springfield
Party$40,000
Illinois Education Association
Springfield
Business or group$40,000
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Springfield
Business or group$35,000
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
Springfield
Business or group$30,000
Democrats for the Illinois House
Westchester
Business or group$20,000
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Countryside
Business or group$13,000
Democratic Party of Illinois
Springfield
Business or group$12,826.13
Friends of Andy Manar
Decatur
Business or group$10,000
Southern Central Illinois Laborers' Political League
Marion
Business or group$10,000
IBEW Illinois PAC
Washington
Business or group$9,500
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Political Action Committee
Springfield
Business or group$8,000
Downstate Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Springfield
Business or group$7,500
Southern & Central Illinois Laborers' Political League
Marion
Business or group$7,500
Resonance Campaigns, LLC
Washington
Business or group$6,692.36
LiUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Burr Ridge
Business or group$6,000

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

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2022 state candidates.

DonorTo themCandidates fundedBy party
Democratic Party of Illinois
Party or caucus committee · Chicago
$52,82673
Illinois Education Association
Labor union · Springfield
$40,0003
Illinois Political Action Committee for Education
Group or PAC · Springfield
$35,00015
Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee
Labor union · Springfield
$30,00088
Democrats for the Illinois House
Candidate or officeholder committee · Westchester
$20,00058
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Countryside
$13,000126
Southern Central IL Laborers' Political League
Labor union · Marion
$10,0009
Friends of Andy Manar
Candidate or officeholder committee · Springfield
$10,0002
IBEW Illinois PAC
Labor union · Washington
$9,50063
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association PAC
Group or PAC · Springfield
$8,000105
Downstate Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC
Labor union · Springfield
$7,50020
LIUNA Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC
Labor union · Burr Ridge
$6,00091
Cari Sacks
Not Employed, Not Employed · Chicago
$6,00029
Michael Sacks
CEO, GCM Grosvenor · Chicago
$6,00030
AFSCME
Labor union · Washington
$5,00074