In the 2026 Illinois 8th District primary, 13 outside groups spent $7.5M: $6.6M supporting Melissa Bean (D), $57,400 opposing Melissa Bean, $109K supporting Junaid Ahmed (D) and $664K opposing Junaid Ahmed.
outside money
- supporting Melissa Bean (D)
- $6.6M
- opposing Melissa Bean (D)
- $57,400
- supporting Junaid Ahmed (D)
- $109K
- opposing Junaid Ahmed (D)
- $664K
Outside money supporting and opposing each candidate
Both sides on one scaleMelissa Bean Democrat
$57,400$6.6M$6.6M supporting Melissa Bean · $57,400 opposing Melissa Bean
Junaid Ahmed Democrat
$664K$109K$109K supporting Junaid Ahmed · $664K opposing Junaid Ahmed
Dan Tully Democrat
$96,360$96,360 supporting Dan Tully
This seat, every election
Illinois 8th District
$7.5M
outside money in the 2026 cycle
- Illinois 8th District primary 2026$7.5Moutside money
- election not determined$3,750
The candidates
What each candidate’s own campaign raised, beside what outside groups spent supporting and opposing them.
Melissa Bean
Democrat
the party’s nominee
- Own campaign raised
- $2.1M
- Outside money supporting
- $6.6M
- Outside money opposing
- $57,400
Jennifer Davis
Republican
the party’s nominee
Junaid Ahmed
Democrat
- Own campaign raised
- $1.7M
- Outside money supporting
- $109K
- Outside money opposing
- $664K
Dan Tully
Democrat
- Outside money supporting
- $96,360
- Campaign money to 30 Jun 2026
Week by week
Outside money each week, supporting and opposing the candidates, all candidates combined.
Week of 16 Mar 2026
Supporting $1,047
The groups on each side
The biggest outside groups in this race, by what they spent supporting or opposing each candidate.
Spent supporting a candidate
- Elect Chicago Womensupporting Melissa Bean$4.0M
- Think Bigsupporting Melissa Bean$1.1M
- New Democrat Majoritysupporting Melissa Bean$935K
- Protect Progresssupporting Melissa Bean$557K
- Servant-Leader Fundsupporting Dan Tully$96,360
- Justice Democrats PACsupporting Junaid Ahmed$56,750
- Congressional Progressive Caucus PACsupporting Junaid Ahmed$25,000
- Medicare for Allsupporting Junaid Ahmed$25,000
Spent opposing a candidate
- Chicago Progressive Partnershipopposing Junaid Ahmed$664K
- Justice Democrats PACopposing Melissa Bean$56,750
- Progressive Change Campaign Committeeopposing Melissa Bean$650
Who’s connected to whom
The groups that spent supporting or opposing the candidates.
- Elect Chicago Women spent supporting Melissa Bean · $4.0M
- Think Big spent supporting Melissa Bean · $1.1M
- New Democrat Majority spent supporting Melissa Bean · $935K
- Chicago Progressive Partnership spent opposing Junaid Ahmed · $664K
- Protect Progress spent supporting Melissa Bean · $557K
- Servant-Leader Fund spent supporting Dan Tully · $96,360
- Justice Democrats PAC spent supporting Junaid Ahmed · $56,750
- Justice Democrats PAC spent opposing Melissa Bean · $56,750
- Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC spent supporting Junaid Ahmed · $25,000
- Forward Movement Foundation gave to Elect Chicago Women · $601K
- Belz Enterprises gave to Elect Chicago Women · $200K
- Opportunity Forward Alliance (DC) gave to New Democrat Majority · $3.4M
- Effective Governing Coalition gave to New Democrat Majority · $2.3M
- Pioneer Partners gave to Chicago Progressive Partnership · $72,500
- Fairshake gave to Protect Progress · $33.0M
- Ripple Labs gave to Protect Progress · $250K
- Institute for Middle East Understanding (imeu) Policy… gave to Justice Democrats PAC · $885K
- Organize for Justice (PA) gave to Justice Democrats PAC · $66,000
- Article One Action Fund (DC) gave to Servant-Leader Fund · $250K
Group
- Elect Chicago Women spent $4.0M supporting Melissa Bean$4.0M
- Forward Movement Foundation gave $601K to Elect Chicago Women$601K
- Belz Enterprises gave $200K to Elect Chicago Women$200K
Go deeper
The paperwork behind this race, all of it. Free with an email sign-in.
The paperwork