Hastert leads fundraising in GOP 14th District primary

Ethan Hastert, the son of the former Republican House speaker, appears to be leading the GOP primary field in early fundraising in his bid to ultimately take on U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Geneva in the general election.

Hastert’s campaign says he raised more than $225,000 over the summer while rival state Sen. Randy Hultgren of Winfield Township says he has taken in about $75,000.

Hultgren says his lagging is largely due to his late entrance in the race, having announced just a few days before the Sept. 30 end of the summer reporting period for federal campaign finance records. Hastert has been floating his name since the spring.

“We are going to be able to get our message out there,” Hultgren said Wednesday.

Hastert, an Elburn attorney and former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, is portraying his fundraising as a sign of support in the 14th District, which stretches from Aurora and Elgin to near the Mississippi River.

“Ethan’s campaign continues to grow stronger by the day and our fundraising numbers for this quarter certainly reflect that fact,” said James Pearson, the candidate’s finance co-chair.

Hastert’s father, Dennis, held the seat for more than 20 years and was the longest serving GOP speaker before stepping down in 2007.

Foster, a Batavia Democrat and scientist, won the seat in the following special election.

Official campaign finance records for the summer quarter are due in today by midnight, but often times candidates will make the figures public in advance.

Other candidates hoping to be on the February GOP primary ballot include Mark Vargas of Elgin, who said Wednesday he only started raising money this month and will not report any cash in the bank today. Jeff Danlefsen of Geneva couldn’t be reached for comment.
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