Progress Illinois

According to a statement released today by his campaign, Scott Harper has broken the first-quarter fundraising record for a Democratic candidate in the 13th Congressional District. This is great news for Harper, a political newcomer who has remained largely under-the-radar this election cycle.

Originally from Naperville, Harper decided to challenge Republican incumbent Judy Biggert after attending last year's YearlyKos convention. Since entering the race, he has developed a formidable grassroots organization, (bringing out 120 volunteers to canvass for Bill Foster in the 14th District special election), drummed up support from organized labor groups, and, as we now know, put together an impressive fundraising operation in territory that has been solidly red for decades.

Today, Harper reported raising $134,115 in the first quarter of 2008. "By March 31 of this year," the campaign's press statement said, "Harper had raised $247,410, which is more than any Democratic candidate in this district has ever raised for an entire cycle." The statement continues:

Harper's first quarter total exceeds the combined first quarter totals of the Democratic candidates in the 13th over the last ten years. He is also the first candidate in 16 years to have raised more than 200,000 by the end of March.

The upsurge in donations woud seem to indicate that the tide is changing in the 13th District. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee seems to feel the same way. As we reported yesterday, the DCCC recently added Biggert to its list of "targeted Republicans." And as Jeff Wegerson over at Prairie State Blue notes, it wouldn't be surprising if the DCCC went on to tag Harper as a "Red-to-Blue" candidate at some point in the near future.

But Biggert still poses a major challenge, having raised $685,058 so far this election cycle. Still, the news from the 13th is good for progressives. Harper has put together a formidable operation and will clearly have the funds to give Biggert a run for her money.