GIVING RAUNER A RUN FOR HIS MONEY

With 8 Dems challenging gov, race could become one of most expensive in U. S. history

With eight Democratic candidates trying to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner, next year’s gubernatorial primary— nine months away— is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in U. S. history.

It’s packed with the most declared candidates and the most money raised of any current gubernatorial primary nationwide, according to Sarah Brune, executive director for the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

The most expensive gubernatorial race in U. S. history was California’s in 2010, when Democrat Jerry Brown defeated Republican Meg Whitman. In all, candidates raised and spent about $ 280 million during the primary and general election.

“We are hurtling down the tracks towards that destination,” Brune said of the Illinois race topping the California record.

Another factor playing into the unprecedented nature of the race is the early endorsement of J. B. Pritzker by the Illinois AFL- CIO and 15 other unions.

“Usually . . . the position of the unions is they would normally let the candidates kind of sort themselves out and make sure there’s some ‘ there, there’ in terms of how well the candidates are at retail politics and how they deal with the news media,” said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Here’s a look at howthe field is shaping up so far. The “available cash” category, compiled by Brune’s organization, is the amount the candidates had in their campaign war chests as of March 31— plus any contributions of $ 1,000 or more since that time. Email: tsfondeles@suntimes.com Twitter: @ TinaSfon