Illinois Senate Race: Kelly, Krishnamoorthi, and Stratton Compete for Durbin’s Seat

Illinois is poised for a competitive Democratic primary to fill the Senate seat vacated by Dick Durbin, who announced he would not seek re-election. The race has narrowed to three frontrunners: U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. The outcome of the primary will likely determine the overall winner in the deeply blue state.

The Candidates

Robin Kelly, representing Illinois’s 2nd congressional district, is emphasizing a message of avoiding distractions and focusing on the needs of struggling communities. Her recent television ad, titled “Distraction,” features clips of her opponents in attack ads, with Kelly declaring her disapproval.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, representing Illinois’s 8th congressional district, led in polls conducted in January, averaging 31.5% support according to WGN and Victory Research [1].

Juliana Stratton, the current Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, has distinguished herself by being the only candidate to commit to abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency [1]. She averaged about 15.5% support in the January polls [1].

Super PAC Involvement and Funding

The race has attracted significant financial support from Super Political Action Committees (PACs). The Impact Fund, a political arm of Indian American Impact, is spending $1 million on the race, allocating $500,000 to support Kelly, $250,000 to support Krishnamoorthi, and $250,000 for anti-Stratton ads [2]. Since August, The Impact Fund has received nearly $1 million in donations, with a significant portion from donors who have also contributed to Krishnamoorthi’s campaign [2].

Progressive Values Illinois is spending $303,000 on mailers to boost Kelly and oppose Stratton. Protect Progress, affiliated with the pro-crypto Fairshake group, is contributing $90,000 to support Kelly [2].

Key Policy Differences

While all three candidates support raising the federal minimum wage to $17 by 2030, Stratton has proposed a statewide minimum wage of $25 per hour [1]. The candidates differ on immigration enforcement, with Stratton advocating for abolishing ICE, while Krishnamoorthi and Kelly support reforming the agency [1].

Recent Debate

The three candidates participated in a debate on Monday night, where they addressed key issues facing Illinois voters [3]. The debate highlighted the divisions within the Democratic party as they vie for the open Senate seat [4].