Illinois primary puts Democratic divides on display up and down the ballot

Virtually all of the different battles simmering inside the Democratic Party this year are on display in Tuesday’s primaries in Illinois, where retirements by key House Democrats and the state’s senior senator opened new theaters for intraparty hostilities

Virtually all of the different battles simmering inside the Democratic Party this year are on display in Tuesday’s primaries in Illinois, where retirements by key House Democrats and the state’s senior senator opened new theaters for intraparty hostilities.

Deep disagreements over issues like immigration and Israel policy, tactical battles over how best to take on the Trump administration, questions about age and whether to empower a new generation of leaders, and the enduring tug of war between progressives and moderates for influence in the party are all at the forefront as Illinois Democrats weigh potential successors for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin and a quartet of Chicago-area House members leaving their districts.

Meanwhile, an onslaught of tens of millions of dollars in outside spending is shaping those contests, too. Groups tied to the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence industries are involved, as are several that have successfully leveraged a gap in campaign finance rules to keep their funders anonymous until after the primary.

Here’s what defined the campaigns and what to watch as the results come in Tuesday night, from the stakes in the Senate race to the personalities down the ballot.

The outcome of the marquee Senate contest won’t just elevate a new Democratic leader in the state. It may also be a measure of Gov. JB Pritzker’s political muscle as he runs for a third term this year — and as he weighs a presidential bid in 2028.