Intense Illinois Senate primary set to take shape as Rep. Krishnamoorthi announces bid
CNN
The battle to replace Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin in Illinois is intensifying with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on Wednesday jumping into a crowded primary that has divided key Democratic factions in the blue state.
The battle to replace Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin in Illinois is intensifying with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on Wednesday jumping into a crowded primary that has divided key Democratic factions in the blue state. Krishnamoorthi, who has represented a swath of the northwest Chicago suburbs since 2017, told CNN in an interview that he is the one who is “standing up to Donald Trump and standing up to bullies.” It will be the first competitive Democratic Senate primary in Illinois since Tammy Duckworth was elected in 2016, defeating her primary opponents by double digits. But this one could grow more contentious, and it’s unclear who may ultimately emerge as the Democratic candidate for the general election. Krishnamoorthi joins a growing field of primary candidates, which already includes his House colleague Rep. Robin Kelly and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a close ally of the governor. Rep. Lauren Underwood, who flipped a competitive seat in 2018, is also weighing a bid. The race to become the Democratic nominee is likely to be one of the most expensive primaries in the country in the upcoming midterms. It comes as Democrats struggle to find a message to coalesce around as they try to regain power in Congress in 2026. And while Democrats are heavily favored to keep the seat, the outcome of the primary could give an indication of the direction that Democratic voters want their party to follow. “We have work to do, and we have to work on it right now,” Krishnamoorthi said when asked if he thinks his party has made a strong economic case to voters in the past.
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