Federal campaign news roundup
Wednesday, Jun 18, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Stay tuned…
* New Raja poll…
In the latest survey of the nominating contest for the Democrats for the U.S. Senate in Illinois among the three leading candidates, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi holds a double-digit lead over his closest opponent. […]
Raja’s lead is not built on a name identification advantage. Among the voters who can identify all three candidates, his lead expands further to a 38 – 23 percent edge over Stratton with 20 percent supporting Kelly.
Raja also leads Stratton among voters who have participated in the last three Democratic primary elections by an even wider 40 – 20 percent (Kelly wins 18 percent of these voters).
The GBAO Strategies poll of 1,200 likely voters contacted via live dialers via telephone and through text-to-web responses between June 5-10, has a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
Lots of undecideds.
* We told you about this yesterday…
Two Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation and a north suburban state senator running for Congress were the first Illinois elected officials to publicly acknowledge being named in notes kept by the 57-year-old alleged shooter charged with assassinating the Democratic leader of the Minnesota House and her husband.
U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with Democratic state Sen. Laura Fine, all issued statements Tuesday acknowledging their names were found among Vance Boelter’s materials that were recovered by law enforcement.
On that topic, Politico had the same quote from Rep. Kelly Cassidy as Isabel had in her subscriber post this morning…
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, an outspoken advocate for abortion rights in Illinois, did not say whether her name appeared in the notes, but offered a statement: “Without speaking specifically to the events of this week, in my experience it is important to maintain confidentiality and follow all guidance from law enforcement to avoid impeding any investigation in a situation like this. Anything else potentially puts people at risk.”
Subscribers know more.
* Here’s a story we totally missed…
The daughter-in-law of a former U.S. congresswoman is running in the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), and she is doing so without the support of her family.
Awisi Bustos, CEO of the Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, is joining the crowded primary contest to replace Durbin, 80, who is not running for a sixth term. […]
But Awisi Bustos’s campaign launch came with blowback from her famous family. Former Rep. Bustos said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that she and her “entire family are not supportive” of Awisi’s campaign.
Why? Probably because Awisi Bustos is in the middle of a divorce case with the former representative’s son, Nick Bustos, per Punchbowl News.
* Not sure I’m buying this…
* Uncommon platform…
* And…
- Dotnonymous x - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:27 pm:
At 83 waiting three weeks may be going out on a rather short limb.
- cal skinner - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:31 pm:
I wonder if Justin Ford will be able to find the western edge of the 9th district, the Algonquin-Grafton Township line in McHenry County.
- Jerry - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:53 pm:
No thanx, Rahm. You’re the problem.
- TNR - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:30 pm:
My sense is Rahm really wants to run for governor and believes he can win. But, it sure doesn’t seem like JB is gonna cooperate and not seek re-election. So, Rahm will go with plan B and run for president — an office he doesn’t really think he can win. But he’ll get plenty of attention, which he loves, and it will cement him as a national media talking head the rest of his life while he collects checks in private equity work.
- Paul Powell - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:33 pm:
You are so right
The Brandon Johnson administration has a much better grasp on how to attract business investment and federal funds to make Chicago and its residents more prosperous
Justin Ford thinks he is running for President of France
20% less work and 0% percent loss in income?
He obviously needs to brush up on Economics
- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:42 pm:
Rahm should definitely run for president. I predict it will be less successful than either of William Daley’s bids for mayor or governor.
- Steve - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:49 pm:
Whether you like Rahm or not, no one can deny his impressive resume. Congress, Chief of Staff, Mayor of Chicago, and ambassador. No one can say he isn’t qualified.
- The Farm Grad - Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:57 pm:
“while he collects checks in private equity work”
Rahm once worked for Wasserella.
If Wasserella had a portfolio company with Chicago’s balance sheet, it would approach the debt holders with the following: We both have a problem. The company can thrive operationally, but not financially, because of the debt. Let’s work together to restructure our obligations. It’s a win/win.
Rahm’s biggest mistake is the path he did not take: Initiate talks with Chicago’s debtholders. Had he done so, Chicago would be thriving today. Prospective companies would not be concerned about establishing roots in Chicago due to impending tax hikes