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Coverage roundup: Rep. Robin Kelly launches US Senate bid

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers were told about Rep. Kelly’s announcement this morning. The Hill

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) announced Tuesday that she’s running for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) seat, becoming the latest prominent Illinois Democrat to make a bid.

“I’m Robin Kelly. You could say I’ve been an underdog my whole life,” the House Democrat said in a video posted on the social platform X launching her Senate bid.

Kelly painted herself as a politician who has consistently defied the odds, including by ousting a 10-year incumbent state House member in 2002 and winning a crowded 2013 Democratic primary for Illinois’s 2nd Congressional District over former Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.), who previously received an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association.

Kelly also used her video to tout her record, particularly her work on a sit-in in Congress over gun control legislation and her efforts toward extending Medicaid for new mothers.

* Rep. Kelly’s launch video


* Tribune

Kelly’s announcement that she is vying for the Senate seat comes two weeks after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton launched her campaign last month with the backing of Pritzker, her two-time running mate.

The race for the party’s nomination to replace Durbin, a Springfield Democrat who was an ally of Kelly’s and announced in April that he would not seek a sixth term, isn’t the first time Kelly has faced off against a candidate backed by the billionaire governor and his political apparatus.

After working with Durbin in 2021 to defeat a Pritzker-backed candidate and become the first woman and first Black official to chair the Democratic Party of Illinois, Kelly dropped her bid to retain the seat a year later when allies of the governor rallied behind his handpicked state party leader, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez of Cicero.

Kelly now enters a race in which her only declared opponent already has the backing of two of the state’s top Democrats: Pritzker and the state’s other senator, Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates. Durbin told reporters last month that he intended to make an endorsement in the race only in “an extreme case.”

* NBC Chicago

Kelly is undeterred by the challenge of going up against the state’s top Democrat.

“I don’t think anyone is shocked the governor endorsed his lieutenant governor. I think that should be expected,” she said. “I’m hoping that people take a look at all of us that are running. I’ve been an effective leader. I’m a fighter. I’ve been standing up to Donald Trump just in these last three months, with my town hall meetings, with my face-to-face or my teletown hall meetings. I mean, the proof is in the pudding of the work I’ve done.”

* Sun-Times

Kelly said she’s spoken to Preckwinkle about her bid, and she will be seeking the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party at the party’s slating in July.

Kelly has focused on health care, immigration and gun control in the House. She’s a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and serves on the Health, Communications and Technology, and Innovation, Data, and Commerce subcommittees. She’s also a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction for the Democratic Caucus. She’s also a co-chair for the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

“Definitely I would take my health care work to the Senate. There’s still too many disparities in health care, and you know, hopefully the Medicaid issue we’re going to solve in a better way. But if that … gets through, that’ll be a problem,” Kelly said. “Diversifying the health care pipeline, clinical trials. Those are things I’ll still be looking at.”

Kelly said she would also push to pass in the Senate the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which seeks to strengthen voting rights protections with federal oversight. The bill has been reintroduced every year since 2013.

Kelly said she works with Durbin often and has “hinted” to him that she would be interested in running for his seat. She said she’ll be seeking his endorsement.

* Politico

Kelly has just over $2 million cash on hand, according to the latest Federal Election Commission reports.

Fundraising will be key in the 2026 Senate race to succeed the retiring Durbin. Stratton has not yet had to report her fundraising numbers but could get a boost from Pritzker, a billionaire who could single-handedly reshape the money race. She currently has about $100,000 in her state campaign account. A PAC started earlier this year to support Stratton has also not revealed its fundraising numbers.

Underwood has about $1.2 million in the bank, and Krishnamoorthi has reported more than $19 million cash on hand.

* More…

    * Roll Call | Rep. Robin Kelly is running for Senate in Illinois: In 2002, Kelly won election to the state House and served two terms before becoming the chief of staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Both she and her boss had a rough year in 2010. Giannoulias lost a U.S. Senate race to Republican Mark S. Kirk, and Kelly lost her bid to replace her former boss.

    * ABC Chicago | Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly running for US Senate: “Well I think the Obama card is always a good one to play in Illinois and she does have a deep relationship with the former president,” ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington said. […] “Well it hasn’t swayed her, she’s got just a million or two in her campaign fund,” Washington said. “It think it’s very far out to just figure out who has the best fundraising ability. Each candidate is going to have their own strengths and weaknesses.”

    * Fox 32 | U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly launches Senate bid to succeed Dick Durbin: Kelly led a House sit-in over gun violence legislation and co-sponsored bills protecting domestic violence survivors. As a state lawmaker, she partnered with then-state Sen. Barack Obama and current Senate President Don Harmon to pass legislation targeting illegal gun sales.

       

24 Comments »
  1. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 11:43 am:

    The Lt. Governor and the Congresswoman are both great candidates.

    I would like to know what the policy differences are between the two of them and I would really like to see a campaign that lets me know what the legislative priorities are of the candidates.


  2. - Excessively Rabid - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 12:44 pm:

    What Candy said, and please don’t make it about who’s more against Trump.


  3. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 12:50 pm:

    ===please don’t make it about===

    I’m betting that polls well in a Democratic primary. And the current incumbent has been criticized for not being oppositional enough.


  4. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 12:51 pm:

    For example: “Every day, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Congressional Republicans are targeting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and passing policies that raise costs for Illinois families, small businesses, and farmers,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “This moment requires proven leaders who have the experience to take on the toughest battles. I’ve never backed down – not from gun lobbyists, not from MAGA extremists, and certainly not from a fight for what’s right.”


  5. - Norseman - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 12:53 pm:

    Congresswoman, you’ve served well, but it’s time for a younger generation to serve in the Senate.


  6. - Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 12:56 pm:

    === but it’s time for a younger generation to serve in the Senate. ===

    Do you have any evidence that she would not be able to perform the job because of her age (70) or that she would not adequately represent the interests of “a younger generation”?


  7. - Steve - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:04 pm:

    The voters of the Democratic party of Illinois will decide is Kelly is the one they want.


  8. - Here here - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:07 pm:

    Excellent launch video with a powerful “why I’m running.”


  9. - the647 - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:08 pm:

    why is politico reporting on how much Stratton has in her state campaign account? she can’t use it for a federal election.


  10. - Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:08 pm:

    Looking forward to a primary election with several good candidates. May the best person win….


  11. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:13 pm:

    ===why is===

    Evergreen question.


  12. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:16 pm:

    Old IL Dude, if you ever make a comment like that again you will be banned for life.


  13. - low level - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:20 pm:

    The race to replace her in the US House will be interesting as well. Lamont Robinson would be an excellent choice. Also he is young so could build up seniority quickly.


  14. - Sue - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:34 pm:

    Once these other candidates all announce- most folks will be asking Julia who- kelly is heads and shoulders more accomplished


  15. - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:43 pm:

    “Once these other candidates all announce- most folks will be asking Julia who- kelly is heads and shoulders more accomplished”

    If we chose our politicians by who is the most accomplished, Pat Quinn and Roland Burris would be running Illinois, and John Kasich would be president. The electorate does not choose based on experience or accomplishment.


  16. - Timmo - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:56 pm:

    Incredible ad. The juxtaposition so far is someone taking on gun crimes vs criminal justice reformer. The latter has become deeply unpopular due to many factors- extreme policies, misinformation. Should be interesting.


  17. - Sue - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 1:56 pm:

    Ducky- many years ago i interacted with then AG Burris- he was singularly the most inept politician I ever had the opportunity of meeting and not very bright - Quinn was a good well meaning person but a lousy politician- Kasich I agree with- As for Stratton- her only strength his JB’s endorsement which he is likely going to regret after he needs to endorse the ultimate primary winner who IMO will not be Stratton


  18. - Peoples Republic of Oak Park - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 2:01 pm:

    This was a good launch. Looking to see what Raja and Lauren do to distinguish themselves from the other candidates. To be honest, I know there will be mudslinging but this group is pretty solid and as a voter am happy with my choices


  19. - Soccermom - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 2:06 pm:

    That was one great ad


  20. - Pundent - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 2:11 pm:

    =ultimate primary winner who IMO will not be Stratton=

    Yes because you’ve firmly established yourself as an expert on what ails the Democratic Party. Maybe someday they’ll heed your advice and win an election or two.


  21. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 2:36 pm:

    I suppose I would like the US Senate Primary to be an election over who is going to lead us — not who is going to follow whatever whimsy becomes popular enough among the voters.

    We are a representative republic for a reason.


  22. - Juice - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 2:37 pm:

    Sue, unless Scott Lee Cohen somehow wins the primary, I assume the governor will not have an issue endorsing and supporting whoever gets the most votes.

    By choosing Stratton to be his running mate, that is an indication that he believes she is most capable of becoming Governor if needed. Now she has decided that she wants to run for a different office, so of course he’s going to be supportive of that.

    But that doesn’t mean that any different person who might get more votes is similarly capable of the job.


  23. - Norseman - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 2:54 pm:

    === evidence that she would not be able to perform the job ===

    If you haven’t been paying attention, the aging leadership of the Dem party has been under fire for not doing the job. With an open seat, you have a choice to do something about it.


  24. - TKMH - Tuesday, May 6, 25 @ 3:13 pm:

    ==Do you have any evidence that she would not be able to perform the job because of her age (70) or that she would not adequately represent the interests of “a younger generation”?==

    We should have a Senate that looks like America. That should not just apply to race or gender, but age as well.


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