When I was a kid, my dad lost his income. Hard work, public housing and food stamps moved us into the middle class. That’s why in congress we built up job training and took down price gougers. But now Trump’s destroying opportunities like my family had. So every time Trump hurts working people, I fight back.
Because I’m an underdog too. I’m Raja Krishnamoorthi. Yes, the just call me Raja guy.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi just announced endorsements from Cook County Democratic Party leaders including Chicago Alds. Pat Dowell (3rd), David Moore (17th) and Chris Taliaferro (29th) and some suburban committeemen, including Frank Avino of Norwood Park and Larry Dominick of Cicero, among others.
Lt. Gov. Stratton, meanwhile, has lined up support from House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and state Reps. Kelly Cassidy and Tracy Katz Muhl — all with seats at the slating table.
And Congresswoman Kelly has staked her claim, announcing support from Chicago Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th), committeemen Bob Rita of Calumet Township and Vernard Alsberry of Bremen Township.
…Adding… Looks like Krishnamoorthi quietly took Dominick’s name out of a Facebook post after including his endorsement…
This might be related to Cicero paying a $675,000 settlement in a sexual harassment case involving Dominick — or Dominick calling for the death penalty. His name also came up during Sen. Emil Jones III’s bribery trial, when Omar Maani testified he paid $23,000 to attorney Michael Del Galdo to show his “appreciation” for the Cicero Town President.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton may have the endorsement of the state’s wealthiest politician, billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker, but she finds herself at the bottom of the major Democratic U.S. Senate contenders when it comes to how much available cash she has to campaign with as the candidates approach nine months before the primary.
Stratton’s two congressional rivals, U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Matteson, benefited from their existing federal campaign accounts and ended June with multimillions of dollars available in their bank accounts, campaign finance reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission showed.
Stratton, Pritzker’s two-time running mate, on April 24 became the first candidate to announce she wanted to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Campaign reports covering the April-through-June second quarter of the year showed Stratton raised nearly $1.1 million, spent $417,286, and began July 1 with $666,416 in cash available. But a closer review of her fundraising shows that about $185,000 of that amount must be used for the Nov. 3 general election and is unavailable for her use in the March 17 primary. […]
Krishnamoorthi began April with nearly $19.5 million in his campaign account and raised more than $3.1 million from April through June. That left him with $21.1 million in cash available at the start of July. About $1.1 million of that total is reserved for general election spending.
[Robin Kelly] says money isn’t going to decide the race.
“They have a lot of money, but you know what, I’m just using every opportunity to tell my story and I don’t feel like I need the most money in the race to win the race because I feel like I have an excellent story to tell,” Kelly said.
Between her two campaign committees for her U.S. House seat and a new committee for her Senate bid, Kelly raised $565,775 from April 1 through June 30 and has $2 million in her campaign accounts.
Her donors include a lengthy list of corporate political action committees, many local officials in her 2nd Congressional District, and some notable names in Illinois government. They include former state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt and Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon. Gordon also contributed to Stratton’s campaign.
[US Rep. Robin Kelly] said most people want a roof over their head, a job, health care, good education for their children.
“And they want to feel safe no matter where you live,” Kelly said. “I think most people want that.”
Kelly said what sets her apart from other announced Democratic candidates for the job is her ability to navigate Congress, where she’s been since 2013.
“So I’m the one that has passed federal legislation to affect urban, suburban and rural areas,” she said.
* Moving on to the 2nd Congressional District. Tribune…
Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. this week filed paperwork to create an exploratory committee for a possible run in the state’s 2nd Congressional District, the seat he held for almost 17 years before resigning amid a corruption probe.
Jackson said in a statement that “it is my intention to secure a place on the ballot” by circulating nominating petitions in the 2nd Congressional District. […]
Leading the way in fundraising so far is state Sen. Robert Peters, a South Side native who’s held a seat previously occupied by Attorney General Kwame Raoul and President Barack Obama since 2019. In the three months ending June 30, Peters raised more than $415,000, and he entered July with nearly $375,000 in his campaign account, Federal Election Commission records show.
The largest contribution to Peters, whose endorsements include U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, is $10,000 from the Progressive Turnout Project, a Chicago-based political action committee. He’s also received several contributions from current and former Illinois Senate colleagues. […]
The quarterly reports for others in the race show Adal Regis, who worked in Kelly’s district office on grants, raised nearly $22,000 and had almost $15,000 on hand as of July 1; while management consultant Eric France raised more than $13,000 and had more than $1,800 on hand. Yumeka Brown, the three-term village clerk of Matteson and a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board, had $500 in the bank at the end of June.
As he campaigns for a seventh term, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park is dramatically outraising and outspending the political neophyte challenging him in the 2026 Democratic primary, new federal records show.
Schneider reported collecting $512,985 in campaign contributions between April 1 and June 30. On the other side of the ledger, his campaign committee spent $301,429 during those three months.
Challenger Morgan Coghill, a business owner from Mundelein, started fundraising in May and reported collecting $10,366 through June — and that figure included $5,600 in loans to the campaign from the candidate. Coghill’s campaign reportedly spent $3,022 during the quarter.
TV advertising has already begun in Illinois’ 2026 Democrat primary for U.S. Senate, and new fundraising numbers released Tuesday show the race is shaping up to be expensive. […]
Six Republicans have filed as candidates with the Federal Elections Commission but did not raise substantial amounts of money. They include Casey Chlebek, a former IT professional who is active in Polish-American civic groups; Douglas Bennett, who ran unsuccessfully in the 10th Congressional District in 2018; Air Force veteran John Goodman; Pamela Denise Long, an occupational therapist and former political commentator for Newsweek; former Illinois International Port District board member Cary Capparelli, and Westchester resident Panagioti Bartzis.
On the Democrat side, four other candidates have filed with the FEC: Kevin Ryan, a Marine veteran and diplomat; Christopher Swann, a program manager for Feeding America; Carmi resident Stan Leavell, and Awisi Bustos, CEO of the Illinois Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs.
Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton, Christopher Swann, Kevin Ryan and Jump Shepherd are on the Cook County Democratic Party’s Friday slating schedule for Durbin’s Senate seat.
* More…
* Evanston Now | Boarini drains, Biss pads mayor race accounts: Biss, who announced in May he’s running for Congress in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, raised over $700,000 in the first months of his campaign to succeed Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, federal records show. But back at home, in the three months since the April 1 municipal election that he won by a 24% margin, Biss raised another $41,376, leaving his campaign account in Evanston stacked with over $178,000 as of June 30.
Yup, Raja endorsed by Larry Dominick, who the taxpayers have paid massive amounts to settle sexual harassment lawsuits against, and who recently openly supported the death penalty. Seems on point. And also interesting that Raja posted that endorsement, only shortly after to pull it down and re-release suburban committeeperson endorsements without his name. What does he have to hide?
When I asked 4 months ago about the wisdom of Pritzker jumping into the senate race pre primary- Everyone here ragged on me- being a billionaire doesn’t automatically endow oneself with political chops- JB’s candidate will come in third
As far as I know, we haven’t seen any of Raja’s spots on the air in northern Illinois. He might have a buy on digital, though, but I don’t know if “statewide” would be correct right now.
A lot of statehouse types whose opinions I really respect are lined up behind Stratton (and that’s how I’d vote if I was voting today), but I just have a gut feeling it’s going to be Raja.
Maybe I am too cynical about politics but the Stratton endorsements by statehouse pols do nothing for me as an undecided Dem primary voter.
Whatever their feelings about the race it’s an easy endorsement to stay in good with JB and it’s not like Robin Kelly or Raja are in position to get back at them if they win the primary despite them backing Stratton.
As for Jesse Jr., I stand by my belief that one nepo baby Congressman from a family at a time is enough.
I’m talking about one I’ve known since high school, one I’ve known for 20 years since before she entered politics, one who worked really closely with me on an autism advocacy issue — statehouse pols I actually personally know and respect. Not the randoms. All three of those people, who come from very different parts of the party and have different interests, etc., have endorsed Stratton, which — not knowing a ton about her — makes me think there must be something really good there.
We’ll see how the primary plays out and what we learn about the candidates in the process, but if I had to vote today, those three endorsements would push me to voting for Stratton.
I just have kind-of a gut feeling she’s not going to go the distance, though. I don’t know, I’m not a very good political prognosticator, candidates often end up surprising me.
The King of House Music - Farley Jackmaster Funk has thrown his support behind Rep. Krishnamoorthi. His pivot from dance music to politics includes helping elect Tiffany Henyard and Brandon Johnson. This may be Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s ace in the hole.
- Steve - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 9:48 am:
From Raja’s ad : “we built up job training and took down price gougers. ”
He didn’t mean college tuition.
- SammyG - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 9:49 am:
Who believes Raja will actually fight Trump after he was on stage with Trump at the Howdy Modi rally?
- eat horseshoes - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 10:05 am:
Isn’t there reports Willie Preston is gonna run for IL-02?
- Chicago Dem - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 10:22 am:
Yup, Raja endorsed by Larry Dominick, who the taxpayers have paid massive amounts to settle sexual harassment lawsuits against, and who recently openly supported the death penalty. Seems on point. And also interesting that Raja posted that endorsement, only shortly after to pull it down and re-release suburban committeeperson endorsements without his name. What does he have to hide?
- Old IL Dude - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 10:58 am:
Methinks Stratton doesn’t realize how unknown the Lt. Gov’s office is to the general public.
- Sue - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 11:25 am:
When I asked 4 months ago about the wisdom of Pritzker jumping into the senate race pre primary- Everyone here ragged on me- being a billionaire doesn’t automatically endow oneself with political chops- JB’s candidate will come in third
- Huh? - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 11:33 am:
“Jesse Jackson Jr. this week filed paperwork…for a possible run in the state’s 2nd Congressional District”
Just what we need, another convicted felon in office. He and tramp will have a lot in common. /s
- Responsa - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 11:43 am:
One week in and I already have Raja fatigue. LOL, more faux underdoggedness.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 11:58 am:
“Everyone here ragged on me”
Man, the persecution complex with you lot never ceases to amuse.
You’re not important enough for people to plot against.
The ad itself was smooth without telling us really anything.
A politician who grew up the hard way? That line starts around the corner.
- Hello Friend - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 12:00 pm:
Hi Isabel/Rich:
As far as I know, we haven’t seen any of Raja’s spots on the air in northern Illinois. He might have a buy on digital, though, but I don’t know if “statewide” would be correct right now.
- Suburban Mom - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 12:01 pm:
A lot of statehouse types whose opinions I really respect are lined up behind Stratton (and that’s how I’d vote if I was voting today), but I just have a gut feeling it’s going to be Raja.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 12:44 pm:
Maybe I am too cynical about politics but the Stratton endorsements by statehouse pols do nothing for me as an undecided Dem primary voter.
Whatever their feelings about the race it’s an easy endorsement to stay in good with JB and it’s not like Robin Kelly or Raja are in position to get back at them if they win the primary despite them backing Stratton.
As for Jesse Jr., I stand by my belief that one nepo baby Congressman from a family at a time is enough.
- Suburban Mom - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 1:31 pm:
===endorsements by statehouse pols ===
I’m talking about one I’ve known since high school, one I’ve known for 20 years since before she entered politics, one who worked really closely with me on an autism advocacy issue — statehouse pols I actually personally know and respect. Not the randoms. All three of those people, who come from very different parts of the party and have different interests, etc., have endorsed Stratton, which — not knowing a ton about her — makes me think there must be something really good there.
We’ll see how the primary plays out and what we learn about the candidates in the process, but if I had to vote today, those three endorsements would push me to voting for Stratton.
I just have kind-of a gut feeling she’s not going to go the distance, though. I don’t know, I’m not a very good political prognosticator, candidates often end up surprising me.
- rey mysteri0 - Thursday, Jul 17, 25 @ 1:53 pm:
The King of House Music - Farley Jackmaster Funk has thrown his support behind Rep. Krishnamoorthi. His pivot from dance music to politics includes helping elect Tiffany Henyard and Brandon Johnson. This may be Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s ace in the hole.