* Illinois Future PAC….
Illinois Future, a new political action committee, announced its formation to support Juliana Stratton in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Illinois Future will work to ensure voters have the opportunity to learn about Juliana Stratton’s record of delivering results for Illinois families and aim to boost turnout in key communities across the state. As Donald Trump terrorizes communities and raises the cost of living, Juliana Stratton is the best candidate in the race to stand up to Trump and protect working families in the U.S. Senate
The group aims to show how Juliana Stratton’s record of effective, values-driven leadership has and will continue to deliver for Illinoisans. For too long, politicians in Washington have been all talk and no action. Illinois Future will work tirelessly to send Juliana Stratton—a proven fighter—to the U.S. Senate to deliver for Illinois communities. This independent effort will meet voters where they are to share the facts and build a coalition to win. The group will be led by Quentin Fulks.
The PAC has already raised seven figures and will continue to fundraise for its independent efforts.
* US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi adds $3 million “and counting” to his Senate war chest. Press release…
Today, the Raja for Illinois campaign announced that it has raised $3 million and counting in the third quarter of 2025, marking a third consecutive quarter of raising more than $3 million. The campaign will end the quarter with over $17.5 million cash on hand.
News of another successful quarter comes as Raja leads by double digits in every single poll of the primary – including those commissioned by outside PACs supporting his opponent. Raja has communicated on televisions across Illinois since July, blanketing airwaves with “Bullies,” “Underdog,” and “29.” Throughout the summer, Raja crisscrossed Illinois on his listening tour, making stops in Moline, Petersburg, Bloomington, East Alton, Mount Vernon, Carbondale, Springfield, Rockford, and more. Last month, Raja released his Trump Accountability Plan, blanketing local news with his plan to rein in Donald Trump’s abuses of power.
Click here for a little more on that poll.
* Playbook…
Congresswoman Robin Kelly is staking out progressive territory with a new slate of policy proposals aimed at affordability — and at highlighting the ideological distance between herself and the rest of the field, according to her campaign. “I’ve been going around the state, hearing what people are dealing with and how much things cost,” she told your Playbook host. Her “People Over Profits” plan includes taxing billionaires, raising worker wages, capping child-care costs, expanding Medicare to all, and strengthening Social Security.
Thoughts?
* More…
* WTVO | Don Tracy aims for balance in Illinois politics with open Senate seat run: Tracy, who served as the chair of the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024, held a campaign event at Lino’s Riverside alongside State Senator Dave Syverson. He emphasized his commitment to defending the American dream and bringing Midwestern values to Washington, D.C. Tracy is competing against State Representative John Goodman for the Republican nomination, with the primary election scheduled for March 17th.
* Edwardsville Intelligencer | The Intelligencer interviews Senate candidate Don Tracy: U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy visited The Edwardsville Intelligencer on Sept. 26 to talk about his campaign and how he will represent the state should he win election in November 2026. Tracy is the seventh candidate and second Republican to participate in the Intelligencer’s Senate interviews.
- Steve - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:00 am:
- As Donald Trump terrorizes communities and raises the cost of living-
Juliana Stratton could get behind lowering the state income tax, the state sales tax, the state gas tax, and lower tolls but she doesn’t want to.
- Sue - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:09 am:
Julia Who?- if JB is going to float Stratton’s campaign he should at least man up and be public about it
- Frida's Boss - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:14 am:
How is this Super PAC funded? Didn’t she complain that Robin and Raja were taking PAC money? Wanted them to sign a pledge not to do it right?
$17 million on hand? He can be on airwaves all the way through Election Day, especially if he’s going to continue to raise $3 million/quarter. It won’t be long before other Congressional candidates who have primaries ask to attach their name and brand to that wagon.
- Frida's Boss - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:14 am:
How is this Super PAC funded? Didn’t she complain that Robin and Raja were taking PAC money? Wanted them to sign a pledge not to do it right?
$17 million on hand? He can be on airwaves all the way through Election Day, especially if he’s going to continue to raise $3 million/quarter. It won’t be long before other Congressional candidates who have primaries ask to attach their name and brand to that wagon.
- Annon'in - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:14 am:
OK folks waited til Oct 1 ish to unveil the PAC all knew was coming. Too soon? Too late? Is a signal of concern for JB? Those all seem like fun questions to kick around.
Speakin’ of Tracy… did anyone ask him what he thought of the guys in the early Halloween getups paradin’ around CHI on Sunday?
- City Zen - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:19 am:
Julia now has a super PAC, hybrid PAC, and her own campaign fund. How fun.
==The group will be led by Quentin Fulks==
Architect of the Fair Tax failure. Sure, why not.
- Frank of Forest Park - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:28 am:
Fulks also a big shooter in the disastrous campaign of Kamala Harris. How does he keep getting jobs?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:32 am:
It seems like Raja is winning now because he was first on TV. I do not know if Stanton and Kelly can make up ground. The candidates seems so much alike that Raja might just win because he got on TV first.
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:43 am:
“The candidates seems so much alike”
Like a tuna sandwich at Subway: Bland.
- Steve - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:53 am:
-It seems like Raja is winning now because he was first on TV-
Could be. But, also it could be Raja is proving so far to be a really good candidate at raising money and getting a message out there that he wants.
- H-W - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 10:58 am:
@ Steve
=== lowering the state income tax, the state sales tax, the state gas tax, and lower tolls ===
Oh Steve, yours is such a simple world. Let’s say for the moment you are in charge. What would you do to provide infrastructure for the state in the absence of taxes and tolls? Would you privatize road and railways and municipal airports and locks and dams? Would you eliminate all tax incentives in the private sector at the same time you privatize all services currently provided by the state? What would your Illinois look like?
Serious question, Steve.
- H-W - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:00 am:
Oops. I am off topic. Sorry folks.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:00 am:
Raja ain’t afraid to buy some T.V. time, I’ll give him that.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:01 am:
“if JB is going to float Stratton’s campaign he should at least man up and be public about it”
Something tells me the last thing you’ve had in your life is a man.
- Steve - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:05 am:
-Oh Steve, yours is such a simple world-
The states surrounding Illinois have roads, public schools, and parks. Who said absence ? I was in Wisconsin yesterday: I noticed gas prices were much lower then northern Illinois.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:10 am:
“I was in Wisconsin yesterday: I noticed gas prices were much lower then northern Illinois.”
Gas prices are lower in Cape Girardeau than southern Illinois. Then again, their welcome and educational centers in their state parks are closed a quarter of the year.
It’s all in what you want to have, or not.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:16 am:
“I was in Wisconsin yesterday: I noticed gas prices were much lower then northern Illinois.”
And you think that’s because the left wing meanies in Illinois are taxing the gas stations? LOL.
- K3 - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:17 am:
The closer Raja gets to 50, the harder it will be to catch him. I’m not sure what Juliana is waiting for, I expected JB’s people to push her more.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:24 am:
===I expected JB’s people to push her more. ===
What’s that old saying about never assume?
- Benniefly2 - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:27 am:
Krishnamoorthi is on the air all over the place but he definitely isn’t saying anything concrete in the slightest. The seems to match the ‘any way the wind blows’ approach he was taking during the brief period where I was one of his constituents. All these years in and I still have no idea what that guy wants to accomplish as a politician other than to be a congressman or senator.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:32 am:
Why is JB pushing so hard on Strattons candidacy7
I just don’t get it.
IMO, Raja is the one to beat.
- Steve - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:40 am:
-It’s all in what you want to have, or not.-
Microsoft sure like southern Wisconsin. Go figure.
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2025/09/30/caledonia-panel-oks-microsoft-rezoning.html
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:41 am:
It is nice to see that Jordan is still getting her name out there in political communications.
===The group will be led by Quentin Fulks===
I have to admit that the extent to which the Pritzker team is loyal is admirable, but we’re getting to the point where that loyalty to campaign staff becomes the character flaw that sets off a tragedy.
There are other folks that the Governor should be considering to run a Presidential campaign. The talent pool is deeper than they’re acting like it is.
===The PAC has already raised seven figures and will continue to fundraise for its independent efforts. ===
Voters really don’t do nuance. Juliana has come out hard against some PACs but apparently can be expected to welcome spending from other PACs?
Are PACs a problem or what? Are only corporate PACs bad and PACs created by millionaires and billionaires are good?
Is the premise that it is better for a billionaire to own you than a corporation?
This move creates the impression that Raja is capable of standing on his own.
- Chicago Blue - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:50 am:
I don’t know, maybe it’s easier for Wisconsin to pay for all those things because they have a progressive income tax?
3.5% on the first $14,320 of taxable income.
4.4% on income from $14,320 to $28,640.
5.3% on income from $28,640 to $315,310.
7.65% on income over $315,310
- Tom - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 11:53 am:
It’s odd to release a poll that shows you down 15 points. I don’t get that. And to reverse those numbers and have her up by 30 at the final push is so unrealistic. My educated guess is that they didn’t ask many negative questions about their own candidate, which simulates nothing but hope. JB has shown he doesn’t throw unlimited resources at losers. Expecting her to go negative fairly quickly to try to move this thing within striking distance. If she can’t, money will dry up, including these super PACs. Raja has a great team around him. They will fire back at her. He’s no sitting duck.
- LOL - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 12:24 pm:
==The group will be led by Quentin Fulks==
==Architect of the Fair Tax failure. Sure, why not.==
He’s also the reason Raphael Warnock is in the Senate, which was one of the most competitive races in the country. You don’t have a career in politics without some losses, come on.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 12:37 pm:
“Microsoft sure like southern Wisconsin. Go figure.”
…and Liberty Steel apparently thinks Illinois is pretty.
As long as we’re batting the random ball back and forth.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 12:47 pm:
- He’s also the reason Raphael Warnock is in the Senate -
Give me a break. It took $175 million to barely beat an extremely flawed candidate who didn’t even live in the state.
But at least we get to see all of QR’s Rolexes on social media.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 12:48 pm:
*QF’s Rolexes
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 12:49 pm:
People should know by now that her name is Juliana, not Julia. Have some respect.