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Pro-Stratton PAC launching seven-figure buy
Thursday, Jan 15, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * I’m told that the buy is actually seven figures: “We are still placing buys and this is only picking up station stuff. There will be connected TV and other digital items. Will be a 7 figure buy”…
I was not able to obtain a copy of the ad, which should be available late
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- Retro Jersey - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 9:12 am:
Is Quentin Fulks involved with this PAC?
- Sox Fan - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 9:51 am:
@ retro jersey, i saw someone say he was running the super pac.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 10:00 am:
I think my least favorite trend in this race is squabbling over over very subtle differences in campaign financing instead of having a meaningful conversation about the kinds of policy they’d champion if elected to actually address our problems.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 10:57 am:
@Candy Dogood - the large number of undecided voters seem to be a clear reflection of that. There’s been little to distinguish the candidates other than their funding. And for Stratton she put herself in a bit of a trick bag by calling out Raja knowing that she would need the Governor’s money (and others) at some point to be competitive. For the voters these seem to be very similar, uninspiring, choices. One of them will be the next Senator but none of them seem to stir excitement in voters.
- TNR - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 10:57 am:
@Candy
You’re right about the squabbling on obscure campaign finance rules. But might they be focused on silly things because there are no substantive differences in the positions they’ve taken on the big issue of the day?
- Annon'in - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 11:01 am:
Since we don’t watch much broadcast tv can anyone tell how crowded the airwaves with the various Congressionals & statewides in the preprimary fray. Wondering if they (whoever “they” are) waited too long
- I-55 Fanatic - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 11:08 am:
Sorry Rich, I know I’ve said it a million times, but it’s such a shame to be that we are one of the biggest, bluest states in the country, and we don’t have a progressive candidate in an open primary like this. Where is our Peggy Flanagan? Where is our Graham Platner? I am holding out hope that this ad from Stratton a new message that will assuage this frustration of mine.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 11:28 am:
===But might they be focused on silly things because there are no substantive differences in the positions they’ve taken on the big issue of the day? ===
If I were meaningfully involved in one of these campaigns I think I would be trying to find a popular and meaningful policy difference.
Even if it meant a slight pivot on where that candidate has historically been.
Instead we’re getting this equivalent of political trench warfare where the candidates are just lining up facing each other and talking about how they’re the best fighter and how the sources for their funding support are better than the sources of other funding support.
=== For the voters these seem to be very similar, uninspiring, choices.===
Lets be fair to the candidates, there is a lot of effort going into try to astroturf some inspiration. It is just that those narratives might have been more exciting a decade or two ago and voters are looking for something a little different to be inspired about than a story they’ve already heard that’s been rebranded and packaged slightly differently.
It is a competitive primary. Where’s the competition?
- City Zen - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 11:40 am:
==having a meaningful conversation about the kinds of policy they’d champion if elected==
Stratton’s campaign is now pushing for a $25 federal minimum wage. Not sure where that came from as I don’t recall anyone in the governor’s administration ever advocating for that at the state-level.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 11:45 am:
I think Stratton should lean more heavily into her partnership with the Governor. The Governor is popular within his party and has shown a willingness to take the fight to the President. And let’s face it, that’s what this race is about. Progressive ideas may be a good long term strategy but nothing will get implemented without changing the current environment first. Stratton should embrace the opportunity of partnering with and amplifying Pritzker’s message in Washington for the benefit of all Illinoisans. Protecting our federal funding and our rights. Raja has always been seen as a lone wolf advancing his own interests first. He’s spent a lot of money to overcome that perception and clearly a lot of voters are still not convinced. That’s the distinction to be made. And daylights burning.
- Tom - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 11:51 am:
It is going to have to be at the high end of the seven figures to get her closer to over the top. Raja has the foundation. Stratton has to lay that, then take him out. Going negative in a multiple-field primary can be tricky, as you aren’t necessarily the beneficiary of the attack.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 12:03 pm:
===Stratton’s campaign is now pushing for a $25 federal minimum wage===
A novel approach since I would have been tempted to do something more topical and broadly supported, like universal single payer. It was a sound enough position for 2008 Primary Obama to run on it.
===And let’s face it, that’s what this race is about.===
Does this kind of statement count as an appeal to authority logical fallacy?
Someone will win this primary, but I think it is very bold to dictate what this race is about when such a significant number of voters are scratching their heads about the race.
===He’s spent a lot of money to overcome that perception and clearly a lot of voters are still not convinced.===
I think it is generally better to figure out a way for your candidate to win than to rely on your opponent coming up with a way to lose.
===but it’s such a shame to be that we are one of the biggest, bluest states in the country, and we don’t have a progressive candidate in an open primary like this===
It is important to keep in mind that we have a billionaire at the top of Democratic state party and our billionaire is very comfortable being a billionaire.
Keeps things a little constrained.
- Remember the Alamo II - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
I have met all three candidates and think they are great people. I think we would be served well by any of the three candidates in this race. I think part of the problem is that political campaigns have become so accustomed to demonizing the opposition, that they do not know how to set themselves apart from other candidates that have similar positions on the issues.
Similarly, the electorate has gotten used to having a stark contrast between candidates, usually displayed through negative campaign ads. We really have not seen these types of ads in this race, and I question how much of an impact those ads will have considering who the three candidates are.
What makes this race more difficult for these candidates is that the overall field apparatus of the Democratic Party in Illinois is not as strong as it used to be. In addition, some of the largest Dem organizations, such as the Cook County Democratic party, did not endorse in this race. That means the field operations will be mostly left to the candidates themselves, something they are not likely equipped to handle in a race of this scale.
In this middle week of January, I am not sure that the overall electorate knows these candidates or their policy stances yet. It will take money to get that info out to voters, and that is why Stratton is moving forward with this buy now. Its time to get her name recognition up before people start casting ballots.
- Remember the Alamo II - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 12:08 pm:
*** I need to clarify my point above. I meant to say that the candidates do not know how to set themselves apart from other candidates that have similar positions on the issues without going negative on them.
- TNR - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 12:21 pm:
@Candy, all good points.
I suppose my cynicism is fuel by having three acceptable but underwhelming candidates to choose from — replacement level senators, to use a baseball term. Electorally, we can get away with that in a blue state. But legislatively, I don’t think any of them will force Paul Simon or Everett McKinley Dirksen to slide over in the pantheon of Illinois U.S. senators.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 12:39 pm:
A bunch of Democrat blah candidates running to replace a long term over the hill blah Senator. Illinois deserves better
- Remember the Alamo II - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 2:01 pm:
I am kind of confused about all of the people crying about the quality of the Senate candidates. What itch do you have that these candidates are not scratching? I can’t think of another candidate that would blow me out of the water to the point where I would say “this is the person” over the existing candidates.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 2:27 pm:
- I can’t think of another candidate that would blow me out of the water to the point where I would say “this is the person” over the existing candidates. -
That’s the point. In our deep blue state it’s amazing that none of these candidates is really trying to set themselves apart. They’re for the most part running as go along get along candidates like the Senator they want to replace.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 15, 26 @ 2:43 pm:
=What itch do you have that these candidates are not scratching?=
I don’t think that any of them are unqualified. They each have specific qualifications and appeal. There’s just not much differentiating the three front runners which is why nearly 50% of those polled haven’t picked one.