As candidates take the stage this week for two U.S. Senate debates, Illinois Future PAC will launch a new targeted digital ad designed specifically for debate night — reaching voters where the debate is happening and when it matters most.
The spot, titled “Debate Hall,” will run the night of the debates using precision digital tactics. With highly targeted YouTube and programmatic advertising, the ad turns the debate into a surround-sound moment for viewers on their phones and devices.
The ad highlights Juliana’s commitment to standing up to Donald Trump and ICE to defend our communities. As ICE terrorizes cities across the nation, Juliana has made it clear that she will abolish ICE, marking a clear contrast in the race.
Using advanced targeting tools, the campaign will geo-fence the debate venue itself, serving the ad to devices inside the debate hall before, during, and after the event. The buy will also extend around the venue, reaching nearby attendees, political insiders, and highly engaged voters in the immediate area.
The approach reflects a modern, efficient use of digital media, concentrating resources on a high-value audience. By aligning message, moment, and medium, the campaign is maximizing impact while signaling a sophisticated understanding of how voters consume political content today.
The “Debate Hall” ad will begin running the evening of each debate and continue through the surrounding hours.
The Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ and University of Chicago will quiz the top Democratic candidates vying for retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat Monday evening in a debate co-hosted by UChicago’s Institute of Politics and International House.
It marks the first live-broadcast showdown of the front-running contenders in the marquee race of the state’s March 17 primary election: U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois; U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois; and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
The debate will be moderated by Sun-Times national political reporter Tina Sfondeles and Jennifer Steinhauer, senior director of the Institute of Politics, and hosted by WBEZ’s “In the Loop” host Sasha-Ann Simons.
The on-campus debate airs live from 6-7 p.m. on WBEZ 91.5 FM, with YouTube livestreams from the Sun-Times and the Institute of Politics, in addition to the radio station.
Heading Into the First ILSEN Debate, Raja Krishnamoorthi Has Momentum At His Back
50 days from Election Day, Raja holds a massive lead and an unmatched coalition of support
SCHAUMBURG, IL — As Illinois voters tune in for the first U.S. Senate primary debate tonight, Raja Krishnamoorthi enters the stage as the dominant frontrunner with the momentum, coalition, and resources to win in just fifty days.
Between his “commanding lead” in the polls, “broad coalition of supporters,” unmatched operation, and statewide recognition as the candidate fighting to lower costs for working families, Raja’s month of momentum will continue to propel him to success tonight.
…Adding… From the Stratton Campaign…
Tonight, ahead of the first live debate in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ United States Senate seat, Juliana for Illinois is making sure voters see what Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi stands for and who is funding his campaign.
A mobile billboard outside the debate venue will carry the following message:
Allison Janowski, campaign spokesperson:
“While Congressman Krishnamoorthi talks about standing up to Trump and holding ICE accountable, his record says the opposite. The contrast is crystal clear: Juliana is fighting for Illinoisans, Raja is fighting for his MAGA donors and special interests. Our campaign is making sure voters know what the Congressman really stands for – both on and off the debate stage.”
It’s fine if it’s a set up piece. Is Raja being set up because he hasn’t taken strong enough stances on the issue? I assume so but haven’t hear that directly.
Her ads have come out swinging and have drawn a contrast with Raja’s. For example, having a narrator hype her up is more effective than Raja talking about himself. Her policy positions are much more “bite-sized” than the consultant-speak of the “Raja has a plan for that” positions.
He might have hit his ceiling unless he can change up his message, but the ads are so omnipresent that people might be zoning out whenever they see his logo show up on screen. If she can keep her ads on the air, she might have a shot at those undecided voters that he hasn’t won over yet.
How much money could this PAC supposedly have if their big announcement is tiny targeted ad buy? And what’s the point of serving ads to people who will be in the auditorium, phones away, watching the debate?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
As an issue ad, okay she’s hitting on current events and establishing herself in a position where she’s almost daring the other candidates to either match her or be accused of being wishy-washy. But here’s the real question; can she sustain the attack in such a way that voters will come away believing that a freshman Senator with no DC experience can actually pull something off? Moreover, over the course of the Primary, where does her rhetoric go?
it’s a press pop that forces all the stories to include the differences they have on ICE/immigration. The ads are also around the debate, not just the room itself, which in case you forgot is on a college campus.
For my fellow commenters I think I have a duty to remind them that this ad is not at all coordinated with the LT Governor’s campaign and is being injected into the discussion by Illinois Future PAC. Their website is light on specifics and has a DC Mailing address.
I hope that this is something that the Lt Governor is wanting to and prepared to discuss tonight.
What an odd thing to geo-fence so specifically. “We really want the moderators to see it!”
B+ — decent add, timely topic, well produced and is a nice, aggressive, and specific issues ad. My favorite part about this ad is it is very clearly not about the Lt. Governor’s opponents or their positions while creating the impression that maybe they don’t want to abolish ICE.
Make that awkward institutionalist defend some votes. Make that awkward institutionalist sound like they’re defending ICE. Well done. Shows a good understanding of the message box.
- WindyCityGirl517 - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 3:37 pm:
I was undecided until recently. Raja voting to express gratitude to ICE? He is tone deaf. Spent decades amassing millions, accepts money from anyone including Palantir. Robin is 70. Stratton is 60. That matters to me. I want someone who has not been sitting in DC doing nothing under this administration. I thought the ad was decent.
It’s a good ad, and I love the way they are using a scalpel to target it. Nice job, Futures PAC. But I still think you have a huge mountain to climb. Anyone in a debate hall is there for their candidate. The dirty little secret is that there are so few undecided voters who would come to a debate like this. Is the production cost even worth it?
I think this is a solid ad. More than anything, Raja’s campaign has been weak on policy and light on details. I’m glad to see the LG taking bold stances, especially since we need Dems with a backbone
“I was for ICE before I was against ICE” is the best case scenario for his campaign if this messaging is effective enough to force him to address his “pro the people who think you should face consequences for comparing them to the Gestapo after they kill protesters in the street” positions.
This is a very good ad if it works for what the PAC wants it to do — force Raja, live on television, to defend his votes supporting ICE. Create a window, live on television, to bring up some of his other questionable associations with the tools that are being used by ICE to destroy our constitutional freedoms.
Abolish? No reform or increased training?? Too extreme of a position for such an influential office.
I now know for sure who I won’t be voting for in the Dem primary.
It’s pretty clear that Raja comes from an immigrant family and is pro-immigrant. I don’t understand how attacking him is helpful at all right now because other immigrant families may feel like they are also under attack and rally around Raja.
I don’t want to be the person on the stage defending the notion that you can ‘train’ the murder of protestors on the streets out of the organization.
“You know, if we had just told them ‘don’t shoot the protestors in the head none of this would have happened” is a fascinating premise to be stuck defending on stage.
Raja had better have a really good “I was for ICE before I was against ICE” line ready to go, otherwise for the next two months his support for ICE will be center stage.
I wasn’t even planning on watching this debate and now I want to.
I’ve been busy and haven’t been looking at this race much. I was a soft Raja vote before. But now, after hearing Stratton speak at the rally and how she and Pritzker are supporting random folk not being shot by incompetent agents, I have moved my vote, especially in combination with Raja supporting that resolution.
IL Dem,
We had something before we had ICE it was called the Border Patrol and they would deport people who were convicted of crimes, overstayed their visa and were caught, tried to cross the border illegally, etc.
But they didn’t cover their faces, act like thugs etc. It was far more of a professional force.
- WindyCityGirl517 - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 5:19 pm:
== Abolish? No reform or increased training?== @IL dem: Reform has been the answer for years—and the outcomes haven’t changed. That’s why calls to abolish ICE now include voices from inside law enforcement itself. When people are injured or killed for protesting, asking whether the system is fundamentally broken isn’t extreme. It’s overdue.
ICE has only been around for 22 years. It was created as part of the Homeland Security Act when Congress created the Dept of Homeland Security. Prior to that, it was two different divisions under two different departments; Customs was under the Treasury, and Immigration was under the Justice Department.
Maybe someone can make a real argument and file intelligent legislation to adjust and amend the Homeland Security Act?
- New Day - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
It’s fine if it’s a set up piece. Is Raja being set up because he hasn’t taken strong enough stances on the issue? I assume so but haven’t hear that directly.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:10 pm:
Her ads have come out swinging and have drawn a contrast with Raja’s. For example, having a narrator hype her up is more effective than Raja talking about himself. Her policy positions are much more “bite-sized” than the consultant-speak of the “Raja has a plan for that” positions.
He might have hit his ceiling unless he can change up his message, but the ads are so omnipresent that people might be zoning out whenever they see his logo show up on screen. If she can keep her ads on the air, she might have a shot at those undecided voters that he hasn’t won over yet.
- SkepticalSam - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:13 pm:
How much money could this PAC supposedly have if their big announcement is tiny targeted ad buy? And what’s the point of serving ads to people who will be in the auditorium, phones away, watching the debate?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
As an issue ad, okay she’s hitting on current events and establishing herself in a position where she’s almost daring the other candidates to either match her or be accused of being wishy-washy. But here’s the real question; can she sustain the attack in such a way that voters will come away believing that a freshman Senator with no DC experience can actually pull something off? Moreover, over the course of the Primary, where does her rhetoric go?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:25 pm:
===who will be in the auditorium, phones away, watching the debate? ===
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:26 pm:
===no DC experience===
Right now, that can be viewed as a strong positive. Have you looked at congressional Dem approval numbers lately?
- lurker - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
it’s a press pop that forces all the stories to include the differences they have on ICE/immigration. The ads are also around the debate, not just the room itself, which in case you forgot is on a college campus.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 3:34 pm:
For my fellow commenters I think I have a duty to remind them that this ad is not at all coordinated with the LT Governor’s campaign and is being injected into the discussion by Illinois Future PAC. Their website is light on specifics and has a DC Mailing address.
I hope that this is something that the Lt Governor is wanting to and prepared to discuss tonight.
What an odd thing to geo-fence so specifically. “We really want the moderators to see it!”
B+ — decent add, timely topic, well produced and is a nice, aggressive, and specific issues ad. My favorite part about this ad is it is very clearly not about the Lt. Governor’s opponents or their positions while creating the impression that maybe they don’t want to abolish ICE.
Make that awkward institutionalist defend some votes. Make that awkward institutionalist sound like they’re defending ICE. Well done. Shows a good understanding of the message box.
- WindyCityGirl517 - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 3:37 pm:
I was undecided until recently. Raja voting to express gratitude to ICE? He is tone deaf. Spent decades amassing millions, accepts money from anyone including Palantir. Robin is 70. Stratton is 60. That matters to me. I want someone who has not been sitting in DC doing nothing under this administration. I thought the ad was decent.
- Tom - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 3:39 pm:
It’s a good ad, and I love the way they are using a scalpel to target it. Nice job, Futures PAC. But I still think you have a huge mountain to climb. Anyone in a debate hall is there for their candidate. The dirty little secret is that there are so few undecided voters who would come to a debate like this. Is the production cost even worth it?
- System Reboot - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 4:44 pm:
I think this is a solid ad. More than anything, Raja’s campaign has been weak on policy and light on details. I’m glad to see the LG taking bold stances, especially since we need Dems with a backbone
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 4:47 pm:
===Raja voting to express gratitude to ICE? ===
“I was for ICE before I was against ICE” is the best case scenario for his campaign if this messaging is effective enough to force him to address his “pro the people who think you should face consequences for comparing them to the Gestapo after they kill protesters in the street” positions.
This is a very good ad if it works for what the PAC wants it to do — force Raja, live on television, to defend his votes supporting ICE. Create a window, live on television, to bring up some of his other questionable associations with the tools that are being used by ICE to destroy our constitutional freedoms.
- IL Dem - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 4:52 pm:
Abolish? No reform or increased training?? Too extreme of a position for such an influential office.
I now know for sure who I won’t be voting for in the Dem primary.
- Mary - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 4:58 pm:
===Raja voting to express gratitude to ICE? ===
It’s pretty clear that Raja comes from an immigrant family and is pro-immigrant. I don’t understand how attacking him is helpful at all right now because other immigrant families may feel like they are also under attack and rally around Raja.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 5:06 pm:
===Abolish? No reform or increased training?===
I don’t want to be the person on the stage defending the notion that you can ‘train’ the murder of protestors on the streets out of the organization.
“You know, if we had just told them ‘don’t shoot the protestors in the head none of this would have happened” is a fascinating premise to be stuck defending on stage.
Raja had better have a really good “I was for ICE before I was against ICE” line ready to go, otherwise for the next two months his support for ICE will be center stage.
I wasn’t even planning on watching this debate and now I want to.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 5:06 pm:
I’ve been busy and haven’t been looking at this race much. I was a soft Raja vote before. But now, after hearing Stratton speak at the rally and how she and Pritzker are supporting random folk not being shot by incompetent agents, I have moved my vote, especially in combination with Raja supporting that resolution.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 5:08 pm:
IL Dem,
We had something before we had ICE it was called the Border Patrol and they would deport people who were convicted of crimes, overstayed their visa and were caught, tried to cross the border illegally, etc.
But they didn’t cover their faces, act like thugs etc. It was far more of a professional force.
- WindyCityGirl517 - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 5:19 pm:
== Abolish? No reform or increased training?== @IL dem: Reform has been the answer for years—and the outcomes haven’t changed. That’s why calls to abolish ICE now include voices from inside law enforcement itself. When people are injured or killed for protesting, asking whether the system is fundamentally broken isn’t extreme. It’s overdue.
- Frida's Boss - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 6:23 pm:
ICE has only been around for 22 years. It was created as part of the Homeland Security Act when Congress created the Dept of Homeland Security. Prior to that, it was two different divisions under two different departments; Customs was under the Treasury, and Immigration was under the Justice Department.
Maybe someone can make a real argument and file intelligent legislation to adjust and amend the Homeland Security Act?