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Senate race roundup: Former Krishnamoorthi staffers on fundraising pressure, Kelly launches new TV ad, final televised debate
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
[From Rich: People have been writing comments here about this issue for months.] * Robin Kelly is out with a new broadcast TV ad… [From Rich: Kelly has been giving me 1992 “Year of the woman” Carol Moseley Braun vibes of late. CMB defeated incumbent US Sen. Alan Dixon and rich white guy Al Hofeld in the primary by staying above the fray. These are vastly different dynamics (Dixon had voted to confirm Clarence Thomas to the US Supreme Court) and I’m not trying to suggest that Robin Kelly might surge up the middle because I simply don’t know. But I did want to go on record that I’m definitely feeling that same vibe.] * WTTW…
[From Rich: Lots of House Democrats are planning to do what Krishnamoorthi would not initially rule out. Looks like he finally determined he’s hanging out with the wrong people while running in a statewide primary.] * More… * Tribune | Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton and Robin Kelly stick to script in Senate race’s final TV debate: The discussion of ICE gave way to a volley of well-worn attacks between Stratton and Krishnamoorthi over financial backers with ties to immigration enforcement. The lieutenant governor criticized the congressman over $29,300 that his $30.5 million campaign fund received from an executive of Palantir, an ICE contractor. He fired back that over $135,000 in contributions since 2019 from private prison contractor CoreCivic, which operates immigration detention facilities, went to the political action committee of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, which is backing Stratton. * Evanston Now | Stratton stumps in Evanston: Evanston elected officials hosted a campaign meet and greet Saturday afternoon for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, 10 days out from a high-stakes Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Joined by Rep. Jan Schakowsky and House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, both of Evanston, Stratton delivered her pitch to a crowd of about two dozen packed into Free Flow Kitchen on Simpson St. * KFVS | Krishnamoorthi stops in Cairo on GOTV tour ahead of Illinois Senate primary: Krishnamoorthi said his Cairo visit was part of a broader effort to reach the entire state, adding that regions such as southern Illinois need more attention. “As you know, the needs here are great, and so we need to devote more attention, resources, time and energy to addressing the concerns of southern Illinois, and you know the lack of economic development,” he said.
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- Roadrager - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 10:40 am:
Raja Krishnamoorthi: Any way the wind blows, doesn’t really matter to him (as long as the checks clear, and they better bleeping clear, you got that?)
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 10:50 am:
===People have been writing comments here about this issue for months.===
It is good to see some discussion beyond the comments on this blog, I would question the decision of waiting to bring it up until after folks have already been casting ballots, but I suppose they are finance folks after all.
===a nearly round-the-clock fundraising operation===
Raja’s record demonstrates a lot of things, one of those things is that fundraising is one of his major priorities. This means that as a congressman he heard the most from people who could write checks and the biggest checks at that. Talking to folks with a lot of money, regardless of party, tends to create a pretty significant echo chamber. If you’re rich enough to comfortably max out to a congress person during an election cycle the status quo has been working for you.
His record also shows that he’ll hang on to millions of dollars for a long time for his own use rather than use it to help expand the Democratic caucus.
Something that I am surprised has not been discussed yet is that if elected to the Senate what will Raja do with his time? Will his nick name be Senator Dial for Dollars representing the great state of Call Time?
Is his constituency services good? Because an Illinoisan might only hear from him if they can cut a check.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:04 am:
There is not one candidate that I can support. The democrats are all too far to the left for me. And the republicans, well until they de-maga themselves I just cannot consider anything they have to offer. So I will undervote kowing whomever comes out of the democratic primary will be the winner.
- low level - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:07 am:
News flash: running statewide in Illinois costs money. Raja raised it. Staffers that didnt care for it left. This is a story? I find it incredible he is being criticized when one of his opponents is literally backed by a billionaire.
You know what they call politicians who cant raise money? Losers. Raja decided he wanted to compete. That is the American way.
- Paul - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:18 am:
Greg Hinz at Crain’s has been writing about Raja’s fundraising prowess for ages. It’s nothing new.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/krishnamoorthi-has-19m-senate-bid-more-rivals-combined/
- Ted - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:20 am:
===From Rich: Kelly has been giving me 1992 “Year of the woman” Carol Moseley Braun vibes of late.===
Rich, I have heard this a couple of times in the last few weeks and I think it’s a really interesting thought. I wonder if it’s an intentional effort on Kelly’s part or if it’s just a coincidence. Either way, it does seem to be her main path, with how down in the mud the other two have gone.
- Almost the Weekend - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:21 am:
If Stratton’s Team was smart they could have played the “Katie Porter” card on Raja.
When you have three candidates who are going to vote near-identical you are not wanting to have someone represent you who treats people and his staff like garbage.
- Steph's curry - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:22 am:
I did a lot of underrating in this election. Hoping that my cast ballot will get me off of call sheets for a while.
- elmhurst - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:24 am:
If you aren’t a machine candidate or you aren’t supported by the machine, you need to build your own machinery. That’s why everyone resents him. He raises a ton of money on his own, works hard at it, too. Gave money for the DNC and the convention too but that isn’t enough to mollify the haters.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:28 am:
Raja had a moment here when he could have safely stood apart just a wee bit-just an inch from his competitors. He could have said “I have serious questions about the conflict with Iran but I don’t think it’s wise to make any statement about supporting additional funding or not until I am seated and we all have accurate information on the status of the war at that time. It may be over by next year. I hope it is”
These Senate candidates all seem to be sort of oblivious to how many undecideds and Independents there are out in the electorate.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:43 am:
I keep waiting for one of the candidates to say or do something that distinguishes them from others. A new idea or interesting policy from anyone would be most welcome. Instead, they keep bickering about donors, process, ect. Whoever I vote for will earn my vote by default more than anything.
- Is There Hope - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:46 am:
Just confirms everyone’s worst suspicions about Raja: that he will be Illinois’ Schumer/Jeffries and will never be a profile in courage. The cliche is that most politicians fundraise first and legislate second, but I’ve never gotten the impression from his “policies” or debate performances that Raja has strong opinions about issues, a scary prospect in a scary time. Durbin was part of the “traitor” democrats who voted to end the shut down for a promise of “future votes” on healthcare subsidies (how did that work out?) and I have no doubts that Raja would have done the same. If Raja somehow becomes senator, he will be primaried in 2032. He’ll know that and spend 6 years prioritizing fundraising even more because he learned that burying opponents money early is the only way he was competitive statewide, not on the issues. Illinois deserves better.
- Chat_BP3 - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:53 am:
“could have played the “Katie Porter” card on Raja.”
I’m sure if a video or recording like the Porter video existed, it would be out there.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:53 am:
Democrats have become an astroturf party, bombarding voters with fundraising texts and emails, but no human contact.
“or the congressman would lose his temper”
But just call him Raja, the nice guy. Phony, apparently. Shocking.
- Chicago Voter - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:54 am:
I have been hearing horror stories for years about how Raja treats his staff and not just fundraisers. Even campaign staff going back a few cycles have had issues with him. I think if you looked at the turnover rate in congressional offices it would definitely tell a story.
How you treat staff/employees says a lot about character.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:54 am:
===oblivious to how many undecideds and Independents there are out in the electorate===
Have you read a poll lately? Being anti-Trump is not an unpopular opinion among those people you just pointed to.
- Frida's Boss - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:56 am:
Raja, is a fundraising machine. He can’t just write checks to himself or his selected candidates the way a billionaire can. He knew when the time came to run for higher office he would need massive money. Any politician with sense knew that one day Durbin leaving would be a massive multimillion dollar race. Raja did his homework and prepared.
Julianna didn’t take that calculation seriously as she always had Big Money JB, or so she thought, willing to float her entire campaign. Julianna could have just as easily had multiple campaign committees set up and she didn’t. She could have had a State fund, a Committeepersons fund and Federal fund all out raising money for the last 8 years and distributing the wealth to community groups etc, building an army, she chose not to. She relied on Speaker Madigan and Unions for money and troops vs Rauner in ‘16, now she’s relying on JB for today’s adventure.
Maybe if JB hadn’t thrown Robin out of leadership a deal could’ve been cut but that ship sailed once he and his team were backdooring her role as the leader of the Dem party. Hell hath no fury…..
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:56 am:
===Raja’s fundraising prowess===
You missed the point, likely on purpose.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:57 am:
==News flash: running statewide in Illinois costs money. Raja raised it. Staffers that didnt care for it left. This is a story? I find it incredible he is being criticized when one of his opponents is literally backed by a billionaire.==
One’s job as congressperson is not supposed to be “raising money to stay in office to make more money for one’s self.” It is supposed to be serving one’s constituents, as Pollyanna as that sounds in 2026. Raja keeps being hesitant before dipping his toe in on what polling increasingly shows to be widespread Democratic voter sentiments, like abolishing ICE or standing against the current nonsensical war effort, in a solidly blue state. And it’s clear that the hesitancy comes in part.from Raja quietly crunching the numbers on potential contribution losses from places like private prison contractors or defense contractors, because hey it all spends the same. A refusal to fully support constituent values because “that’s not how things are done here” while Republicans steamroll through with whatever they want plucked from some alternate plane of reality is pure, uncut Durbinism, and the support of that approach more or less ends at K Street nowadays.
==You know what they call politicians who cant raise money? Losers. Raja decided he wanted to compete. That is the American way.==
And for that, you can send a thank-you card to the Roberts Court. Just kake sure you write “MONEY INSIDE” on the envelope, or they’ll likely never open it.
- low level - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 11:58 am:
== he will be Illinois’ Schumer/Jeffries and will never be a profile in courage.==
Tell me three votes Raja has taken during his career you disagree with.
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 12:02 pm:
=== You know what they call politicians who cant raise money? Losers. Raja decided he wanted to compete. That is the American way. ===
I am a Stratton supporter, but I have to agree. Raising money is a necessary part of an elected official’s job, and if you want higher office, you will need more money. It is even more so in a federal race since their rules are different.
At the end of the day, however, effective candidates should be able to fundraise, legislate, provide great constituent services and do their best to help the people of their district or state.
Good legislators would have separate staff to perform these different functions so that there is no burnout, and if Raja was running his staff ragged, that is on him. But if a congressperson or candidate is able to raise the money while doing all of the other things an effective leader does, I have no issue with that.
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 12:05 pm:
=== If you aren’t a machine candidate or you aren’t supported by the machine ===
Guess what? There is no machine anymore. Every candidate has to put in the work to ensure their candidacies are successful. If you can’t do that, you probably will not win.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 10, 26 @ 12:09 pm:
===Raising money is a necessary part of an elected official’s job===
Agreed. However, we’re in a time when candidates can raise more money than anyone else only to be overwhelmed by crypto bros, DraftKings, AIPAC, etc.
Biss has a strong fundraising record in CD9. But he cannot compete with the outside money from billionaires.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260310/us-congress-politics/biss-entered-final-weeks-of-9th-district-race-with-the-most-campaign-cash/