* The question about Mayor Johnson during the debate last night was a bit difficult to watch. Click here for the clip…
Q: Do you approve of the leadership of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and will you support his re election?
Raja Krishnamoorthi: Do you have another question? I’m just kidding.
Q: Congressman Krishnamoorthi, you’re first.
Raja Krishnamoorthi: I’m first. Okay. [audience laughs] Well, look, yeah, look, I think that. Let’s see. I want to see where Brandon Johnson is going to take us. As I said, look, we have tremendous potential in Chicago. We are an amazing city in the Chicago region and all of Illinois for that matter. And the question is, do we bring people together and try to find our boldest common denominators, or do we go a different direction? And I’m always fearful when we might be dividing more than uniting, because when we’re attacking each other, we can’t attack our common problems. And so what are some of those issues that we have to deal with? One is we have to continue to build upon the record that, for instance, Governor JB Pritzker has done at the state level with attracting jobs…
Q: I’m sorry, Congressman. The question wasn’t about the governor, it’s about the mayor. So without attacking specifically, do you approve of his job performance so far? Do you imagine yourself supporting him in a re election?
Krishnamoorthi: Yeah, let me get to that. So basically, what I’m trying to say is this, my support for him will depend on do we do more of building on consensus and bringing people together to tackle our common problems, attracting more economic development, especially the south and west sides of Chicago. Do we work together with business more and trying to find places where we can help them and we can create a win-win? Do we also deal, continue to deal with the public safety issues in a way that recognizes the long term concerns about criminal justice, while at the same time people’s legitimate fears about crime? I would also say this, which is we have tremendous potential. Brandon Johnson can preside over a renaissance in Chicago, but only if he takes the best parts of Chicago and amplifies them.
Juliana Stratton: I’m very grateful for the ways that we have stood together here in the city of Chicago and in the state of Illinois, especially in the wake of all of these attacks by Donald Trump and his administration. And you all might have seen when he was threatening to send federalized troops to our city, we all stood together, federal elected, the Governor and I, county and the city of Chicago to say that we don’t welcome Donald Trump here, that we don’t want his troops, and that we’re going to stand up for our neighbors. So that kind of collaboration must continue. I don’t know if he has announced that he’s running for re election, so I have no comment on that at this time.
Robin Kelly: Like any elected official, people would say this about me: There’s some things you agree with and some things you don’t agree with. I will give him a great compliment on how he handled ICE. And actually, I will give him a great compliment when Chicago was on stage with the DNC, Chicago did a fantastic job under his leadership, and when he had to, he was summoned to DC on the Oversight Committee, and you would be proud of how he stood up and defended Chicago and took a lot of heated questions, but he did a really, really good job. I don’t know if he’s running again. He hasn’t said that to me, but I think that in this next year, time will tell what happens with the budget, what happens with school, what happens with businesses coming in and out of Chicago, can you bring the council together?
* Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton during the US Senate debate last night…
I came here tonight to let you know that is the leader that I will be. I will never forget what’s important to the people. It’s why my campaign is ‘Give the people what they want,’ and I want to give the people what they want by listening and taking action, just as I have done as a state representative and the lieutenant governor for the past seven years.
* OK, that can go at least a couple of ways. The Kinks…
Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
The more they get, the more they need
And every time they get harder and harder to please
The Roman promoters really did things right
They needed a show that would clearly excite
The attendance was sparse so they put on a fight
Threw the Christians to the lions and sold out every night
You got to give the people, now
Give the people what they want
Well, well, well, well, right now
(Don’t you know you)
You got to give the people (Whatever)
Give the people what they want
Well, I done been all over the world
And everybody feels the same
It’s a unanimous decision
I said they’re ready for a change
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Today, Raja for Illinois released its latest television ad, “Moral.” In the new spot, Raja, an immigrant himself, unpacks the harm Donald Trump’s ICE has done to communities across Illinois and the country, and outlines our only choice: fighting back.
“Donald Trump has weaponized ICE against our cities and our people. Torn apart families…terrorized neighborhoods. We should abolish Trump’s ICE. We can’t have a government or ICE running out of control. It’s morally wrong, and it’s unlawful,” Raja says in the ad. “We can either roll over, or we can fight. I say we fight…Fight in the courts, in the halls of Congress. We are in the fight of our lives.”
[RAJA] Donald Trump has weaponized ICE against our cities and our people.
Torn apart families…terrorized neighborhoods.
We should abolish Trump’s ICE.
We can’t have a government or ICE running out of control.
It’s morally wrong, and it’s unlawful.
We can either roll over, or we can fight.
I say we fight…Fight in the courts, in the halls of Congress.
We are in the fight of our lives.
I’m Raja Krishnamoorthi and I approve this message.
Last week, you may recall, the US Senate candidate said this on CNN…
Reporter: Do you want to abolish ICE?
Raja: [Pause] I want to abolish the funding and Trump’s ICE. I think that in theory there should be immigration and customs enforcement, but not the way that it’s happening now. This is completely unacceptable what’s happening right now.
The debate begins at 6 pm. Click here to watch it.
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.”
The Kifowit for Illinois Comptroller campaign launched its first digital advertising campaign today, with the 30-second spot running on digital platforms throughout Illinois.
The ad introduces voters to Stephanie Kifowit, who is not the typical Comptroller candidate. It highlights her more than 20 years of public finance experience, her service in the United States Marine Corps, and her record of standing up for Illinois residents.The spot highlights Kifowit’s independence and her willingness to take on the political machine to deliver accountability and results.
This ad makes a clear case in the race for Comptroller: Kifowit brings courage, experience, toughness, and proven leadership needed to protect taxpayers and provide real oversight of state finances, positioning her as the only candidate prepared to step into the role on day one and ready to take on Donald Trump as Illinois next Comptroller. This race is about who we can trust to protect taxpayers money, hold the powerful accountable and stand up for workers and families when it matters the most, and that person is Stephanie Kifowit.
* On so many levels (the epitome of the band’s ‘controlled chaos’ theory, the backup vocals are viscerally thrilling and the lyrics have spoken to generations worldwide), this was one of their very best…
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost your way
