* [From Rich: This post glitched out on us, so I’m reposting it. I disagree with this assessment about Krishnamoorthi. Raja’s own poll a month ago had him at 42 percent. He’s not doing great, particularly after spending something like $13-14 million. Then again, the other two are in single digits and he is slightly leading Kelly among Black voters] WGN-TV/Emerson College poll taken January 3-5 of 1,000 Illinois residents with a MOE of +/- 3 percent…

NEW POLL:

Raja Krishnamoorthi way ahead in Democratic primary for U.S. Senate pic.twitter.com/VnqxpshmdI

— Tahman Bradley (@tahmanbradley) January 8, 2026

Krishnamoorthi ahead of Stratton and Kelly among Black voters pic.twitter.com/X1UEX8v84x

— Tahman Bradley (@tahmanbradley) January 8, 2026

* Meanwhile…

Voters still figuring out who’s who in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate pic.twitter.com/wgIUahTJOr

— Tahman Bradley (@tahmanbradley) January 8, 2026

Sheesh.

* All three Democratic US Senate candidates support Noem’s impeachment. US Senate Candidate Rep. Robin Kelly…

Today, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) announced plans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the fatal shooting by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.

“Secretary Kristi Noem is an incompetent leader, a disgrace to our democracy, and I am impeaching her for obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. Secretary Noem wreaked havoc in the Chicagoland area, and now, her rogue ICE agents have unleashed that same destruction in Minneapolis, fatally shooting Renee Nicole Good,” said Rep. Kelly.

* Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi…

I’ll be your first cosponsor. https://t.co/oXC9N8mLml

— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) January 8, 2026

* Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton…

Under Kristi Noem, DHS has done nothing but cause terror, chaos, and violence in our communities. This regime must be held accountable.

Resign or be removed — the choice is yours @Sec_Noem.

We won’t let you get away with this. https://t.co/TsiAMLvclR

— Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (@LtGovStratton) January 8, 2026

* Month-old polling from the 2nd Congressional District released by Democratic candidate Donna Miller…

A recent poll of 400 likely 2026 Democratic primary voters in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District conducted by Global Strategy Group shows that this race is wide open and that with the right resources to introduce her to the district’s voters, Commissioner Donna Miller has a clear path to victory.

Emphasis added because in the third quarter of last year, Miller only raised about $240,000 and reported having just $150,000 cash on hand. That’s not a lot of money and the election is less than 10 weeks away, with mail-in voting starting in about 4 weeks.

Back to the release…

At this stage in the campaign, nearly all of the candidates are unknown by the majority of the electorate. That leads to nearly half of the electorate being (44%) undecided in the initial vote. Just over one-in-four voters are familiar with Donna Miller, though those who know her view her very favorably (24% favorable/3% unfavorable). Jesse Jackson Jr. - the only candidate with serious name ID - currently leads the race (24%), with Donna Miller (9%), Yumeka Brown (9%), Willie Preston (6%), Robert Peters (5%), and Patrick Keating (2%) following behind.

Despite his significant name ID advantage, Jackson Jr.’s vulnerabilities are abundant. The most established candidate - Jesse Jackson Jr. - has a mixed reputation: while over 8-in-10 voters know him, nearly half of those voters view him unfavorably (44% favorable/42% unfavorable). His negative ratings are driven by white voters and voters outside of the city of Chicago.

I’ve reached out to Miller’s campaign for the crosstabs.

* 9th CD candidate Bushra Amiwala’s response to Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s endorsement of Daniel Biss…

“Daniel Biss’s habit of waiting to be bold only when it is safe has earned him another endorsement. That may be politically cautious, but it is not progressive leadership.”

“I ran because IL-09 needs more than careful positioning. A campaign built on real solutions, on affordability and quality of life, and on ensuring taxpayer dollars are not used to benefit foreign entities or corporations, will be polarizing. That is the cost of saying something that actually matters.”

“But this race is not about preserving what is comfortable. It is about moving forward. We should not settle for a quieter, safer version of progress when our community deserves a stronger voice. We cannot go backwards.”

* ONE People’s Campaign…

ONE People’s Campaign (OPC) has announced a dual endorsement of Senator Mike Simmons and Mayor Daniel Biss for the 9th Congressional District. In a crowded field of candidates, the progressive organization’s decision shows that their members believe the choice clearly comes down to these two progressive champions with extensive legislative experience and deep roots in the 9th district. Mayor Biss and Senator Simmons bring the fighting spirit and strong track record that this moment of crisis demands. […]

To arrive at this decision, OPC’s members carefully considered the crowded field of 17 candidates before arriving at this decision. They felt strongly that both Senator Simmons and Mayor Biss met the criteria for an endorsement. “While we ultimately decided not to endorse a single candidate, the stakes of this race were too high for us not to share what we learned in this robust endorsement process. By endorsing both Mayor Biss & Senator Simmons, we encourage our members and voters across the district to narrow their decision in this crowded race to one of these two exceptional candidates,” said Kerry Fleming, OPC Board Member and 9th CD resident. […]

ONE People’s Campaign will mobilize its volunteers to share their choices for the 9th Congressional District, as well as their endorsement of Sunjay Kumar in the 13th State House district race, with our neighbors and members. Through door knocking, phone banking and texting OPC will connect with voters about the issues they care about and share why their endorsed candidates will help them win the resources their communities deserve.

* Background is here if you need it. The Daily Northwestern…

Several Democratic primary candidates for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District released a joint statement condemning “organized efforts” seeking “to pressure a fellow Democratic candidate to withdraw from the race” on Tuesday afternoon.

Skokie school board member Bushra Amiwala, Mayor Daniel Biss, former FBI negotiator Phil Andrew, ex-tech strategist Nick Pyati, economist Jeff Cohen, public health professional Justin Ford and Chicago 50th Ward Committeeman Bruce Leon signed the statement, which was released in an email from Amiwala’s campaign.

“Recent reports and conversations within our communities suggest that organized efforts are underway to pressure a fellow Democratic candidate to withdraw from the race,” the candidates wrote in Tuesday’s statement. “While vigorous persuasion and debate are part of politics, coordinated pressure campaigns aimed at forcing candidates out undermine the democratic process and erode trust among voters.”

Ford provided The Daily with an updated version of the statement, including progressive content creator Kat Abughazaleh’s signature, Tuesday evening. He told The Daily that candidates who did not sign the letter don’t necessarily disagree with its message.

* Raja Krishnamoorthi has been endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees. Press release…

Today, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) formally endorsed Raja Krishnamoorthi for U.S. Senate. Representing 820,000 members across 900 local unions nationwide, AFGE becomes the first national labor union to weigh in on the primary — a major milestone that further solidifies Raja’s standing as the undeniable labor candidate in the race.

* Politico…

In IL-08: Junaid Ahmed has been endorsed by Washington state Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, a nationally recognized progressive leader and chair emerita of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

In IL-08: Melissa Bean has been endorsed by Elect Democratic Women in her bid for the 8th District seat.

In IL-08: Neil Khot leans into his immigrant roots in a six-figure TV-led media buy in the competitive Democratic congressional contest. Watch here.

In IL-09: Kat Abughazaleh is out with a paid media advertisement running on cable and digital platforms across Illinois’ 9th Congressional District. The ad takes a poke at “career politicians.” Watch here.

* WMBD…

A Republican Senate candidate said it’s high time for Illinois to become a two-party state again, focusing on a message of affordability. […]

“It’s a real opportunity for an Illinois Republican to secure one of those offices and make Illinois a two-party state again and I happen to think that I am the best qualified of all the Illinois Republicans to win that seat,” [Don Tracy] said. […]

“That is a huge issue for all families, especially working families here in Illinois. Health care inflation, health care expenditures are approaching 20% of gross national product,” he said.

However, his solutions would not include support of the Affordable Care Act.

* WGLT…

The U.S. House is expected to vote Thursday on a Democrat-led plan to extend Affordable Care Act [ACA] subsidies after Congress allowed them to lapse in December.

U. S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a Democrat from Moline, said he’s willing to consider some limits or cost controls that would help the plan pass in the Senate, where 60 votes are required for approval.

“We need something. Something is better than nothing,” Sorensen said during a virtual news conference on Wednesday. […]

“It’s unacceptable because these are real families, these are real people. These are people with disabilities. These are senior citizens. These are kids,” Sorensen said.

* More…

* Press release | Rep. Kelly announces death of stepdaughter: U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the below statement following the death of her stepdaughter Lauren Horn at the age of 38: “My family and I are completely heartbroken. Lauren was one of my bonus daughters, an absolute blessing to me ever since we joined families over 20 years ago. She was a beloved mother, sister, and daughter. I will forever miss her.”

* Press release | Senator Fine to File Legislation Barring ICE Officers Hired By Trump from State and Local Law Enforcement Jobs: In the wake of the unspeakable tragedy in Minneapolis, Minn., State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) will file legislation barring anyone hired by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Donald Trump from obtaining employment in state or local law enforcement positions in the State of Illinois. This proposed state law continues her efforts to hold Donald Trump accountable and rein in the lawlessness of federal immigration officials. “ICE is out of control and Donald Trump must be held accountable as communities like ours and across the country are torn apart by fear and violence,” Senator Fine said. “These officers are complicit in the President’s authoritarian campaign and we must do everything in our power to stop it while preventing further violence and loss of life. In Congress, I’ll lead the effort to hold every single person accountable for their role in Donald Trump’s lawlessness, including federal law enforcement officials who target American citizens exercising their first amendment rights. Enough is enough.”

* WBEZ | Open Seat in Illinois: U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Debate: The University of Chicago Institute of Politics, WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times and International House are convening the three frontrunner Democratic candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat in Illinois in advance of the March 17, 2026 primary elections. Join us in person, virtually or on air on Monday, January 26 for a free, live candidate debate at International House on the University of Chicago’s campus. The debate will be co-moderated by Chicago Sun-Times national political reporter Tina Sfondeles and IOP senior director Jennifer Steinhauer and hosted by WBEZ’s In the Loop host, Sasha-Ann Simons.

* Journal & Topics | All 8 Democrats Running In 8th Congressional Primary Agree To Debate: All eight candidates running in the Democratic Primary for the 8th Congressional District have confirmed their participation in a 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, debate at the National India Hub in Schaumburg. The event, co-organized by Indivisible Elk Grove Township, requires an RSVP to be completed in advance online. For those unable to attend in person, the event’s moderator, local Gen Z podcaster Ishaan Srivastava, will live-stream the debate on the Ishaan S. Show on his YouTube Channel.

* NPR Illinois | Economics and energy take center stage in this year’s 13th congressional district campaigns: After an August meeting with constituents at the Champaign Public Library, Budzinski said she wants to continue focusing on economic policies in her next term. “It’s a tax credit for small businesses that hire apprentices, again, helping to make more opportunities a reality for young people who want to get into the workplace here in central Illinois,” she said.

* Daily Herald | Democratic candidate for 3rd Congressional seat removed from ballot: The Illinois State Board of Elections decided Chicago Democrat Mark J. Pasieka Sr.’s name shouldn’t appear on ballots in the 3rd Congressional District. Conversely, the board ruled in favor of Naperville Republican Michael Pierce in the 11th District. An objection to Pasieka’s candidacy was jointly filed by Addison resident Maria D. Sinkule and Chicagoan Jason Christopher Dones. They said Pasieka didn’t get enough signatures of registered 3rd District voters to qualify and raised concerns about notarizations on the petitions.