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* Just ahead of the end of the quarterly reporting period comes a poll from the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association…
Date: September 29, 2025
A poll of likely Democratic primary voters in Illinois finds that the race for U.S. Senate is beginning to take shape as a two-person race. After spending more than $3 million, Raja Krishnamoorthi has opened up a name identification advantage on the rest of the field. Our polling continues to find that voters find the message of Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton appealing.
Some key findings from the survey include:
● 41% of voters say they are undecided in the Senate primary. Raja Krishnamoorthi leads at 33% of the vote compared to 18% for Juliana Stratton, and 8% for Robin Kelly.
● Since our May poll, Raja Krishnamoorthi has spent more than $3 million on television. That spending has resulted in a gain in recognition, from 50% name identification to 62%. That increase in name ID has allowed him to gain 13 points from our May poll, moving from 20% to 33%.
● Juliana Stratton has spent nothing on television ads and gained 5 points since May, moving from 13% to 18%. Robin Kelly has lost a point of support.
● After voters learn more about the background and message of Juliana Stratton, 74% say they would be more likely to support her and she vaults into the lead with 45%, Krishnamoorthi drops to 18%, while Kelly earns only 4%.Public Policy Polling surveyed 576 likely Democratic primary voters from September 25-26, 2025. The margin of error is +/- 4.1%. 77% of the interviews for the survey were conducted by text message and 23% by landline
Looks like the LG group is trying to make the case that Robin Kelly should drop out. I don’t blame them for that, but I also don’t yet see any evidence of that ever happening.
* Politico…
Melissa Bean has been endorsed by Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) in the race for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District seat. “As Donald Trump and Republicans drive up costs and gut our healthcare, we need fighters in Washington who will work day and night to defend working families,” Foster said in a statement. “I’ve seen Melissa take on and win some of the toughest battles — beating an anti-choice incumbent in one of Illinois’ reddest districts, fighting to pass the Affordable Care Act and passing reforms to hold Wall Street accountable.”
* From an email sent by Hoan Huynh’s congressional campaign team to a prospective donor and then forwarded to me…
Um, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act was signed into law in September of 2021. Huynh didn’t take office until January of 2023.
* More from Isabel…
* Shaw Local | La Salle Dems forum tackles healthcare, economy, campaign Reform: Krishnamoorthi opened the event by describing growing up in an immigrant family and the struggles his family faced, but overcame the challenges by receiving government assistance. “Every night at the dinner table [my father] would remind us of the following,” he said. “He would say think of the greatness of this country….and whatever the two of you do, my brother and me, just make sure it’s there for the next families who need it.”
* Advantage News | Raley drops out of congressional race: A former St. Louis radio personality and one-time congressional candidate is dropping out of the race for Illinois’ 15th District seat. In a social media post over the weekend, Randy Raley said a recent health scare has brought him to the decision to bow out. Specifically, Raley stated he had recently suffered a heart attack, and the prognosis is that it will happen again. He says the cardiologist discovered a problem with one of the blood vessels in his heart. It is too small to stent, and it has blockage. There is at least one other Democrat that has announced a run for that same office: Edwardsville’s Jennifer Todd. Illinois 15th District seat is currently held by Republican Mary Miller.
* Evanston Roundtable | Biss picks new names for Finance and Budget, after incumbent asks ‘too late’ for second term: The city’s Finance and Budget Committee is set to have new resident members for the first time since its creation, albeit with opposition from at least four councilmembers to one of Mayor Daniel Biss’ selections, Candance Chow. Biss picked Chow, a recent council candidate, over incumbent Leslie McMillan, who says she intended to apply for a second term but apparently did so too late. […] The appointees gave similar responses: McGuire said her donation had “zero to do” with her selection, and Chow said she “absolutely” doesn’t think there’s a link. “Yes, I support Daniel Biss for Congress … I also want to continue to support and serve Evanston,” Chow said. “And certainly, there’s no linkage between one and the other.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 1:43 pm
Previous Post: What the state AG could do about recalcitrant sheriffs if he was so inclined (Updated)
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Hoan seems like a great guy but his campaign team has an honesty problem that either A) he can’t get control of or B) is unable to stop.
Neither makes me super eager to vote to send him to DC.
Comment by Alton Sinkhole Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 1:50 pm
sorry B) should be: Or he’s complicit in.
Comment by Alton Sinkhole Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 1:53 pm
Raja’s ads have been on nonstop, he’s got this.
Comment by hmmm Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 1:57 pm
== voters find the message of Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton appealing.==
Weird, I’ve yet to figure out what that message is.
Comment by So_Ill Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 2:06 pm
It would be like Back to the Future if both Melissa Bean and Jesse Jackson Jr won their primaries.
Only if Marie Newman ran in the 9th (and I guess Dan Lipinski in the 7th) could eclipse this potential Throwback Primary.
Maybe Sheila Simon running and winning the US Senate primary.
OK, I’m done.
Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 2:24 pm
**Hoan seems like a great guy but his campaign team has an honesty problem that either A) he can’t get control of or B) is unable to stop.**
Blaming his team is a choice. The principal is responsible for signing off on anything that goes out from the campaign. If he chooses not to do that, that’s on him. If he chooses to do so, and still lets this go out, that’s on him.
Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 2:41 pm
Classic Hoan lie. Can’t wait for his grift to become obvious once more people start asking him actual policy questions. Begging for someone to ask him about Israel, as I’m sure his take is just as nuanced and thoughful as his legislation is in Springfield.
Comment by Rod Blagojevich Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 2:52 pm
Biss appointing Candace Chow over the objection of his council members is interesting.
She just ran a pretty nasty campaign for a City Council seat and lost. Prior to that she ran a nasty campaign against Rep- Gog-Gershowitz and lost. Her only tenure was as School board President during which time D65 was threatened to have the state takeover their finances.
Not sure the calculation by Biss on this pick?
Comment by Frida's Boss Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 2:52 pm
I was interested in Hoan..
Lackluster campaign and lack of truth telling disqualified him so far.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 2:57 pm
@Dan Johnson You want Back to the Future how about Blago for Congress. We could be the only state with two convicted felons n Congress.
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:01 pm
**Biss appointing Candace Chow over the objection of his council members is interesting.**
Over the objection of SOME of his council members.
Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:01 pm
Biss is rewarding his donors, of which Chow is one. It’s hilarious that Evanston buys his ‘cerebral progressive’ shtick while he governs like an old-school party hack.
Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:26 pm
PPP was the outfit that predicted Mamdani’s win in NY. They’re not perfect (nobody is) but they’re legit.
Comment by ZC Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:40 pm
Good point @DuPage Saint. That’s a true Throwback.
Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:05 pm
I wouldn’t expect Robin Kelly to drop out. She has the power of the CBC behind her. If Kamala decides to endorse candidates don’t be surprised if Robin is endorsed. She opened up that office for Kamala in the south suburbs. No doubt Robin has the chops & endorsements. Unfortunately her weakness is her team. Right now her campaign is giving, MEH. Will they be able to get it together to get her message out to the voters in time? Stay tuned.
Comment by Trinity Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 5:09 pm
Sorry for the reposts spotty Wifi
Comment by Cindy Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 5:48 pm