Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has thrown his hat into the ring for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by veteran Senator Dick Durbin, who announced he won’t seek reelection. The Democratic primary is already a packed house, with heavyweights like Rep. Robin Kelly, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton—backed by Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth—and whispers of Rep. Lauren Underwood eyeing a run. Krishnamoorthi, however, brings a financial edge, wielding a formidable $19 million campaign war chest.

In a fiery campaign video shared on X, Krishnamoorthi positioned himself as a fighter against "bullies" like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, accusing the former president of sidestepping the Constitution in a quest for vengeance. Oddly, he took a swipe at Musk, who recently stepped away from White House involvement, suggesting the billionaire’s influence still looms large. Krishnamoorthi leaned heavily into his roots as a first-generation American, crediting food stamps and public housing for his family’s rise to the middle class. He also nodded to his ties with Barack Obama, joking that Illinois embraces those with "funny names."

The congressman didn’t shy away from flexing his progressive credentials, boasting an A+ rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and a proud F from the NRA. "I’ll never stay silent while billionaires and convicted felons crush the dreams of working people," he declared, promising to champion the everyday American. Since his election to Congress in 2016, Krishnamoorthi has served as the ranking member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services.

This race is shaping up to be a clash of titans, with Illinois’ political future hanging in the balance. Krishnamoorthi’s deep pockets and bold rhetoric could make him a frontrunner, but he’ll need to outmaneuver a field of seasoned competitors to claim the prize.

Senate Race News

Krishnamoorthi Enters Illinois Senate Race, Targets Trump and Musk