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Illinois Senate primary brings big dollars, tests Pritzker's power

Krishnamoorthi is one of the leading candidates in the costly Democratic primary for Illinois’ open Senate seat.

Illinois Senate primary brings big dollars, tests Pritzker's power
Image · Chicago Tribune

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Outlet credibilityChicago Tribune81/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 8, 2026
tl;dr

Illinois voters are set to choose nominees for an open U.S. Senate seat in a costly primary led by Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly and Juliana Stratton. The race has become a test of Gov. JB Pritzker’s influence and has been dominated by disputes over campaign money as well as policy differences.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Krishnamoorthi in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Krishnamoorthi’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Democratic Senate candidate and U.S. representative

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic Senate candidate and Illinois lieutenant governor

Stratton's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate and U.S. representative

Kelly's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate

Don Tracy
R · IL

Republican Senate candidate and former Illinois GOP chair

Democratic Senate candidate

Jon Ossoff
D · GA · SEN

Georgia senator referenced in a comparison of fundraising totals

Kevin Ryan
D · IL

Democratic Senate candidate

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration and policies frame candidates’ campaign arguments

Republican Senate candidate

Democratic Senate candidate

Former Illinois governor

Richard J. Durbin
D · IL · SEN

Illinois senator who announced he would not seek another term

Tammy Duckworth
D · IL · SEN

Illinois senator mentioned in Krishnamoorthi’s political history

Kristi Noem
Former U.S. Representative (R-SD)

Former Homeland Security secretary whom Kelly sought to impeach

Republican Senate candidate

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Massachusetts senator who endorsed Stratton

Democratic Senate candidate

Democratic Senate candidate

Sean Brown
D · IL

Democratic Senate candidate

ALSO MENTIONED  JB Pritzker, Illinois governor whose support for Stratton is presented as a test of his political influence; Alan Dixon, Former Illinois senator; Barack Obama, Former president who endorsed Stratton in a state legislative race; Bob Kustra, Former Illinois lieutenant governor; Bruce Rauner, Former Illinois governor; Casey Chlebek, Republican Senate candidate; Dan Proft, Republican political operative and radio host; Dave O’Neal, Former Illinois lieutenant governor; Jesse Jackson Jr., Former U.S. representative seeking to reclaim his former House seat; Jim Edgar, Former Illinois governor; Jimmy Lee Tillman II, Republican Senate candidate; Ken Dunkin, Former Illinois state representative defeated by Stratton in a primary; Michael Madigan, Former Illinois House speaker; Al Salvi, Former Republican Senate candidate; R. Cary Capparelli, Republican Senate candidate

Part of a bigger story

11 OUTLETS
Illinois Voters Choose Nominees in Congressional Primaries

Outlets agree Illinois voters are choosing a Democratic nominee for the open Senate seat Dick Durbin is leaving, with Raja Krishnamoorthi among the leading candidates. Center outlets present the race as shaped by campaign spending and policy disputes, including immigration and ICE, with some attention to Gov. JB Pritzker’s influence. Right-leaning outlets focus on a dispute over whether the late Jesse Jackson endorsed Juliana Stratton.

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