Top Democrats make their case to replace Sen. Dick Durbin in Illinois primary
Kelly presents her experience and platform, including proposals on taxes, health care and support for farmers.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHY25News Now is a local news organization, and the article identifies its author and attributes campaign claims to the candidates. The article provides little independent verification of those claims, but the reporting is presented as a straightforward local news story.
- Source type — Local news outlet; a favorable prior for established newsroom reporting.
- Author attribution — An author is named, and candidate statements are attributed.
- Editorial standards — The article uses a conventional reported-news format, though the text alone does not establish correction practices.
- Source diversity — The piece interviews the candidates but provides little independent corroboration.
The article gives substantial space to three leading candidates and attributes their positions and biographical claims to them. Its limitations are that much of the content comes from candidate statements, with little outside verification or discussion of competing views.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The piece gives space to each of three leading candidates and identifies others on the ballot, but relies heavily on candidate claims without independent scrutiny or contrasting perspectives.
- Source diversity — Three contenders are quoted, but outside experts, voters and opposing perspectives are absent.
- Counterarguments presented — The article does not test or challenge the candidates' claims with counterarguments.
- Opinion vs reporting — Written as reported news, with candidates' statements attributed rather than presented as the author's conclusions.
- Loaded language — No notable editorially loaded language is apparent.
The article presents the candidates' positions and criticism of the Trump administration as attributed statements, without adopting an evident partisan framing of its own.
- Language tone — Mostly neutral, descriptive language; quoted evaluations are attributed to candidates.
- Source selection — The article interviews three Democratic contenders and notes other candidates, but does not present a competing party perspective.
- Framing — Frames the article as a comparison of leading candidates' cases in a Democratic primary.
With Sen. Dick Durbin retiring, Illinois Democrats Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly and Juliana Stratton are making their cases ahead of the March 17 primary, emphasizing affordability and holding President Donald Trump accountable. The article compares their proposals and backgrounds.
The article profiles U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton as leading Democrats seeking the Senate seat Sen. Dick Durbin plans to leave. It reports that all three emphasize affordability and holding President Donald Trump accountable, while other Democrats are also on the primary ballot.
Krishnamoorthi describes proposals including free student lunches and term limits, and calls for oversight of federal agencies and limits on presidential powers. Kelly discusses taxes, health care, constituent service and support for farmers. Stratton emphasizes raising the federal minimum wage, expanding health care access, tax changes and education proposals; she also says she has endorsements from Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Kelly in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Kelly’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois
Krishnamoorthi's version of this story ↗Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois
Stratton's version of this story ↗Democratic candidate listed on the Illinois Senate primary ballot
Democratic candidate listed on the Illinois Senate primary ballot
Democratic candidate listed on the Illinois Senate primary ballot
President criticized by the candidates
Democratic candidate listed on the Illinois Senate primary ballot
Illinois senator whose retirement opens the seat
Illinois senator who endorsed Stratton
Democratic candidate listed on the Illinois Senate primary ballot
Democratic candidate listed on the Illinois Senate primary ballot
Part of a bigger story
7 OUTLETSThe Illinois Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat featured Robin Kelly among the leading candidates seeking the nomination. The seat is open as Sen. Dick Durbin retires. Center outlets emphasize the contest’s political dynamics, including Pritzker’s influence, spending and policy differences, with some also focusing on anti-ICE messaging, polling or generational change.
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- OUTLETS
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- www.weny.com · Illinois voters pick a new generation of Democrats after near-record retirements
- KTBB · In Illinois' Democratic primaries, generational change and heavy spending take center stage – KTBB News, Weather, Talk
- Newsweek · Raja Krishnamoorthi's Chances of Winning Illinois Senate Primary—Polls
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