Skip to main content
7 min read

Illinois Senate primary tests Democrats' anti-ICE message

Krishnamoorthi argues for reforming ICE while campaigning against its current form.

Illinois Senate primary tests Democrats' anti-ICE message
Image · NBC News

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Outlet credibilityNBC News85/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 8, 2026
NBC News
Mar 16, 2026
tl;dr

The Illinois Democratic Senate primary is an early test of how anti-ICE messaging resonates with voters. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton and Robin Kelly offer differing approaches to the agency as they compete ahead of the March 17 primary.

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

SWIPE →

Illinois Senate candidate advocating reforms to ICE and opposing what he calls “Trump’s ICE.”

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Illinois Senate candidate calling to abolish ICE.

Stratton's version of this story ↗

Illinois Senate candidate calling to dismantle ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

Kelly's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President criticized in the candidates’ anti-ICE campaign messaging.

Former president mentioned as an example of an administration that carried out immigration enforcement.

Richard J. Durbin
D · IL · SEN

Illinois senator whose retirement opened the seat.

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

Homeland Security secretary whom Kelly has sought to impeach; the article says she was fired.

ALSO MENTIONED  Brandon Johnson, Chicago mayor mentioned in connection with a consultant who worked on his 2023 campaign.; Greg Bovino, Border Patrol official mentioned as having led deportation efforts until recently.; JB Pritzker, Illinois governor who endorsed Stratton and is identified as a major funder of a super PAC supporting her.

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.

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…