IL-Sen: Two US Reps Announce for Senate

Jostles for power in the Land of Lincoln

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Two members of the Illinois US House delegation have officially announced their intention to compete in the state’s open Senate race, and a third may soon join the fray.

Last week, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he will retire after what will be 44 years of congressional service, counting his time in both the House and Senate. Left in his wake will be a highly competitive statewide Democratic primary to be decided in plurality fashion. The Illinois primary is scheduled for March 17, 2026.

Considering the Illinois electorate’s voting history since the turn of the century, winning the statewide Democratic primary is typically tantamount to also clinching the general election.

US Reps. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson/Chicago) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Schaumburg) announced their Senate campaigns this week, and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) is soon expected to follow. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D), who both Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D) support, is also an announced candidate. 

Public Policy Polling released the first poll of the newly open Democratic Senate primary. The survey (4/29-30; 674 IL likely Democratic primary voters; live interview & text) found Rep. Krishnamoorthi leading the pack of contenders with 20% compared to Rep. Underwood’s 16%; Lt. Gov. Stratton posted 13%, and Rep. Kelly trailed with 8% support. 

In terms of name recognition, however, Rep. Underwood leads the group. According to the PPP data, she records a 55% statewide name recognition score, which is surprising for a House member who represents just under 6% of the state’s population. Rep. Krishnamoorthi posts 50% name ID. Only 42% of the polling universe recognized the lone statewide official, Lt. Gov. Stratton. Rep. Kelly is least well known, recording a name identification score of only 31 percent.

According to Jim Williams, the Public Policy Polling representative that conducted the study, Ms. Stratton jumps ahead of the others “after voters learn more about each candidate.” This is largely in reference to the pollsters informing the respondents that Ms. Stratton has received public endorsements from Gov. Pritzker and Sen. Duckworth.

After the respondents hear the push questions, the ballot test changes to 26-17-17-9%, with Ms. Stratton leading Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Underwood and Rep. Kelly, respectively.

The early money count, however, greatly favors Rep. Krishnamoorthi. According to the 1st quarter Federal Election Commission filings, the northern Illinois Congressman posts just under $19.5 million in his campaign account. Reps. Kelly and Underwood have $2.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively. For the federal officials, all of their cash-on-hand money is transferable to a US Senate campaign account.

Since Lt. Gov. Stratton just formally announced her candidacy, she obviously did not file a 1st quarter disclosure report. The Democratic Lt. Governors’ Association, however, has endorsed her candidacy and a spokesman said the organization was committed to spending “seven figures” to help elect Ms. Stratton. She is also counting on a major Super PAC contribution from Gov. Pritzker. The latter may or may not happen since the Governor will likely be on the ballot himself, striving for a third term in an expensive state in which to campaign.

Adding the retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), the 17-member Illinois congressional delegation will already feature at least three open seats, and four if Rep. Underwood makes the expected move into the Senate race.

The 2026 Illinois Senate race will receive a great deal of attention in the early portion of the election cycle since the early Democratic primary in March will almost assuredly determine who will win the general election. We can count on seeing much more about this race as the open campaign continues to develop. 

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Stephen Wynne

Editor-in-Chief, Souls and Liberty