Democratic candidates focus on national politics in campaign for U.S. Senate

Democratic candidates focus on national politics in campaign for U.S. Senate

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – Illinois’ Democratic Party candidates for U.S. Senate have focused their campaigns on opposition to Republicans and President Donald Trump.

The field formed quickly after Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced in April he would not seek reelection.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly spoke with reporters at the Illinois State Fair and expressed her support for Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois so they could avoid voting on Texas Republicans’ congressional redistricting plans.

“I’m a fair person, but we have to fight fire with fire. That’s what they’re doing. This is no time to bring the butter knife to the fight,” Kelly said.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton told the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association that what is happening in politics across the country is “a five-alarm fire” and the status quo will not cut it.

“The day after the last election, I stood with Gov. Pritzker and vowed to protect every Illinoisan from the darkness ahead. And what we’ve said all along remains true today: we have your backs,” Stratton said.

The lieutenant governor called Illinois a blueprint for the rest of the nation.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said he has gone after special interests. He called Durbin “a lion” and a role model.

“I wouldn’t even begin to pretend like I could somehow replace him, but I aspire to build on his legacy of great progress,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Krishnamoorthi said he has sponsored legislation to reform the country’s broken system of legal immigration.

“For undocumented folks, giving them a path to legalization, ultimately citizenship, for TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and Dreamers doing the same, for high-skill talent, reforming the system so we don’t have one million people in queue to matriculate from an H-1B visa to a green card. It doesn’t make sense,” Krishnamoorthi said.

The filing period for the March 17, 2026, primary begins Oct. 27.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Support swells across the aisle for $580B BUILD America 250 Act

Support swells across the aisle for $580B BUILD America 250 Act

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Five-year plans for American roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs reaches an 18-month crescendo Thursday with a committee markup...
Revised bipartisan housing bill passes U.S. House, one step closer to becoming law

Revised bipartisan housing bill passes U.S. House, one step closer to becoming law

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed its revised version of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, sending the bipartisan legislation meant to address the housing...
War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has resumed his war of words with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who responded by...
Nesbitt asks DOJ to investigate Whitmer's ties to grant scandal

Nesbitt asks DOJ to investigate Whitmer’s ties to grant scandal

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is calling for a federal investigation into Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s connections to former ally and donor Fay Beydoun following...
Senate Republicans' rebellion in War Powers Resolution vote could sway House vote

Senate Republicans’ rebellion in War Powers Resolution vote could sway House vote

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In a remarkable rebuke of the Trump administration's mission against Iran, the U.S. Senate narrowly advanced a War Powers Resolution when a handful of Republicans...
Cassidy breaks with Trump on Iran, spending after reelection defeat

Cassidy breaks with Trump on Iran, spending after reelection defeat

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., broke with President Donald Trump on multiple fronts this week after losing his reelection bid, including joining a Senate vote...
Nashville, state spent billions of taxpayer funds drawing Super Bowl

Nashville, state spent billions of taxpayer funds drawing Super Bowl

By Jon StyfThe Center Square Tennessee already has granted $10.8 million of taxpayer money from its special events fund toward luring Super Bowl LXIV in 2030 to Nashville in additional...
Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

By Scott Hollan | Legal NewslineThe Center Square CHICAGO — A federal judge won’t yet let food products maker ConAgra off the hook for a class action accusing it of...
Legal analysts applaud yet are skeptical of American Bar Association’s DEI elimination

Legal analysts applaud yet are skeptical of American Bar Association’s DEI elimination

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Some education experts see the American Bar Association’s recent vote to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion accreditation requirement for law schools as significant, while...
Illinois Quick Hits: Bill offering CTE alternative clears senate committee

Illinois Quick Hits: Bill offering CTE alternative clears senate committee

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate Education Committee has advanced legislation that would allow high school students to take Career...
Workers say mass Spirit Airlines layoffs violate federal law

Workers say mass Spirit Airlines layoffs violate federal law

By Michael Carroll | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Six former Spirit Airlines employees, including five Florida residents, have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that the Florida company’s worker layoffs violate...
Bill that tried to kill secret agreements with your tax dollars now faces its own silent death

Bill that tried to kill secret agreements with your tax dollars now faces its own silent death

By Adam HerbetsThe Center Square It’s costing taxpayers at least $1.1 billion, but there’s only so much lawmakers are allowing the public to know about the California Capitol Annex Project....
After-school program orgs seek $70M in new state grants to cover gap from fed cuts

After-school program orgs seek $70M in new state grants to cover gap from fed cuts

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A coalition of nonprofit organizations that provide after-school and summer programs for Illinois students is warning their...
Collins, Dooley to face off in June runoff for U.S. Senate

Collins, Dooley to face off in June runoff for U.S. Senate

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Republican candidates for Georgia’s contentious U.S. Senate race will face off again in a June 16 runoff to determine November's representative. Neither U.S. Rep. Mike...
Alabama U.S. Senate races head to June runoff

Alabama U.S. Senate races head to June runoff

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Both party primaries for U.S. Senate in Alabama will head to a runoff election in June, multiple outlets reported. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and...