Illinois Democrats duke it out for Durbin’s seat

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At the top of the 10-candidate field, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are blitzing ads, exchanging jabs and drawing support from national figures as they barrel toward the March 17 showdown. And Gov. JB Pritzker (D), who’s backing Stratton, looms large.

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“It’s a close race because every candidate is bringing all of the available tools to address what Democratic primary voters want. All of them have liberal policies, Trump-accountability policies … all acceptable to voters,” said Illinois Democratic strategist Tom Bowen. “So that’s why this race will probably be pretty close up until the end.”

Krishnamoorthi, a five-term lawmaker from the suburban Chicago 8th Congressional District, emerged as the early front-runner with a significant fundraising edge and support from more than two dozen fellow members of Congress for the seat.

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But Stratton, who served in the Illinois House before joining Pritzker’s administration, has seen signals of momentum in some polls as the race ramps up. She’s boosted by backing from the billionaire governor and the likes of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

And Kelly, who has represented the South Side-area 2nd Congressional District for more than a decade, boasts support from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Democratic kingmaker Rep. Jim Clyburn (S.C.). Her lower-profile bid has been seen as a potential spoiler in the race, expected to splinter some of Stratton’s support, particularly from Black voters.

Bowen characterized the primary as “a clash” between Stratton and Krishnamoorthi, while Kelly has “offered herself as the alternative.” But he stressed that the race has seemed to lack “a real difference” between the three leaders on policy, progressive values or approach to President Trump.

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