Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Illinois will serve as a crucial test of progressive influence within the party, as voters choose among eleven candidates seeking to fill the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Dick Durbin, age 81.
The competitive race reflects a broader shift happening across Illinois, where Durbin’s retirement alongside two other veteran congressional members has sparked multiple heated Democratic primary contests throughout the state on Tuesday.
As a solidly Democratic stronghold, Illinois races are anticipated to remain uncompetitive come November’s general election, when Republicans under President Donald Trump will work to maintain their congressional control.
Recent polling shows Trump’s approval rating at 39% in the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, while Democrats have delivered strong electoral results in recent months, capturing Virginia’s governorship, forcing a runoff in a pro-Trump Georgia district, and selecting a centrist Senate candidate in Texas.
The primary features three prominent candidates: current Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, 52, and Robin Kelly, 69, along with Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, 60.
Immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, particularly mass deportations and resulting Chicago protests, has emerged as a central campaign issue.
Among the leading candidates, Stratton has adopted the most progressive stance, advocating for completely eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “ICE cannot be reformed,” she stated.
Kelly took action in January by filing impeachment charges against former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who supervised ICE before Trump dismissed her on March 5. Krishnamoorthi supports removing “Trump’s ICE” leadership without permanently dismantling the entire agency.
On the Republican side, former Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy is viewed as a leading candidate among several seeking the GOP Senate nomination.
Northwestern University political science professor Laurel Harbridge-Yong expects a tight Democratic contest. “The three (leading) candidates all have served in elective office, are strong candidates by many kinds of metrics; there’s quite a mix of endorsements” among the candidates, she explained.
Currently, Republicans maintain a 53-47 Senate advantage and control the House 218-214 with three vacant seats. Historical patterns show incumbent presidents’ parties typically lose congressional seats during midterm elections, with analysts suggesting Democrats have favorable House prospects but face steeper Senate challenges.
Additional competitive races are unfolding as Democratic and Republican candidates seek nominations for seats being vacated by retiring Representatives Danny Davis, 84, and Jan Schakowsky, 81. Both Democrats represent strongly liberal Chicago-area constituencies.
Several other open House seats are generating significant primary activity, including districts currently held by Krishnamoorthi and Kelly as they pursue Senate campaigns.
Krishnamoorthi, who immigrated from India as a child, has represented his district for nearly ten years in the House.
His campaign financing leads all competitors, maintaining $6.6 million in available funds after collecting over $30 million total. As a New Democrat Coalition member representing moderate House Democrats, Krishnamoorthi supports increasing the federal minimum wage to $17 hourly over five years.
His healthcare agenda includes expanding Medicare coverage for seniors, specifically allowing Americans aged 50 and older to purchase Medicare plans.
Both Stratton and Kelly are courting progressive supporters by promoting comprehensive “Medicare for all” single-payer healthcare legislation.
Stratton has received backing from Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, who appears frequently in her television advertisements. She proposes raising the current $7.25 federal minimum wage to $25 per hour, compared to her opponents’ $17 target.
Her campaign has collected $4 million in contributions with $1.3 million remaining available.
Kelly has represented her House district since 2013 and emphasizes that her Chicago-area constituency, spanning urban, suburban and rural communities, has prepared her to address diverse voter concerns.
According to Federal Election Commission records, she has raised $3.3 million with nearly $721,000 in remaining campaign funds.
