Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) put an end to the speculation about his next step by announcing on Wednesday that he will run for the Senate seat currently held by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
“We’re ignoring the Constitution, acting like tyrants, surrounded by wealthy supporters and aggressive extremists, threatening our rights and manipulating the rules for profit, while hardworking individuals suffer,” Krishnamoorthi stated, calling it “insanity.” He emphasized this during his presentation video.
“I have stood up to bullies, whether they are after our children, our families, or our country,” he mentioned later in the video.
Krishnamoorthi shared his background as a first-generation American from a working-class family, mentioning his experience in assisting former President Obama’s campaigns—in both the unsuccessful 2000 bid and the victorious 2004 Senate campaign.
His campaign hints he may carve out a distinctive space as a strong critic of Trump within the primary landscape.
Krishnamoorthi joins a growing list of Democrats vying for Durbin’s seat, as Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) announced her candidacy on Tuesday, alongside Gov. Juliana Stratton, who has garnered backing from JB Pritzker (D) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
With an impressive $19.4 million fund, Krishnamoorthi is well-positioned financially to engage with voters early on. His campaign plans to kick off his first event on Friday in Peoria, reaching out to constituents from Chicago and Schaumburg.
Additionally, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) may also join the Democratic primary race.
