Overview
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly head into primary day essentially neck and neck, with late polls showing Krishnamoorthi and Stratton trading leads.
- Krishnamoorthi entered 2026 with a large cash advantage and months of TV ads, while Pritzker’s $5 million infusion to an allied PAC boosted Stratton’s closing message.
- Outside groups poured tens of millions into Senate and House contests, including crypto-linked PACs and organizations associated with AIPAC, according to AdImpact and campaign filings.
- The candidates split on immigration enforcement, with Stratton calling to abolish ICE, Krishnamoorthi vowing to target “Trump’s ICE,” and Kelly advocating dismantling DHS.
- Jackson’s family withdrew a posthumous endorsement touted by Stratton, early voting in Chicago topped 188,000 ballots, and crowded House primaries will also hinge on turnout and slow mail counts.