Overview
- Sen. Dick Durbin’s retirement and five open House seats set up unusual turnover across Illinois’ delegation as voters head to the polls Tuesday.
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi enters primary day with a large cash lead and earlier polling advantages, but late surveys show a close race with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton as Rep. Robin Kelly remains viable.
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker backs Stratton and the Congressional Black Caucus’ political arm supports Kelly, while a claimed posthumous Jesse Jackson endorsement for Stratton could not be verified.
- Outside spending has surged, with AdImpact tracking over $55 million in Senate ads and $37 million in House contests, including crypto-linked funding and disputed ties to AIPAC’s United Democracy Project.
- Immigration remains a defining issue after federal enforcement clashes in Chicago, with Stratton calling to abolish ICE, Krishnamoorthi targeting “Trump’s ICE,” and Kelly advocating dismantling the Department of Homeland Security.