CHICAGO (AP) 鈥� A rare opening for Illinois to elect a new U.S. senator has sparked a political brawl among the top three candidates in the Democratic state.
Yet the Democratic primary to replace retiring has also become a political test for another candidate on : Gov. JB Pritzker.
The billionaire is backing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton over two established U.S. House members 鈥� Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly. Pritzker has put millions into Stratton’s election, campaigned alongside her at senior centers and even appeared in an expletive-filled TV ad aimed at Trump. But Pritzker鈥檚 looming presence has created new wrinkles with criticism from prominent Black Democrats, questions about the possible 2028 presidential contender鈥檚 influence and voter discomfort about how he uses his wealth.
鈥淢oney should not have to be a factor into tipping the scales in the political arena,鈥� said Maria Pike, a Chicago anti-violence activist. Even as an ardent Pritzker supporter, she鈥檚 uneasy with the millions the in his own primary, has funneled into electing Stratton. She鈥檚 voting for Kelly.
Millions raised
Sixteen candidates have jumped in since Durbin, the Senate鈥檚 No. 2 Democrat, announced his retirement after 30 years as senator.
The winner of the 10-way Democratic primary is favored to win outright in the blue state come November. Illinois hasn鈥檛 had a Republican senator since 2016, when Mark Kirk was defeated by Democrat Tammy Duckworth.
The frontrunners include 52-year-old Krishnamoorthi, a five-term congressman who was the first with television ads in July. Krishnamoorthi is a prodigious fundraiser, generating more than $30 million from about mid-2025 until last month.
He sidestepped questions about Pritzker.
鈥淎t the end of the day, voters will make their decision. They don鈥檛 want anyone else to decide for them,鈥� Krishnamoorthi said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on a good path. We just have to run down it as fast as we can.鈥�
Among all 2026 Senate candidates this election cycle, Krishnamoorthi was second in fundraising only to Democrat Jon Ossoff of Georgia, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Far behind were Kelly, who raised about $3.3 million, and Stratton with about $4 million in the same time period.
But in December, Pritzker put $5 million into a super PAC largely aimed at electing Stratton.
Sharp debates
It’s not unusual for governors and other prominent politicians to weigh in on elections, though doing so during a primary often creates rifts. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, is uniquely situated because of his wealth. He has been the state party’s financial engine for years, and has backed numerous candidates in Illinois and nationally.
But no other endorsement has been so closely linked to his own career.
Pritzker tapped Stratton to be his running mate in 2017, months into her single term as a state legislator. When asked her biggest accomplishments, she cites supporting Pritzker鈥檚 policies, including raising Illinois’ minimum wage.
Stratton came out swinging at debates, blasting Krishnamoorthi鈥檚 voting record and funding sources so harshly he joked he鈥檇 need 鈥渂ody armor鈥� at a televised January forum.
In her first TV ad, voters and Sen. Duckworth hurl the f-word at Trump. While Stratton and Pritzker don鈥檛 use it, they appear together smiling.
鈥淚t captured what so many people are feeling right now. Why are we playing around that these are normal times?鈥� Stratton said. 鈥淧eople are looking for fire.鈥�
She said there鈥檚 no downside to Pritzker鈥檚 support.
Blasting Pritzker
Not everyone agrees.
Earlier this month the Congressional Black Caucus, of which Kelly is a member, knocked his support.
鈥淕overnor Pritzker鈥檚 effort to tip the scales in Illinois鈥� U.S. Senate race is beyond frustrating,鈥� Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York, who leads the caucus, said in a statement. 鈥淎 sitting governor shouldn鈥檛 be heavy-handing the race. Quite frankly, his behavior in this race won鈥檛 soon be forgotten by any of us.鈥�
Kelly, 69, said she didn鈥檛 solicit the message.
鈥淭hey see what鈥檚 going and they feel like, a very qualified woman that鈥檚 running, is already there,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust because you don鈥檛 have the most money, doesn鈥檛 mean that you haven鈥檛 done the most.鈥�
She pointed to , who hasn鈥檛 endorsed a candidate in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, where Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig are running for the Democratic nomination.
Kelly was first elected in 2013, campaigning on a message of gun control that resonated in the district that includes Chicago鈥檚 South Side, suburbs and farmland. With her people-over-profits message, she鈥檚 differentiated herself as a progressive, including condemning Israel鈥檚 attacks in Gaza as genocide.
Chicago voter Kiyonna Mosely, 49, said she trusts Pritzker but doesn鈥檛 have a sense of Stratton. She likes Kelly鈥檚 record on opposing gun violence and finds her relatable.
鈥淪he just kind of speaks my language when she is speaking, always straightforward,鈥� Mosely said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 experienced a lot of things I have, with being a Black woman.鈥�
Support for Pritzker
Pritzker has defended his involvement as appropriate. He said he didn鈥檛 blame the CBC for 鈥渟tanding up for a friend of theirs.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 working very hard to elect someone as our U.S. senator, a Black woman, who would be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus when she wins,鈥� he told reporters last week in Springfield. 鈥淪he has the best chance of being a great U.S. senator for us among the three Democrats in the running.鈥�
Some appreciate his input.
Pritzker is credited with bringing stability to the state, something voter Susan Stockman has liked about him. The 73-year-old retired teacher in suburban Chicago is voting for Stratton in part because of Pritzker.
鈥淗e鈥檚 done as great of a job as anybody can do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 any such thing as being too involved.鈥�
The outcome of Tuesday’s election also will be seen as a sign of Pritzker’s political influence, just as he is being mentioned as a potential candidate for president in 2028. Pritzker put more than $25 million into his campaign war chest last year, fueling speculation that he was preparing a wider run, though he鈥檚 been coy about any presidential ambitions.
Reaching voters
Recently, Stratton has been more visible at Pritzker’s government appearances. On Thursday, Pritzker stumped for her with a series of appearances at senior living centers on Chicago’s South Side. Already one of Trump’s , Pritzker told the residents in one largely Black neighborhood that Stratton offered a new avenue to take on the president.
鈥淢y partner in governance for seven years decided that it was time for her to go take this fight to Washington on my behalf,鈥� he told residents.
Candidates have also put energy into reaching voters statewide. Stratton, 60, was born and raised in Chicago but says her experience on a rural communities commission has made her a known entity downstate. Kelly also touts her time in Peoria, about 150 miles southwest of Chicago, where she went to college.
Krishnamoorthi, who was born in India and raised in Peoria, said he has been building support in communities outside his suburban Chicago district for years, meeting with residents on Medicare starting in 2023 and picking up endorsements from prominent downstate Democrats.
The approach has been appealing to 63-year-old Kimberly Beal, who lives in Kelly’s congressional district and attended Thursday’s Stratton event. She’s mulling a vote for Krishnamoorthi.
鈥淗is boots on the group approach has been one I like,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e brings a no-nonsense appeal.鈥�
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Associated Press writer John O鈥機onnor in Springfield, Illinois contributed to this report.
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