Three Democrats seeking Illinois U.S. Senate seat debate in Chicago

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Immigration and taxation policies are front and center for Democratic Party candidates seeking to replace Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

The University of Chicago Institute of Politics hosted the debate for three of the 10 Democrats seeking the seat currently held by Durbin, D-Springfield.

Illinois U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton all criticized President Donald Trump, especially on policies involving U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.

Kelly said dismantling ICE should be accompanied by immigration reform.

“We have to land the plane on the Dreamers and make them American citizens. We have to find a pathway for the over 11 million undocumented that are contributing to this city of Chicago, this state of Illinois and to the United States,” Kelly said.

Stratton said Krishnamoorthi did not stand up to Trump when U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement arrived in Chicago last summer.

“He went onto the House floor in Washington D.C. and voted to thank ICE. He’s accepted funding from ICE contractors,” Stratton said.

The lieutenant governor traded verbal blows with Krishnamoorthi over campaign donations.

Krishnamoorthi said he was the only immigrant in the debate and the only person who had inspected an ICE facility.

“And what I learned there was shocking, that they not only go after people with convictions, they go after people who are merely charged and who are collaterally present. That means innocent civilians,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Krishnamoorthi said he joined Kelly’s motion to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Earlier this month, Kelly filed articles of impeachment against Noem in the U.S. House, citing allegations over obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust and self-dealing.

All three candidates in the debate called for higher taxes on millionaires, billionaires and wealthy corporations.

The other candidates on the March 17 Democratic primary ballot are Kevin Ryan, Steve Botsford Jr., Bryan Maxwell, Jonathan Dean, Sean Brown, Awisi Bustos and Christopher Swann.

The candidates in the Republican primary are Casey Chlebek, Don Tracy, R. Cary Capparelli, Pamela Denise Long, Jimmy Lee Tillman II and Jeannie Evans.