By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois’ Democratic Party candidates for U.S. Senate have focused their campaigns on opposition to Republicans and President Donald Trump.

The field formed quickly after Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced in April he would not seek reelection.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly spoke with reporters at the Illinois State Fair and expressed her support for Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois so they could avoid voting on Texas Republicans’ congressional redistricting plans.

“I’m a fair person, but we have to fight fire with fire. That’s what they’re doing. This is no time to bring the butter knife to the fight,” Kelly said.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton told the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association that what is happening in politics across the country is “a five-alarm fire” and the status quo will not cut it.

“The day after the last election, I stood with Gov. Pritzker and vowed to protect every Illinoisan from the darkness ahead. And what we’ve said all along remains true today: we have your backs,” Stratton said.

The lieutenant governor called Illinois a blueprint for the rest of the nation.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said he has gone after special interests. He called Durbin “a lion” and a role model.

“I wouldn’t even begin to pretend like I could somehow replace him, but I aspire to build on his legacy of great progress,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Krishnamoorthi said he has sponsored legislation to reform the country’s broken system of legal immigration.

“For undocumented folks, giving them a path to legalization, ultimately citizenship, for TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and Dreamers doing the same, for high-skill talent, reforming the system so we don’t have one million people in queue to matriculate from an H-1B visa to a green card. It doesn’t make sense,” Krishnamoorthi said.

The filing period for the March 17, 2026, primary begins Oct. 27.