The political landscape of Illinois is heating up as Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi throws his hat into the ring for the 2026 U.S. Senate race, aiming to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Announcing his campaign, Krishnamoorthi promised to "stand up and fight back" against adversaries like the Trump administration and tech mogul Elon Musk. With a campaign war chest reportedly holding $19 million, the Schaumburg Democrat is set to commence his bid with strategic stops in Peoria, Chicago, and his hometown of Schaumburg, as initially reported by NBC Chicago.
During an interview with ABC News, Krishnamoorthi highlighted his consistent opposition to Trump's policies and actions, having voted for his impeachment twice. "I have a track record of standing up to Donald Trump in Congress. I voted for impeaching him twice, but I also … played a big role in the first impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill," Krishnamoorthi said. In his campaign announcement, he made it clear that he intends to safeguard the economic future of Illinoisans, while also directly challenging the chaotic effects of the actions taken by Trump and Elon Musk's influence on federal agencies and programs.
Bringing a personal touch to his campaign, the Congressman nods to his Indian heritage, his central Illinois roots, and a career influenced by none other than former President Barack Obama. "I worked on a friend's campaign who showed that Illinois will give you a shot even if you have a funny name. And inspired by Barack's example, I was elected to Congress," Raja told ABC News, inviting constituents to just call him "Raja." While Sen. Durbin has opted to remain neutral thus far, refraining from endorsing any candidate unless an "extreme case" necessitates it, Krishnamoorthi pays homage to the longtime senator by calling him a "titan" and expresses humility in following in the footsteps of such a "fellow son of downstate."
