News: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) raised $1 million since launching his bid for Illinois’ open Senate race two weeks ago.
The five-term lawmaker has been stockpiling money to seek higher office for years and began his campaign for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat with more than $19 million in the bank.
The race is a three-way contest between Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), who has endorsements from 18 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who has backing from Gov. JB Pritzker.
Neither Kelly nor Stratton have released any fundraising totals. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) announced this week she wouldn’t jump into the Democratic primary.
Strong early fundraising could prove crucial to Krishnamoorthi because he’s going up against Stratton and the state’s billionaire governor.
The biggest question in the race is just how much Pritzker might give to a super PAC backing his lieutenant governor. Pritzker’s support of a different candidate doesn’t seem to have spooked donors from giving to Krishnamoorthi, at least for now.
