Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) could blow up an already crowded Illinois Senate primary if she enters the fray.
Will Underwood join the scramble to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)? Nobody knows yet, she’s giving no hints.
“We are in a position of strength,” Underwood said when we asked. “And we are not late.”
Underwood insists she’s in no rush to enter the open primary. Three high-profile Democrats are already in the contest and quickly racking up endorsements and fundraising.
We’re told Underwood could make a decision on whether or not to run as soon as this week.
The race so far: Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) all announced their Senate campaigns in the past three weeks.
Stratton quickly secured influential backing from Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.). Krishnamoorthi is running digital ads and has a formidable $19 million war chest. Meanwhile, the Congressional Black Caucus chair and 17 other CBC members have lined up behind Kelly.
In interviews with Democratic operatives and members, no one was sure if Underwood would get in. Several members of the CBC said they didn’t know whether Underwood would enter.
“Nobody wants that,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), who is backing Kelly, said of the prospect of having two CBC members in the race.
“I have no idea, to be honest with you,” Kelly said when asked if she thought Underwood would enter.
Despite the mystery, two primary polls (one from pro-Underwood group and another from a pro-Stratton group) show Underwood in first-or second-place and with the highest name ID of any candidate.
What’s weighing on Underwood’s mind? First off, there’s the prospect of the state’s billionaire Democratic governor dropping a prohibitive amount of money in the primary to back Stratton. This isn’t out of the question, especially since Stratton has hinted as much.
“It’s a consideration for everyone in the race,” Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) said of Pritzker’s support for Stratton.
And at 38, Underwood is already a member of House Democratic leadership, serving as the co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Committee, a coveted post.
Underwood would have to give up a relatively safe House district for a bruising Senate primary.
View from the Senate: Durbin isn’t getting involved yet, telling us he doesn’t plan on endorsing but isn’t ruling it out completely.
Durbin said he wasn’t surprised Stratton had locked up significant endorsements, calling her “a qualified candidate.” “And there will be others as well,” Durbin added.
Duckworth hailed Stratton as a “go-getter” who she’s gotten to know over the past couple years.
The ultimate beneficiary of an Underwood run could be Krishnamoorthi. Three Black women in the race could open up a potential path for him.
“No comment,” Kelly said when asked if the race would be easier for her if Underwood stayed out.
