Illinois Senate Race Heats Up as Durbin’s Retirement Looms
With U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announcing his retirement at the end of his current term, the race to fill his seat in Illinois is rapidly gaining momentum. The upcoming March 17th primary elections will be pivotal in determining who will succeed Durbin, who has held the position since 1997.
A crowded field of candidates has emerged, with ten Democrats and six Republicans vying for the opportunity to represent the state in the U.S. Senate. The Democratic primary, in particular, has drawn significant attention, featuring several prominent figures.
Among the leading Democratic contenders is Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, who currently represents Illinois’s 8th Congressional District. Krishnamoorthi has served in Congress since 2017, representing areas on the Far Northwest Side of Chicago and several western and northwestern suburbs, including parts of Carol Stream, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Elgin, and Geneva. He has positioned himself as a vocal critic of former President Trump, focusing on what he describes as “abuses of power” by the Trump administration. He has specifically accused the former president of weaponizing the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
Krishnamoorthi’s platform centers on economic relief for American families. He is advocating for a nationwide free lunch program for children, a reversal of cuts to food stamps implemented during the Trump administration, and the restoration of cuts to Medicaid. He also supports expanding child tax credits and increasing federal funding for childcare.
Another key Democratic candidate is Representative Robin Kelly, who has represented Illinois’s 2nd Congressional District since 2013. Her district encompasses much of Chicago’s southern lakefront neighborhoods, as well as several south suburbs including Dolton, South Holland, Chicago Heights, and Park Forest, and parts of east central Illinois, including Kankakee, Pontiac, Rantoul, and Danville.
The field also includes Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who is engaged in a heated battle with Krishnamoorthi and Kelly for the Democratic nomination, according to reports. In total, Notice ten Democrats on the ballot for the Senate race.
The upcoming primary elections are particularly significant as they represent the first time in decades that Illinois voters will be choosing a successor to Senator Durbin. The outcome of the primary will likely shape the political landscape in Illinois for years to come.
Beyond the Senate race, the 2026 Illinois primary election features numerous other important contests, including races for Congress and the Illinois governor’s mansion. Governor J.B. Pritzker is seeking a third term, a feat no Democratic governor has previously achieved in the state’s history.
The primary elections are scheduled to take place on . Early voting began on , and voters can also request mail-in ballots. The election is expected to draw significant voter turnout as Illinois residents weigh in on these critical races.
Recent discussions surrounding the Senate primary have also focused on the future of federal immigration policy, with candidates outlining their approaches to issues related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the legacy of the Trump administration’s policies. This debate underscores the high stakes of the election and the potential impact it could have on national policy.
