CHICAGO — This election year presents Illinois Democrats with a unique chance to send a Black woman to the Senate, yet this opportunity is at risk of being undermined by a fractured electorate and conflicting political allegiances.
In the upcoming primary, three prominent Democrats are vying for the seat that will be vacated when Sen. Dick Durbin retires after nearly thirty years in the Senate: Rep. Robin Kelly, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Both Kelly and Stratton, who are Black women, have strong connections to the state’s Black community. Kelly enjoys the backing of the influential Congressional Black Caucus, while Stratton counts Illinois billionaire governor JB Pritzker among her supporters. However, Krishnamoorthi, who was born in New Delhi and raised in Peoria, has emerged as a frontrunner, bolstered by early polling success and aggressive advertising campaigns that began months ahead of his competitors.
“Voters are torn between choosing their preferred candidate and aligning with what the polls suggest is the most viable option,” noted former Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a supporter of Kelly. “This tension is palpable, especially among Black Illinoisans.”
Debates over race and electability have fueled intra-party discord for months. The recent nomination of state Rep. James Talarico over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a Texas primary heightened concerns among Black Democrats about the diminishing chances of elevating a Black woman to the Senate.
Pritzker’s endorsement of Stratton has drawn sharp criticism from members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who argue that the governor’s involvement has skewed the race. Nonetheless, Illinois Democrats appear largely indifferent to Washington’s influence on their electoral dynamics.
“Chicago politics operates on a different wavelength than Washington politics,” said state Sen. Lakesia Collins, co-chair of the Illinois General Assembly Black Caucus and a supporter of Stratton. “It’s challenging to witness two exceptionally qualified Black women compete for the U.S. Senate. While I don’t believe this divides the party, I do see fractures emerging.”
The CBC refrained from commenting for this article, but last week, current chair Rep. Yvette Clarke criticized Pritzker for his “heavy-handed” approach in endorsing Stratton.
Recently, Rep. Jim Clyburn, a notable figure in the Democratic Party who supports Kelly, hosted an event in Chicago to promote his book. Both Kelly and Stratton attended, along with Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. When Pritzker took to the stage, he acknowledged several attendees, including Stratton, but seemingly overlooked Kelly.
“He completely ignored Robin,” recounted an anonymous attendee. “That caught everyone’s attention.” Governor Pritzker’s spokesperson, Alex Gough, dismissed claims of a slight, stating, “The Governor recognized his fellow speakers and several attendees. Rep. Kelly had already been acknowledged, and any interpretation of this as a snub is simply dramatization.”
Illinois has witnessed similar political dynamics in the past. Lightfoot recalls the 2018 mayoral race, where she triumphed over Cook County Democratic Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle, which also featured two Black women. However, the stakes are higher in this statewide contest, especially with another candidate of color in the mix, causing concern among some Black Democrats about the potential fallout.
“It’s a primary, and several Democrats are in the fray. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen two Black women contend against each other in Illinois. With more Black women entering the political arena, this scenario will become increasingly common,” Kelly remarked in a recent interview. “The qualifications are clear; I’ve even heard that from those not endorsing me.”
Krishnamoorthi, who opted not to comment for this article, adds a different layer to an already intricate political landscape. As an Indian American, he frequently underscores his immigrant heritage and would become only the second Indian American in the Senate if elected. He has also garnered support from Black voters, including Chicago Alderman Stephanie Coleman, chair of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus, who has endorsed him and participated in his campaign events and advertisements.
Moreover, Preckwinkle has provided advisers from her political team to assist Krishnamoorthi, signaling a vote of confidence that has helped him secure backing from some Black community leaders, including local pastors.
“What truly matters is not the candidate’s appearance but the policies they advocate that benefit the Black community,” stated Alex Sims, a political consultant in Chicago working with Black candidates and officials.
The involvement of Super PACs is further complicating the situation. One pro-crypto PAC is launching attack ads against Stratton, while another backing Krishnamoorthi is simultaneously promoting Kelly to siphon votes away from Stratton.
In an interview, Stratton dismissed this tactic as a “cheap political maneuver” aimed at “splitting the Black vote and undermining our power. The message from the Black community is clear: we cannot allow this to happen.”
The current tensions echo the 2008 Democratic primary, where Illinois natives Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama faced off. At that time, established Democrats like Pritzker leaned toward Clinton, while a significant portion of the party rallied around Obama.
“We could have consolidated Black voters behind a single candidate,” lamented Stefanie Brown James, co-founder of The Collective PAC, which enhances the visibility of Black candidates at various political levels. The organization has refrained from endorsing either Stratton or Kelly, concerned about fracturing the Black vote, which could pave the way for Krishnamoorthi’s ascent.
“I’m apprehensive that they will cancel each other out,” she added. “Anyone who believes otherwise, I would love to see the data they are relying on.”
