22 candidates vying for Illinois’ Democrat, Republican U.S. Senate primary

22 candidates vying for Illinois’ Democrat, Republican U.S. Senate primary

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – Some of the 22 candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin say their focus is on kitchen table issues.

Filing for Republicans and Democrats to get on the March 17 primary ballot has closed. Twenty-two people filed for the seat. Democratic U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi filed his on the first day.

“Prices are out of control for so many different items, whether it’s food, whether it’s rent, whether it is electricity or health care,” Krishnamoorthi said on Oct. 27.

Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, already has a pending objection to his petitions. He potentially faces 13 candidates if they survive objections.

Republican candidate Don Tracy also focused on economic issues.

“One of the reasons why I’m running for the Senate is to reduce the cost of living for all illinoisans, especially working families,” Tracy told The Center Square Tuesday. “And health care is one of the drivers of the cost of living increases.”

Tracy turned his petitions in on Friday, joining seven other candidates vying for the Republican nomination.

Durbin, D-Springfield, announced in the spring he was not seeking another term. He’s been in Congress since 1983 and a U.S. senator since 1997.

Krishnamoorthi said he’s stood up to bullies in his career

“I’ve gone after them, gotten results, and now I need to stand up to perhaps the biggest bully we face of all – Donald Trump,” he said.

Tracy said with the Senate seat being a statewide election that can’t be gerrymandered, he feels Republicans have a good chance of securing the spot in November.

“And I happen to think I am that person because I’ve got statewide experience both running statewide in 2010 [as a lieutenant governor candidate] and also being chair of the Illinois Republican Party for three and a half years,” Tracy said.

The objection window is open for challenging petition signatures. That closes Nov. 10.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WATCH: WA mayor stands by pro-ICE, anti-Antifa proclamations

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square The city of Battle Ground has been getting more attention this week than the small southwest Washington community typically receives, due to national coverage of...
U.S. House narrowly passes bill to fund USDA, FDA in 2027

U.S. House narrowly passes bill to fund USDA, FDA in 2027

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Less than four months before fiscal year 2027 begins, the U.S. House passed the second of the 12 annual appropriations bills that will fund the...
Ruling: Illinois Supreme Court likely overstepped in ousting of Cook County judge

Ruling: Illinois Supreme Court likely overstepped in ousting of Cook County judge

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge says he believes a Cook County judge has leveled serious accusations against the Illinois Supreme Court for trampling his...
Illinois passes law to restrict new federal migrant detention centers

Illinois passes law to restrict new federal migrant detention centers

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers passed a bill last weekend that will heavily restrict where immigration detention centers can operate in...
Alcohol tax amendments may be unconstitutional

Alcohol tax amendments may be unconstitutional

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois government officials have proposed amending the way the state taxes alcohol, but the changes may not...
Illinois quick hits: Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen

Illinois quick hits: Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed with Urbana, Illinois, claims the city...
Illinois to regulate intoxicating hemp products, loosen up on cannabis

Illinois to regulate intoxicating hemp products, loosen up on cannabis

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Headed to the governor’s desk is legislation that will regulate and restrict some intoxicating hemp products and...
Questions loom after data center legislation stalls

Questions loom after data center legislation stalls

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The speaker of the Illinois House says he thinks state lawmakers will eventually pass data center regulations,...
Illinois quick hits: Stop child care scams act clears U.S. House, Illinois U.S. Reps introduce immigrant due process bill

Illinois quick hits: Stop child care scams act clears U.S. House, Illinois U.S. Reps introduce immigrant due process bill

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Stop child care scams act clears U.S. House The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller’s legislation aimed...
Pratt, Bass on track to face each other in Nov. 3 mayoral race

Pratt, Bass on track to face each other in Nov. 3 mayoral race

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The Center Square) – It continues to appear that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will be in a Nov. 3 runoff with Spencer Pratt. Bass,...
Kiley, Wahab, Desmond hold onto leads in House districts

Kiley, Wahab, Desmond hold onto leads in House districts

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square There are still 37 days left for counting ballots, but Democrat Aisha Wahab has a big lead in the race for California's Congressional District 14....
GOP maintains leads despite congressional redistricting

GOP maintains leads despite congressional redistricting

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Republican candidates in congressional races throughout California’s redrawn districts still maintain razor-thin margins with all precincts partially reporting on Wednesday afternoon. Several Republican incumbents maintained...

WATCH: Trump acknowledges Iranian hardliners could jeopardize deal

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Still hopeful the U.S. and Iran can strike a deal on its nuclear program, President Donald Trump acknowledged Wednesday that the volatility inside Iran, not...
Advocates applaud, condemn SPLC wire fraud charges

Advocates applaud, condemn SPLC wire fraud charges

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers and political action groups simultaneously applauded and condemned the U.S. Department of Justice’s new superseding indictment from a grand jury against the Southern Poverty...
Gallagher elected to serve rest of LaMalfa's term in Congress

Gallagher elected to serve rest of LaMalfa’s term in Congress

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California Assemblymember James Gallagher, R-East Nicolaus, has been elected to serve the rest of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa's current term. Gallagher is...