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Who is Raja ?

Raja Krishnamoorthi is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Illinois’s 8th congressional district since 2017. A  member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 and has won every subsequent reelection bid through 2024. If he is elected in November, he will be the second Indian American in the Senate, after Kamala Harris.

Born in New Delhi, he was raised in Peoria, Illinois. He is married to Priya, who is a doctor, and they live in Schaumburg, Illinois, with their three children.

His political career

He started his political career working on Barack Obama’s 2000 election campaign for the United States House of Representatives. He also served as an issues director for Obama’s 2004 campaign for the United States Senate.

His first run for political office was in 2010, for the Democratic Party nomination for Illinois Comptroller, where he lost in the primary.  His next election run was also a loss to Tammy Duckworth in 2012 for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Illinois’s 8th congressional district. 

But when Duckworth ran for the U.S. Senate in 2016, Krishnamoorthi again declared his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois’s 8th congressional district and has won that seat in every election since.

If elected, his top priorities will be…

According to his website, Krishnamoorthi’s core priorities are:

Restore the American Dream

  • Lower everyday costs for families by addressing rising costs of housing, healthcare, groceries, and utilities 
  • Expand economic opportunity across Illinois. 
  • Protecting social safety nets and public benefits. 
  • Protect Social Security and Medicare benefits.
  • Support SNAP (formerly food stamps) and school nutrition programs (including universal free lunch proposals).
  • Expand career and technical education funding and opportunities.
  • Invest in job training so people without four-year degrees can earn good wages.
  • Advocate for stronger mental health support for healthcare workers and stronger national security measures.

Trump Accountability Plan

  • Propose measures to rein in what he calls abuses of power by President Trump and prevent future presidents from ignoring constitutional limits.
  • Block Trump’s attempt to De-Naturalize American citizens. 
  • Unmask ICE and increase ICE oversight.
  • Focus on accountability and checks on executive power. End Executive Orders that target political enemies.
  • Banning Presidential stock trading and blocking Presidents from hiding their financial interests.

His challenges

Following the retirement of long-time Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, there are 10 Democrats and 6 Republicans competing for their respective party nominations in the Primary on March 17th. His competitors include fellow Democrats Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly. 

According to the Federal Election Commission’s year-end reports, Krishnamoorthi led the fundraising race with nearly $28.5 million in his war chest, accounting for 75% of the total campaign funds raised for this race.

Krishnamoorthi’s primary challenges are about solidifying voter support in a crowded field for the Primary, defending his campaign financing and policy record, and persuading undecided primary voters that his experience and agenda best align with what Illinois voters want in the Senate.

Key Voting Deadlines

  • February 5: Early voting and vote-by-mail begins.
  • March 1: Deadline for online voter registration.
  • March 12: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot.
  • March 17:Primary Election Day (Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.).