U.S. REP. ROBIN KELLY
The battle for Chicago’s powerful Black vote in the race to replace U.S. Senator Dick Durbin in Illinois intensified this week. Congresswoman Robin Kelly is among several candidates who announced their campaigns for the seat. Kelly’s most prominent opponent is Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, who has been endorsed by Governor J.B. Pritzker. However, that endorsement could pose challenges for Stratton, following a controversial political decision made by the governor several years ago that disappointed many Black Democrats.
It’s a Democratic primary that could split the Black vote among three Black women, as the party sharpens its focus on countering MAGA conservatives in Washington, where former President Donald Trump’s approval ratings continue to decline.
In announcing her campaign, Kelly said in a statement, “This moment requires proven leaders who have the experience to take on the toughest battles. I’ve never backed down — not from gun lobbyists, not from MAGA extremists, and certainly not from a fight for what’s right.”
In 2013, Kelly won a crowded 16-person Democratic primary to fill the congressional seat vacated by former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., who resigned while under investigation for misuse of campaign funds and later went to prison. Kelly received more than half the primary vote before easily winning the special election.
Now, in the race for the U.S. Senate, Kelly faces a statewide test and describes herself as the underdog against Stratton.
Stratton has secured endorsements from prominent Democrats, including former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Governor Pritzker, who is capable of directing significant financial resources into her campaign.
Still, the memory of 2022 lingers among some Black political observers. That year, Kelly stepped aside from seeking a second term as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois after Pritzker endorsed State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez for the position. The move angered some Black Democrats, who viewed the endorsement as sidelining a respected Black leader in favor of a candidate backed by party elites.
Community leaders have said Pritzker’s endorsement of Hernandez left lingering frustration. Some believe it could influence perceptions of Stratton, who has served as Pritzker’s lieutenant governor since 2018 — a role that has increased her statewide visibility but has not always been defined by policymaking responsibilities.
Stratton entered politics in 2016 when she defeated incumbent Ken Dunkin in the Illinois House of Representatives’ 5th District in a high-profile, high-spending race. The following year, she was named Pritzker’s running mate. As lieutenant governor, she has spent the last six years building name recognition across Illinois. Stratton spearheaded specific initiatives and chaired various councils and committees, including the Justice, Equity and Opportunity Initiative, the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, the Military Economic Development Council, and the Illinois River Coordinating Council.
According to a statement on her campaign website, Stratton said, “I’ve spent the last six years serving as Lieutenant Governor of the great state of Illinois, and I’ve seen firsthand the progress that’s possible when we treat the needs of middle-class families as a focal point, not just a talking point. As Donald Trump and Elon Musk continue their relentless attack on Americans, we need new voices in Washington who will stand firm and fight fiercely to move us forward and protect the values we hold dear.”
Kelly and Stratton are now poised for a competitive Democratic primary where Chicago’s Black electorate is expected to be a decisive factor. To secure the nomination and compete in the general election, both candidates will need strong support from urban Black voters and broader appeal across downstate Illinois, where conservative voters are likely to back a Republican.
Adding complexity to the race is the recent entry of U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who announced his campaign on Wednesday, May 7. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood is also reportedly considering a run.
Underwood, a two-term congresswoman representing a predominantly Republican district, has demonstrated crossover appeal. However, political observers say she would face challenges navigating between her suburban Republican base and Chicago’s Democratic Black voters.
In the south suburbs, Dolton pastor Anthony Williams is expected to officially announce his Senate candidacy on Saturday, May 10 at St. Patrick’s Steakhouse and Rooftop Bar.
For now, though, the contest is shaping up as a showdown between Kelly and Stratton. Kelly, who represents Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District — which spans Hyde Park, South Shore, Matteson, Country Club Hills and reaches south to Danville and Riverdale — has served in Congress for 12 years. According to the Federal Election Commission, she enters the race with $2 million in campaign funds.
“You could say I’ve been an underdog my whole life,” Kelly said in a campaign launch video.
While Kelly brings over a decade of experience in Washington, D.C., Stratton has largely served in state-level executive roles.
Political analyst and retired college professor Dr. Robert Starks believes Stratton may have an early advantage due to financial support.
“I don’t think there’s anyone that has an edge except maybe Stratton because she has money coming from the governor,” said Starks. “Krishnamoorthi also has a lot of money. Those two have the resources to reach voters across the state with media campaigns.”
Starks added that name recognition remains a challenge for both Kelly and Stratton.
“The problem with Stratton is that people don’t know who she is,” he said. “And most people in Chicago don’t know Kelly because she doesn’t come to the city that often either. None of them have a real grassroots hold in the state.”
According to an April 29, 2025 article in Chicago Magazine, Stratton may face an uphill battle due to the political history of lieutenant governors in Illinois. The magazine noted that the role offers “limited opportunities to build a record of their own,” and referred to it as “a graveyard for political ambitions.” The article cited failed campaigns by former lieutenant governors Paul Simon, Dave O’Neal, Bob Kustra and Corinne Wood. The sole recent exception was Pat Quinn, who became governor in 2009 after the arrest and removal of Rod Blagojevich.
As the race unfolds, Black voters in Chicago and across Illinois are poised to play a pivotal role in determining who will carry the Democratic banner into the general election — and possibly become the state’s next U.S. senator.