Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Runs for U.S. Senate

The Democratic primary frontrunner discusses his policy positions and fundraising lead ahead of the 2026 election.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has represented Illinois’ northwest suburbs for eight years, is one of three top Democratic candidates running to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Krishnamoorthi, who has voted in line with President Biden 100% of the time, discussed his policy positions on issues like banning congressional stock trading, abolishing Trump’s ICE, and his support for a focus on U.S. manufacturing. Despite community pushback over his past campaign donations from Palantir Technologies, Krishnamoorthi leads the 10-candidate Democratic primary in polls and has one of the largest campaign war chests nationwide.

Why it matters

The 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate race is expected to be highly competitive, with three members of the state’s congressional delegation vying to replace the long-serving Sen. Durbin. Krishnamoorthi’s progressive policy positions and fundraising lead make him a frontrunner, though his past ties to Palantir have drawn criticism from opponents.

The details

Krishnamoorthi voted in line with President Biden 100% of the time during his four years in office. He supports banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks, imposing term and age limits on Congress and the Supreme Court, and “abolishing Trump’s ICE” by removing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, putting ID and body cameras on agents, and ending warrantless arrests. Krishnamoorthi also praised the Trump administration’s focus on U.S. manufacturing. His opponents have criticized him for initially accepting campaign donations from Palantir Technologies, a company that does business with ICE, though Krishnamoorthi says he donated that money to migrant groups.

  • Krishnamoorthi has represented Illinois’ northwest suburbs for eight years in Congress.
  • The 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate election will take place in November 2026.

The players

Raja Krishnamoorthi

A U.S. Representative who has served Illinois’ northwest suburbs for eight years and is a leading candidate in the 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Dick Durbin

The current U.S. Senator from Illinois who is retiring at the end of his term in 2026.

Juliana Stratton

The current Lieutenant Governor of Illinois and a candidate in the 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Robin Kelly

A U.S. Representative from Illinois and a candidate in the 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Kristi Noem

The current Secretary of Homeland Security, whom Krishnamoorthi has called to be impeached or resign.

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What they’re saying

“Banning the trading of individual stocks by members of Congress, and that's not something that really veterans on either side like. I also believe in term limits. I believe in age limits. I believe also in term limits for the Supreme Court.”

— Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative (CBS News Chicago)

“Impeaching her if she doesn't get fired or if she doesn't resign. But in addition to that, it also means taking the masks off, putting ID on, putting body cameras on, no more warrantless arrests, requiring third-party investigations for the use of force, and then, you know, not having roving gangs of ICE and [U.S. Customs and Border Patrol] agents causing or stirring up trouble in cities.”

— Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative (CBS News Chicago)

“putting a focus back on manufacturing in the U.S. I think that's a good idea for various reasons. Not only is it good for our economic security, but it also helps people climb into the middle class.”

— Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

The 2026 Illinois Democratic primary election is scheduled for March 2026, with the general election to follow in November 2026.

The takeaway

As a leading candidate in the 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate race, Congressman Krishnamoorthi has staked out progressive policy positions on issues like congressional stock trading, immigration enforcement, and manufacturing. His fundraising prowess and polling lead make him a frontrunner, though his past ties to Palantir have drawn criticism from opponents.