Cnn
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The battle to replace the minority whip of Senate Dick Durbin in Illinois intensified by the representative Raja Krishnamoorthhi on Wednesday jumping in a crowded primary that divided key democratic factions in the blue state.
Krishnamoorthi, which represents a north-west suburban strip since 2017, told CNN in an interview that it was he who “resists Donald Trump and resisted intimidators”.
It will be the first primary of the Democratic Competition Senate in Illinois since Tammy Duckworth was elected in 2016, beating his main two -digit opponents. But it could become more controversial, and it is not clear which could ultimately emerge as a democratic candidate in the general elections.
Krishnamoorthhi joins an increasing field of primary candidates, who already includes his colleague from the Robin Kelly Chamber and the Lieutenant-Governor of Illinois, Juliana Stratton, a close ally of the governor. Representative Lauren Underwood, who overthrew a competitive headquarters in 2018, also weighs an offer.
The race to become the Democratic candidate is probably one of the most expensive primaries in the country in the middle of the coming middle. This occurs when the Democrats find it difficult to find a message to merge while they are trying to find power in the congress in 2026. And although the Democrats are strongly favored to maintain the seat, the outcome of the primary could give an indication of the management that democratic voters want their party to follow.
“We have work to do, and we have to work there at the moment,” said Krishnamoorthi when he was asked if he thought that his party has made a solid economic argument for voters in the past.
“Democrats should never be the party defending the status quo,” he added.
Krishnamoorthi, who voted against a financing bill led by the GOP earlier this year, which divided the Democrats, will not commit to helping Chuck Schumer to remain as a leader of the Democratic Senate Caucus, after the New York Democrat faced criticism from many party members for refusing to block the legislation in order to avoid a closure of the government.
“If I have the privilege of being able to vote, I would like to hear it talking about its priorities,” he said, adding: “I hope that its priorities will be what I am talking about, that is to say how we make sure that we allow each American to achieve its full economic potential.”
Krishnamoorthhi enters the race with $ 19 million in cash after having collected nearly $ 3 million in the first quarter of the year, spreading the Kelly war box of $ 2 million.
Meanwhile, Stratton has already resumed the approval of JB Pritzker, the billionaire governor of the State who brings to the table not only a deep portfolio and a network of donors, but also political capital when he weighs a potential presidential offer.
“The word in the street is that he promised her money that could make her competitive,” Durbin in CNN from Pritzker and Stratton told CNN.
The 80 -year -old senator has been withdrawing for a long time, having been used in the Chamber since 1997 and as a democratic whip of the Senate since 2005.
“I only plan to approve anyone, but I do not exclude it,” said Durbin on Tuesday, adding that there is at least another elected official on a state scale, if not more “weighing an offer.
Although Krishnamoorthhi said he would be “honored” to have Durbin’s support and is a fan of the governor, he argued that he was up to the candidates to win the voters.
“I like JB Pritzker. I think in the end, the inhabitants of Illinois should decide who is their next senator, and I can’t wait to win their support,” he said.
Stratton argued that Illinois needs “new voices in Washington who know how to get things done and are not afraid to retaliate”.
As for the fight against Trump, Krishnamoorthhi thinks that it is that of the post, stressing his two votes of dismissal against the president during his first mandate and his role within the intelligence committee of the Chamber as he investigated Trump’s ties with foreign entities.
“It is important that we have someone who is ready to take (Trump), as I did with him and others who followed our workers’ families,” said Krishnamoorthhi.
Pressed if he said that Lieutenant Governor is not ready to face Trump, Krishnamoorthhi replied: “No, I say that I am better prepared to do this work.”
Kelly, a long -standing defender of firearms and maternal health problems, participated in the race this week, also praising his file at Congress and warning that Trump’s legislative program could reduce key services programs.
“This moment requires proven leaders who have the experience to assume the most difficult battles. I have never backed up – not lobbyists of firearms, not Maga extremists, and certainly not a fight for what is good,” Kelly said in a statement on Tuesday.