Overview
- Federal filings show Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave $5 million on Dec. 4 to Illinois Future PAC backing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, with cousin Jennifer Pritzker contributing about $1 million, as the PAC reports topping $10 million in total fundraising with 2026 donors to be disclosed in March.
- Ad trackers report Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has spent about $20.5 million on TV since July with another $3.3 million reserved, while Illinois Future PAC has spent roughly $1.4 million with $320,000 more booked and Robin Kelly is beginning a $750,000 TV buy with plans to reach $2 million.
- Cash-on-hand disparities persist, with Krishnamoorthi entering 2026 with about $15.2 million, Kelly with $1.6 million, and Stratton’s campaign with $1.1 million before the super PAC intervention.
- Debates and new ads have centered on immigration enforcement, as Stratton calls to abolish ICE and criticizes Krishnamoorthi over a 2019 House resolution and a Palantir executive’s donation that he says was redirected to migrant groups.
- Illinois Future PAC’s pro-Stratton ad was briefly pulled Jan. 16 over a disclosure issue, early voting begins Thursday, and the Democratic primary is March 17.