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3w ago

Rep. Robin Kelly Joins Illinois Senate Race to Succeed Sen. Dick Durbin

Kelly becomes the second Democrat to officially declare her candidacy, challenging Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the 2026 primary.

Representative Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Efforts by Congress to limit the types of military equipment the Defense Department can transfer to law enforcement departments is unlikely to touch an even bigger source of advanced weapons accessible to civilian police. Photographer: Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., is running for Senate.
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Overview

  • Rep. Robin Kelly, a six-term congresswoman representing Illinois' 2nd District, announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin.
  • Kelly emphasizes her legislative experience on healthcare reform, gun violence prevention, and economic issues as central to her campaign platform.
  • Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who has endorsements from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, is Kelly's primary opponent so far in what is expected to be a competitive Democratic race.
  • Kelly has positioned herself as a proven underdog and advocate for progressive policies, citing her record of standing up to powerful interests including the NRA and MAGA Republicans.
  • Other potential candidates, including Democratic Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lauren Underwood, and Republican Rep. Darin LaHood, are still weighing bids ahead of the March 2026 primary.