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Ted Lieu Disavows Fundraising Emails That Falsely Suggested His Endorsement of Illinois Senate Candidate

The dispute exposes awkward rifts among AAPI allies on Capitol Hill.

Overview

  • Rep. Ted Lieu’s office said he did not authorize or know about months of fundraising emails from Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s campaign that used Lieu’s name, photo and endorsement-style language.
  • Krishnamoorthi’s team attributed the emails to a miscommunication tied to a previously approved version and said the copy has been pulled after contacting Lieu’s staff.
  • The situation surfaced after a staffer for Sen. Tammy Duckworth inquired about an apparent endorsement, prompting Lieu’s office to review the messages.
  • Separately, more than 50 elected officials and advocates pressed Krishnamoorthi to return donations linked to an individual tied to ICE operations and to disclose his donor vetting process.
  • Despite the scrutiny, Krishnamoorthi holds a resource edge in the Democratic primary, having spent $13.3 million on TV ads since May, while rivals include Rep. Robin Kelly and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Sen. Duckworth.