Author’s Note: Our profile on Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi can be found here.
For our profile on Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, click here.
After more than a decade in Congress, Rep. Robin Kelly is hoping to make the leap from the House to the Senate in 2026.
Kelly, who represents the 2nd district in Washington, announced last year that she would retire from the House to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Sen. Dick Durbin, and she’s been trying to make her mark in a field that has seen some of the biggest financial outlays of any race in the country.
With Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton trading blows, Kelly is still trying to get her message out in the campaign’s final weeks.
“Well money counts unfortunately. That’s why we need campaign finance reform so people can’t buy elections or buy votes,” she said. “So even though it’s been difficult, I’ve been in front of lots of people. People love my commercials. I have heard a lot of positive and it’s just really trying to get in front enough people to get my message out but again I’ve been in Congress almost 13 years and I know from my district and even beyond. I get very good grades.”
Krishnamoorthi has raised approximately $25 million for his campaign, while Stratton has the financial backing and the endorsement of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Kelly says that reality leaves her at a disadvantage, but she says her message and campaign are based on more than just dollar signs and advertising.
“What I tell people, just because you have the most money does not mean you’ve done the most or that you’re the best candidate for the race,” she said.
Kelly served in the Illinois House for two terms before becoming the chief of staff for then-Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. She unsuccessfully ran to replace him in 2010, then ran for Congress in a special election in 2013, winning the race to replace former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. after he resigned from Congress.
As she’s worked in Washington, Kelly says she has watched life become nearly unaffordable for many Americans, a tale she has heard multiple times on the campaign trail.
“Young people can’t punch their ticket to the middle class because they can’t afford housing,” she said. “They even question whether they should have a family. I had someone just tell me that she spends $4,200 a month on childcare more than her mortgage. And she has a good job and so does her husband. But they have three kids.”
Kelly unveiled her “People Over Profits” platform during her Senate campaign, calling for capping child care costs, introducing “Medicare for All” healthcare, lowering housing costs and energy costs while raising wages for workers. She also is calling for additional taxes on billionaires to help fund her agenda.
Kelly has also been active on other issues, especially that of criticizing the immigration enforcement policies of President Donald Trump. She introduced articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem, alleging she violated public trust, used her office for personal gain and obstructed Congress in her role overseeing the department.
While Noem will be reassigned from her position at the end of March, Kelly says the fight doesn’t stop there, as she’s calling for ICE to be abolished and for the Department of Homeland Security to be “dismantled” and rebuilt.
“I say ICE should be dismantled as part of a whole system,” she said. “I think the Homeland Department should be abolished, no, not abolished. It should be dismantled. And we need to start all over again because it’s ICE, but bigger than ICE. It’s Border Patrol, they’re the ones that killed Alex Preti, not ICE. And what are we doing with asylum seekers? What are we going with over the 11 million people that are working hard in this country? Paying into a system but not getting out of the system, what are we doing with DREAMers? So I think it’s ICE, but it’s bigger than ICE.”
She says immigration enforcement should be handled either by a reformed DHS or by the Justice Department, and is among lawmakers calling for reforms at the department before Democrats sign off on funding to end the ongoing partial government shutdown.
“So we’re still in those negotiations as far as no mask, everybody has to wear a camera. We want these enforcement officers that follow the same rules and regulations that police have to follow,” she said. “When a police officer shoots someone, their gun is taken away and they either go to the office or they go home, you know, have some days off. That does not happen with ICE.”
As Kelly looks to gain a foothold in the race, she says her district’s unique makeup, including parts of Chicago and stretching all the way south to Danville and west to Pontiac, makes her uniquely qualified to serve the interests of the entire state.
“My district starts in Chicago, goes to Danville, south of Danville west of Pontiac,” she said. “I lived in Peoria for the most part of 20 years. My kids were born there. I was the party chair. I worked for Alexi Giannoulias as his chief. I’ve been up and down this state many, many, many times. And no matter where you live, people want a roof over their head. They want to feel safe. They want a decent paying job. They want access to quality, affordable healthcare. They want good education for their kids. That’s how I run my district right now.”
The 2026 Illinois primary will take place on March 17.
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