Krishnamoorthi Launches First Negative TV Ad Against Stratton as Illinois Senate Primary Intensifies (Chicago, IL) – The Democratic primary for Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat is entering a more combative phase, with U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi launching his first television attack ad against Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton after months of heavy advertising promoting his own candidacy.
According to Stratton’s campaign, Krishnamoorthi has spent more than $25 million on television advertising since July. With the race tightening in its final stretch, Stratton allies argue the new ad marks a shift to negative campaigning as both candidates compete for momentum ahead of the primary.
In a statement, Stratton campaign spokesperson Allison Janowski criticized the ad and framed it as a sign of concern within the Krishnamoorthi campaign.
“Juliana Stratton has the momentum in this race, and Raja Krishnamoorthi has gotten desperate,” Janowski said. “Despite spending $25 million, he’s failed to move the needle because voters know who he really represents. It’s clear Juliana is the strongest candidate to take on Donald Trump and fight for Illinois in the U.S. Senate, and no amount of Raja’s lies can change that.”
The Stratton campaign also pointed to past reporting and campaign finance records it says raise questions about some of Krishnamoorthi’s donors and legislative record.
Among the criticisms is a contribution of more than $30,000 from Shyam Sankar, chief technology officer of data analytics firm Palantir, which has contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Stratton’s campaign noted that Krishnamoorthi later returned the donation following public scrutiny.
Stratton allies further highlighted a June House vote in which Krishnamoorthi joined Republicans in supporting a resolution expressing gratitude to ICE, a move they argue conflicts with criticism of the agency among many Democratic voters.
The campaign also cited additional donations it says came from individuals or organizations with ties to conservative causes, including a donor connected to Project 2025 and the Heritage Foundation, as well as corporate contributions the campaign claims are linked to Trump-aligned initiatives.
Krishnamoorthi’s campaign has not publicly responded to the Stratton campaign’s latest statement but has previously defended his fundraising record and emphasized his legislative work and national security credentials.
Stratton, meanwhile, has made campaign finance a central theme of her bid, pledging not to accept money from corporate political action committees, ICE contractors or donors aligned with former President Donald Trump.
The escalating rhetoric underscores the increasingly competitive nature of the Democratic primary, where endorsements, debate performances and advertising are expected to play a significant role as voters begin to make their decisions.
With both candidates vying to position themselves as the strongest Democrat to win the Senate seat in November, observers expect the tone of the race to remain sharp in the weeks ahead.
Krishnamoorthi Launches First Negative TV Ad Against Stratton as Illinois Senate Primary Intensifies
