Stratton Calls on Senate Opponents to Reject Corporate PAC Contributions (Chicago, IL) – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton is challenging her primary rivals, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Robin Kelly, to reject corporate political action committee (PAC) contributions in the 2026 race.
Stratton, Illinois’ lieutenant governor, released a campaign video Monday pledging not to accept corporate PAC money, framing the decision as a commitment to “put Illinoisans over corporate interests.”
In the video, Stratton criticized the influence of corporations on American politics, saying they have “squeezed Illinois families at every turn” while politicians in Washington “look the other way while pocketing money from these same special interests.”
Campaign figures cited by Stratton’s team show Krishnamoorthi and Kelly have accepted more than $7 million combined from corporate PACs during their time in Congress. Stratton argued that rejecting such contributions sets her apart from the rest of the Democratic field.
“My opponents have taken millions of dollars each from corporate PACs,” Stratton said. “How are Illinoisans supposed to believe that politicians have their best interest at heart when they’re benefiting from this broken system?”
Neither Krishnamoorthi nor Kelly immediately responded to Stratton’s challenge.
The Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is expected to be one of Illinois’ most closely watched contests in 2026, as candidates position themselves to succeed retiring Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
Stratton Calls on Senate Opponents to Reject Corporate PAC Contributions
