Washington, DC: Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois, according to a new poll released ahead of the party’s primary election.
An Emerson College Polling/WGN-TV survey shows Krishnamoorthi leading the field with 31 percent support among likely Democratic primary voters. His closest rival, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, trails with 10 percent. The Democratic primary is scheduled for March 17.
Illinois is considered a solidly Democratic state, making the party’s nominee the favorite to win the Senate seat in November’s general election. If Krishnamoorthi secures the nomination, he would be well positioned for victory in the fall. A win would also make him the only Indian American currently serving in the U.S. Senate and just the second in history after former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Born in New Delhi, Krishnamoorthi has represented Illinois’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017. Now 52, he is a trained lawyer who began his political career working on Barack Obama’s successful 2004 U.S. Senate campaign in Illinois. His early political trajectory included setbacks, including an unsuccessful bid for Illinois state comptroller in 2010 and a loss in a 2012 House race to Tammy Duckworth, who now serves as one of Illinois’s U.S. Senators. Should Krishnamoorthi win in November, the former rivals would serve together in the Senate.
During his time in the House, Krishnamoorthi has gained national visibility through his role as the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on China. The panel has drawn significant attention for its investigations into China’s alleged intellectual property theft and foreign influence operations. Krishnamoorthi has been a leading voice advocating for a tougher U.S. stance toward the Chinese Communist Party.
Krishnamoorthi launched his Senate campaign in May 2025 and has since opened a substantial lead despite Stratton’s backing from several prominent Democratic establishment figures. Pollsters attribute part of his surge to a significant fundraising and advertising advantage. According to Emerson College Polling’s Jim Williams, Krishnamoorthi spent more than $3 million on television advertising between May and September, boosting his statewide name recognition and increasing his poll numbers by 13 points during that period.
Despite Krishnamoorthi’s lead, the race remains competitive. The poll found that 46 percent of likely voters are still undecided, underscoring the fluid nature of the primary contest.
Krishnamoorthi’s campaign expressed confidence in its momentum, citing extensive voter outreach across the state. “For eight months, Raja has outworked the competition, traveling across Illinois to meet voters and earning the support of leaders who believe he is the proven fighter Illinois needs in the U.S. Senate,” said campaign spokesperson Hannah Goss.
