In the bustling political landscape of Illinois, a recent poll highlights the competitive nature of the U.S. Senate race as Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton are in a virtual tie. This race, which seeks to fill the vacancy left by the retiring Senator Dick Durbin, is shaping up to be intensely contested as the Democratic primary approaches.
Juliana Stratton expressed her gratitude for receiving what she believed was the endorsement of the late Reverend Jesse Jackson. Reflecting on her experience at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition event, she shared her excitement upon hearing that the revered civil rights leader had supposedly backed her campaign. “I was just thrilled to hear that,” she commented.
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However, the endorsement Stratton announced was not what it seemed. The supposed support from Reverend Jackson, which she publicized over the weekend, turned out to be part of a draft ballot and was never meant for public release.
Stratton indicated that she had received a pamphlet showcasing the endorsement, but members of the Jackson family quickly clarified the misunderstanding. They promptly issued a retraction and apology, explaining that the document was merely a draft sample ballot that had been distributed without their consent.
Yusef Jackson, Reverend Jackson’s son, addressed the mishap with a statement emphasizing that neither the Jackson family nor Rainbow PUSH formally endorses political candidates. This miscommunication underscored the importance of clarity in political endorsements.
Meanwhile, with only a day remaining before voters head to the polls, Stratton continued her efforts to rally support. On Monday morning, she was seen engaging with supporters outside a polling location, making a final appeal for votes as the election deadline loomed.
Rep. Robin Kelly greeted voters outside a Pilsen polling place, calling out Stratton for not better vetting the endorsement with the family before publicizing it on Saturday.
“Mrs. Jackson did call me and apologize, and I told her she definitely didn’t have to apologize,” Kelly said. “You know, we lost Reverend Jackson, but they lost a dad, a husband, you know. So, I told her she didn’t have to do that. But she said, yes, she did, and that he would have never done that.”
Meanwhile, a new poll of likely Democratic primary voters shows this Senate race may be too close to call. Krishnamoorthi, with 31.6%, holds a two-point lead over Stratton, with 29.4%. That’s less than the margin of error. Kelly remains a distant third, with 13.6%.
“I think it’s going to be a close election, so I want all my folks, please, please come out and vote. I know it’s 20 degrees outside, but it’s 70 degrees inside, and you’re going to be voting inside, so come inside and vote,” Krishnamoorthi said. “I feel very good about my good friends in organized labor, like the Teamsters, who are doing incredible work, knocking on doors, making phone calls, sending text messages, asking people to vote.”
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“I’ve been running this campaign for 11 months, doing everything that I can to talk to voters, and as you know, we have the momentum right now, and the last three consecutive polls show that I’m in the lead,” Stratton said.
That’s according to Stratton’s own internal polls. Meanwhile, Kelly remains optimistic.
“All I’m going to say is that I’m getting in front of as many people as possible. I’m getting great response on the ground. I can’t tell you how many people have said to me, organizations, ‘We got you. We got you.’ So, we’ll see tomorrow, March 17,” Kelly said.
The candidates will be out campaigning again on Tuesday, leaving nothing to chance and hoping to connect with every voter possible, knowing that in a close race, every vote matters. The question is, will we have a winner on Tuesday night, or could it take another day or so?
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