Krishnamoorthi launches 1st digital ad in campaign for US Senate

CHICAGO (WGN) — The primary contest for who will succeed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is still 10 months away, but one well-financed candidate is already spending on advertising. 

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is launching his first digital ad on Tuesday morning. It’s a chance for the Congressman, who currently represents part of Chicago’s northwestern suburbs, to reintroduce himself to voters in the statewide contest. 

Krishnamoorthi officially jumped into the Senate race last week. He’s now one of three Democrats vying for the seat that will be left empty by Sen. Durbin, who announced that he would not seek a sixth term back in April. 

The advertisement highlights Krishnamoorthi’s first day on the campaign trail, including a stop at his childhood home in Peoria. Efforts to underscore his ties to downstate could prove important, as multiple Chicago-based Democrats compete for support in new areas. 

The video will run on YouTube and other social media platforms. Krishnamoorthi says in the ad that he’s running to fight for “everyday people.” It also features the five-term Congressman’s signature tagline, urging voters to forgo his lengthy last name and simply refer to him as “Raja.” 

The campaign declined to disclose the initial amount being spent to get their digital advertising operation up and running. Prior to announcing his run for Senate, Krishnamoorthi amassed a campaign war chest of more than $19.4 million. 

He’ll have to compete with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who already has the backing of Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire, as well as Sen. Tammy Duckworth. On Monday, Illinois Blue PAC, a federal political action committee that could pump millions of dollars into the race, came out in support of Stratton’s campaign. 

Rep. Robin Kelly is also in the running to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin. Kelly has represented Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District since 2013 and refers to herself as an “underdog” in the race.