EMILY's List picks sides in crowded Democratic primary for Senate in Illinois

EMILY's List, the political group supporting female Democratic candidates who favor abortion rights, endorsed Illinois Lt.

EMILY's List, the political group supporting female Democratic candidates who favor abortion rights, endorsed Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for the Senate on Friday, picking sides in the state's crowded Democratic primary.

It's the group's first endorsement in a Senate campaign in the 2026 midterm elections, and it's a significant boost in support for Stratton — who isn't the only woman running in the open Democratic primary.

Stratton is running against a field that includes Rep. Robin Kelly — a former state Democratic Party chair whom EMILY's List has endorsed in the past, when she ran for her seat in the House — and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has built up significant cash in his campaign account and has already spent more than $7 million on advertising in the race, according to AdImpact.

Several other Illinois political heavyweights have also endorsed Stratton, including Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Pritzker pushed to replace Kelly as the chair of the Illinois Democratic Party in 2022, citing fundraising limitations she faced as a federal official.

Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, announced in April that he wouldn’t seek re-election.