Illinois' $50 million primary experiment
· Axios
Democrats will learn whether money talks in 2026 in the Illinois Senate primary Tuesday in a race that will almost certainly determine who replaces Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
Why it matters: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is hoping the better-funded candidate emerges victorious in Illinois, just like in Texas this month, when state Rep. James Talarico beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett, 52%–46%.
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- Krishnamoorthi has vastly outraised — and outspent — his two primary opponents: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly.
The intrigue: Two outsized presences have added a layer of intrigue to the race. Fairshake, a crypto PAC, has spent $7.7 million on TV ads, according to AdImpact. The group, which played big in 2024, is sitting on close to $200 million.
- Most of those ads have been hammering Stratton, who has the endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and appears to be the progressives' preferred candidate.
- But Stratton has a super PAC, backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, that has spent close to $13 million on her behalf.
By the numbers: There's a massive disparity in campaign spending. Krishnamoorthi has spent more than $28 million, according to AdImpact.
- Stratton and Kelly have each spent around $1 million.
The bottom line: OpenAI had a good night in Texas and North Carolina on the opening night of the 2026 primaries, going three for three in House races.
- Now Fairshake is on deck.