Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Seeks to Become the First Indian American in U.S. Senate

Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi announced his campaign for U.S. Senate today, officially entering the increasingly crowded Democratic primary race to succeed longtime Sen. Dick Durbin. The five-term congressman from the state’s 8th district unveiled his candidacy Wednesday with a sharply-worded video attacking former President Donald Trump and positioning himself as a fighter against “MAGA extremists.”

If he were to clinch the Democratic Party nomination, he is very likely to become the first Indian American senator from a state that leans left. The Senate seat opened when Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate leadership, announced he would not seek reelection after serving since 1997.

Krishnamoorthi, 51, currently serves as the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and has built a reputation as a detail-oriented legislator with a focus on economic issues and national security.

His announcement comes just one day after fellow Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly launched her own Senate campaign. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton previously entered the race and has secured high-profile endorsements from Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, giving her significant early momentum.

Rep. Lauren Underwood is also reportedly considering entering the Democratic primary, which would further crowd a field of prominent Illinois Democrats vying for the nomination.

Political analysts note Krishnamoorthi enters the race with a substantial financial advantage, reporting $19.4 million cash on hand from previous fundraising efforts. This war chest could prove decisive in helping him build statewide name recognition beyond his suburban Chicago district.

“I’ve spent my career standing up to bullies, whether they’ve gone after our kids, our families, or our country,” Krishnamoorthi said in his announcement video, which emphasized his background as a first-generation American from a working-class family.

The congressman also highlighted his previous work with Barack Obama, having served on the former president’s unsuccessful 2000 House campaign and his victorious 2004 Senate run.

The Illinois Senate primary will be held in March 2026, giving candidates nearly ten months to campaign before voters make their decision.

Born in New Delhi in 1973, Subramanian Raja Krishnamoorthi was just three months old when his parents brought him to the United States. His father, a graduate student in New York, eventually settled the family in Peoria, Illinois, after securing a position as an engineering professor at Bradley University.

“We lived in subsidized housing at first,” Krishnamoorthi recalls. “My parents were determined that their children would have opportunities they couldn’t imagine in India.”

That determination paid off. Krishnamoorthi earned an engineering degree from Princeton University in 1995 and a law degree from Harvard in 2000 — achievements that still visibly fill him with pride.

Today, Krishnamoorthi lives in Schaumburg, Illinois, with his wife Priya and their three children: Vikram, Vijay, and Sonia. Friends describe him as a devoted family man who rarely misses his children’s school events despite the punishing congressional schedule.

Krishnamoorthi’s path to Congress wasn’t without setbacks. After serving as Deputy State Treasurer of Illinois from 2007 to 2011, he launched unsuccessful bids for State Comptroller in 2010 and Congress in 2012.

Success came in 2016 when he won Illinois’s 8th congressional district, a diverse suburban area northwest of Chicago. Since then, he has secured increasingly comfortable reelection margins, winning his most recent race in 2022 with nearly 63% of the vote.

In Congress, Krishnamoorthi has established himself as a detail-oriented workhorse. Fellow committee members note his meticulous preparation and incisive questioning during hearings.

China Hawk with Bipartisan Credentials

Perhaps Krishnamoorthi’s most significant role is as Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, where he has emerged as one of Congress’s leading voices on U.S.-China competition.

His focus on China has sometimes put him at odds with progressives in his own party, but it has earned him respect across the aisle. “Congressman Krishnamoorthi approaches China policy seriously, not politically,” says a Republican committee colleague. “That’s increasingly rare around here.”

Beyond China, Krishnamoorthi has carved out a policy portfolio focused on economic opportunity, public health, and national security. Healthcare remains another priority. Krishnamoorthi has been a consistent defender of the Affordable Care Act and has authored legislation addressing the opioid crisis and maternal mortality. 

The Technology Congressman

In a Congress often criticized for its technological illiteracy, Krishnamoorthi stands out for his focus on emerging technologies. As co-chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus, he has pushed for policies promoting American leadership in AI while addressing potential risks.

Krishnamoorthi has authored legislation on semiconductor manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and technological competition — issues that have gained urgency amid rising tensions with China.

As one of only a handful of Indian-American members of Congress, Krishnamoorthi has become an important voice for the rapidly growing South Asian community. At cultural events in his district, he is often mobbed by admirers seeking selfies and advice.

Yet Krishnamoorthi has been careful not to be defined solely by his heritage. Unlike some colleagues who lean heavily into identity politics, he positions himself as a pragmatic moderate focused on kitchen-table issues.

(Top photo, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi/Facebook)