U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is shifting his fundraising powers to a PAC to benefit other Democrats ahead of his own exit from Congress — a move that also gives him flexibility should he decide to run for office again.
Krishnamoorthi plans to hold a launch reception for a new hybrid-PAC called Equal Opportunity Now on Wednesday in the West Loop, according to a flyer obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Federal Election Commission filings show the PAC had $2,369,758.26 cash on hand at the end of June. The congressman’s Senate campaign fund still has $74,587.81 cash on hand.
A source familiar with the event said the PAC will announce contributions to a slew of state and Chicago candidates, with plans to contribute $100,000 to candidates this month alone.
“Although I’m not on the ballot, I still want to do my part to help Democratic candidates and causes at both the national and local level. This organization is laser-focused on supporting the leaders and causes that are championing bold and innovative solutions to defend the American Dream,” Krishnamoorthi told the Sun-Times in a statement. “To me, this means ensuring that every American has the opportunity to receive a high quality education, work for fair wages, build economic security, and participate in a thriving democracy.”
Those close to the Schaumburg Democrat say the PAC is a way for Krishnamoorthi, a prolific fundraiser, to use his talent and network to help down-ballot candidates. And despite a contentious primary, the congressman contributed $2,500 from his leadership PAC to primary rival Juliana Stratton in June after attended a Washington fundraiser benefiting her.
The new PAC also will keep him active in donor networks and could be helpful should he choose to run for Congress, or another office, again.
The Reviving American Jobs Act PAC, with the acronym RAJA, was created by Krishnamoorthi in 2017 as his leadership PAC, but has transitioned to the Equal Opportunity Now PAC. According to the PAC’s website, Krishnamoorthi plans to “support ambitious leaders and causes who will do the hard work to fix the key challenges ailing Americans today.” Priorities include many of his own campaign’s platforms: fair wages, defending democracy and lowering the cost for working families.
A transfer of funds to a PAC after a loss is typical, with candidates able to legally transfer remnants into leadership PACs or political committees to help other candidates.
With Stratton poised to win the Senate seat in November, and Duckworth unlikely to leave anytime soon, Krishnamoorthi could potentially set his sights on another run for his House seat or try running in another district. He could also explore a run for Illinois governor in 2030. But for now, he’s focusing on his exit from Congress after nearly nine years in office.
During his primary campaign for the Senate, Krishnamoorthi raised more than $30 million and spent an astounding $29 million on campaign ads. He was largely viewed as a frontrunner of the race for many months. But Stratton’s momentum — including a commanding debate performance, campaign ads and a financial boost from longtime running mate Gov. JB Pritzker — helped put her over the finish line.
Stratton’s results downstate reflected a much broader coalition than people expected and served as a testament of Pritzker’s popularity among Democrats in the state.
Krishnamoorthi led in the collar counties and also won a number of downstate counties, particularly in the northwest and western parts of the state — many places where the number of Democratic voters are dwarfed by those found in Cook County. Even so, Stratton’s huge margin in Chicago and slim margin in suburban Cook went a long way to propel her to victory.
Krishnamoorthi first won election in 2016 after losing two previous runs for elected office — finishing second to now-Sen. Tammy Duckworth in the Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District in 2012, and losing the state comptroller race in 2010 by a slim margin. Krishnamoorthi currently serves as ranking member on the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services. He also serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Contributing: Fran Spielman