The behind-the-scenes jockeying for Sen. Dick Durbin’s still not vacant seat got a little more public on Thursday, as two potential contenders got some face time with Cook County Democrats.
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton paid an unofficial visit on day two of the party’s pre-slating session on the South Side. As a primary candidate in 2017, now-Gov. JB Pritzker also attended the party’s pre-slating lunch to formally introduce himself.
Krishnamoorthi spent about 45 minutes shaking hands during a lunchtime break. After a bit of scurrying from reporters, the congressman chose his words carefully. Both Krishnamoorthi and Stratton are widely seen as potential Senate candidates should Durbin decide to retire. But with that decision still not public, the two tried to pay respect to the veteran senator while making sure to schmooze with high-profile Democrats.
Krishnamoorthi, elected to his seat in 2016, said he came to the event in the spirit of unity during a turbulent time for Democrats.
“I want to show my regards to the party. We got to unify. We got to be strong,” Krishnamoorthi said. “We got to take on Trump, and there’s nothing more important right now than coming together and making sure that we stand up to Donald Trump.”
As for his plans to announce a Senate bid, Krishnamoorthi repeated, “There’s no vacancy.”
“Sen. Durbin has earned more than enough grace from the people of Illinois for him to be able to make a decision on his own timetable about whatever he decides to do,” Krishnamoorthi said. “And he’s just been one of our greatest senators, and I think that we’ll learn shortly what he wants to do.”
Krishnamoorthi said he has not talked to Durbin about his future plans, and he hasn’t personally expressed to Durbin interest in running for the seat.
Stratton, appearing 30 minutes after Krishnamoorthi’s exit, shook hands in the room and stopped to take selfies and pictures. Among the potential contenders, Stratton would be able to boast that she’s a statewide official — meaning she’s traveled across the state and has had a visible presence at events with Pritzker for more than six years. Still, she’ll have to do some massive fundraising to keep up with Krishnamoorthi’s massive $19 million and counting campaign haul. It’s possible Pritzker will also boost Stratton’s pending campaign with an endorsement or cash. But it’s unclear how much he’ll contribute.
Stratton, too, was careful in her words, saying she attended because she’s a leader in the Democratic Party.
“Sen. Durbin should make any decision that he wants to make on his own,” Stratton said. “…He’s been a champion for working families across our state for three-plus decades and whatever he decides to do, it’s up to him, as well as the timeline.”
Stratton said she speaks to Durbin frequently, but also hasn’t expressed her interest in the seat or asked him about his future. But she admitted she’s interested in exploring roles outside her current position.
“There is no opening right now as an elected official, and as somebody who has served now as lieutenant governor for six and a half years and a state representative before that, elected officials always think about what other ways that we can have an impact on our state. I wake up every day excited to be lieutenant governor,” Stratton said. “… I’m going to continue doing that, and if there’s other opportunities, I’ll strongly consider it.”
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Durbin said he had no plans to announce his decision this week. U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Lauren Underwood, both suburban Chicago Democrats, are also exploring runs for his seat and the roster is expected to grow.