The three leading Democratic candidates in the heated primary race for retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat put on their boxing gloves on Thursday in a calmer second televised debate as they tried to place a laser focus on their policy differences.
It offered a stark contrast to the first debate on Monday, in which Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton went on the offensive to attack campaign frontrunner U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on everything from campaign contributions to ICE to House bills he has sponsored. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly also got in her own shots, defiantly denying that any corporate PAC campaign cash has affected her voting record.
On Thursday, Stratton instead offered subtle digs at Krishnamoorthi, called the congressman “an opponent of mine,” while pointing out contributions he received from Donald Trump donors.
Asked by the Sun-Times why she didn’t name Krishnamoorthi on the debate stage, Stratton said, “People heard me loud and clear on Monday, and tonight, I want to make sure they heard a little bit more about what I want to do when I get to Washington, D.C. because this is a campaign. It’s important to show the contrast.”
The one-hour forum hosted by ABC7, the League of Women Voters and Univision focused on domestic and foreign policy issues and is the second of at least seven debates the candidates have agreed to in the final weeks ahead of the March 17 primary.
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Stratton both said they would not confirm any nominations made by President Trump, while Krishnamoorthi offered a more middle of the ground response.
“At this point under this president, I would not confirm anyone as a senator because he has just torn down my trust in him and he doesn’t know what the word integrity means,” Kelly said.
Stratton said Trump is not making appointments based on “qualifications.”
“He’s looking for people who will be loyal to him and him only, rather than following the Constitution and that is dangerous, and it’s another example of his authoritarian agenda when it comes to judges,” Stratton said.
Krishnamoorthi said a “nonpartisan commission” should evaluate applicants. And he vowed to use his “blue slip privileges” to block radical judges that might be appointed by Trump to a position in Illinois.
“Look, these are people that are going to affect us in profound ways, and so I would want to vet them for their life experience, their background experience, but also their views outside of the mainstream, such that they would overturn the Constitution,” Krishnamoorthi said.
The candidates also differed on their minimum wage platforms, with Stratton proposing a $25 an hour plan and Krishnamoorthi and Kelly supporting a $17 an hour plan, which they said would be more realistic to pass in the Senate.
There was little to contrast in a lightning round, beyond Krishnamoorthi supporting a retirement age for members of Congress, and Kelly and Stratton saying no.
“We need fighters at any age,” Stratton said.
Krishnamoorthi has vowed support for “abolishing Trump’s ICE,” while Stratton is pushing to completely abolish ICE — a more progressive stance she is hoping voters will connect with. But Krishnamoorthi made sure to point out that Gov. JB Pritzker, who is supporting Stratton in the race, shares the same position as him.
“I’d be curious if my colleagues agree with this position,” Krishnamoorthi said while pointing a hand Stratton’s way.
Pritzker remains a looming factor in the Senate race — with required Federal Election Commission filings due on Saturday that could show how much the billionaire governor has given to a super PAC supporting Stratton and her Senate bid. A substantial amount can help boost Stratton’s ability to hammer home her message to voters on TV in the final weeks of the campaign, especially with early voting beginning soon.
The Illinois Future PAC on Thursday released two new pro-Stratton TV ads and digital ads. Both highlight her stance on abolishing ICE. Kelly plans to begin airing ads starting next week.