Politics
US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on His Bid for the US Senate, Being a ‘Champion for Underdogs’
A heated race is already unfolding to replace longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in next year’s primary elections.
Since the 80-year-old senator announced his retirement last month, three Democratic candidates have launched campaigns. That includes Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and two members of congress: south suburban U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of the 2nd Congressional District and northwest suburban U.S. Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has represented the 8th District since 2017.
Krishnamoorthi represents portions of DuPage, Kane and Cook counties, including the 41st Ward in Chicago, and he joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
On why he wants to leave the U.S. House of Representatives to become a U.S. senator:
“I have been privileged to live the American dream. I was born in India. I came here when I was 3 months old, and things were going well until suddenly my father lost his income. But thanks to the generosity of the American people and public housing and food stamps, we were able to get back on our feet and then ultimately make it into the middle class in Peoria, Illinois. And my father said, ‘Whatever you do, make sure this country is there for the next families who need it.’ That’s become my North Star, my mission statement in Congress. Now Sen. Durbin, who’s been a champion of the underdog for decades — people like my family, for instance. And now that he has decided to announce his retirement, I thought, well, this is my duty to try to be there for the next families who need it. Be a champion for underdogs who are seeking the American dream at a time when it’s under threat by Donald Trump and the economic chaos of the moment. I’ve made a career of standing up to bullies, and now I have to stand up to the biggest bully of them all.”
On the economy and issues driving the Senate race:
“I think everywhere I go, people are very upset about their economic station in life. … People want to realize their full economic potential. And having been a small business person, and now in Congress having worked on issues of economic mobility, upward mobility, such as authoring the law that enables 11 million people each year to get a higher quality skills-based education. That’s extremely important for the 60% of Americans without a four-year college degree. And so these are the economic pain points that people are feeling right now: How do I make it in America? How do I achieve a better economic station in life? And that’s kind of been at the center of my work, both within Congress and before Congress.”
On what it would mean to become only the second Indian American U.S. senator:
“It’s a big deal. There’s an old saying in Washington, D.C., ‘If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu.’ And I think that this community, the South Asian community, feels like they need to pull up the proverbial seat to the proverbial table now, especially with rising sentiment against minorities of all kinds. And as a, you know, a racial, religious, ethnic minority with 29 letters in my name, I am that stereotypical person who maybe Donald Trump doesn’t want to see in the U.S. Senate, but who belongs there on behalf of all of those who might have been otherized, whether you’re a minority, LGBTQ member, a woman or anyone else.”
On raising $19.4 million for his campaign fund:
“I’m just so blessed with thousands of donors who are willing to chip in whatever they can because of the central mission of our campaign and my office, which is make sure this country is there for the next families who need it. Make sure everyone has access to the American dream. And so I think that vision for our office now, and maybe hopefully in the future as a U.S. senator, will continue to propel our resources forward.”
On whether any of his fundraising is tied to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Modi’s supporters:
“No. Look, I think that the issue is this, which is, I oppose discrimination of any kind against anyone, anywhere, whether it’s in India or whether it’s here. I was the first member of Congress to arrive at O’Hare International Airport to help free a couple dozen Muslim green card holders during Muslim ban 1.0. I think that this kind of insinuation by some that somehow I have dual loyalties is personally offensive, but that’s something that has been litigated in past campaigns and the voters found it to be a silly charge.”
