U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly announces Senate run
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly announced Tuesday morning that she has entered the 2026 race for Illinois' open Senate seat.
Kelly released the following statement on social media:
"Today I announce my run for the US Senate. This moment demands proven leaders with the experience to take on tough battles. I've never backed down—not from gun lobbyists, not from MAGA extremists, and not from a fight for what's right. Join my campaign."
In a newly released campaign video, Kelly focuses on affordable healthcare and housing, fair wages, and gun control.
Kelly has represented parts of the South Side of Chicago and the south suburbs for 12 years in Congress. She also served as the Chairwoman of the Illinois Democratic Party from 2021 to 2022.
She said her district is reflective of the state as a whole: urban, suburban, and rural – making her best equipped to handle statewide matters.
Kelly called herself a workhorse and not a showhorse, and emphasized that she has spent a career on preventing gun violence and improving health care – specifically pushing to expand coverage for maternal health care.
"Who is the person that can hit the ground running? Who is the person that has been fighting against Donald Trump and pushing back and will have to do that immediately in the senate? And I think that person is me," Kelly said.
The only other candidate in the race so far is Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who launched her campaign the day after Sen. Dick Durbin announced he wouldn't run for re-election.
U.S. Reps Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents parts of the west and northwest suburbs; and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, who represents Joliet and Kendall County, and parts of other western and southwestern suburbs and counties, also are expected to enter the 2026 Senate race.
More candidates join race to replace U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Meantime, in the race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Illinois state Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) announced Tuesday she'll be running for that seat that Schakowsky has held for 26 years. She represents parts of the city's North Side and northern suburbs.
A crowded field is expected to run for that seat as well.
Social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh also is running for Schakowsky's seat. Despite having no political background, she's already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, mostly from outside of Illinois through a groundswell of online support.
Also running is union organizer and public health professional Justin Ford.
Others reportedly eying a run: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, and Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), who represents Chicago's Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods.
