Rep. James Clyburn joins fundraiser for Congresswoman Robin Kelly in tight race to replace Durbin

Mar

2026

In the News

Rep. James Clyburn joins fundraiser for Congresswoman Robin Kelly in tight race to replace Durbin

CHICAGO (WLS) -- One of the hottest races is the one for the Democratic nomination to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

One of those candidates, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, was in Chicago Tuesday for a fundraiser in this final week before the election. And she brought in a big-name supporter to help.

Candidates are pulling out all the stops at this point in a campaign. And with polls showing Kelly consistently running in third place in the race to replace Durbin, she held a luncheon fundraiser with a Democratic heavy-hitter.

South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn is considered a kingmaker in some Democratic circles. After all, it was his endorsement that helped Joe Biden secure the presidential nomination in 2020.

"He's a very big deal. Well-respected by, you know, the whole House of Representatives, and that's Democrats and Republicans," Kelly said.

Kelly says, with one week left in the campaign, she's feeling good, not worried about polls by her rivals that suggest it's a two-way race between Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

"When you look at how many people they've actually polled, or, you know, the questions they asked, you know, polls can say a lot of different things. And so I'm not basing what I do on the polls. I'm trying to get in front of as many people as possible," Kelly said.

Clyburn is in the area on a book tour. He's also helping Kelly fundraise, citing her experience on issues that matter to people.

"Robin, I've known her long before we came to the Congress. I've been in Congress 32 years, and I knew her before then. And she has been a persistent messenger for affordable health care. She's been our go-to person on health care issues," Clyburn said.

But as a crypto-backed Political Action Committee supporting Krishnamoorthi pours millions into ads attacking Stratton, a rival PAC backed by Gov. JB Pritzker is spending millions more against Krishnamoorthi to help Stratton.

Kelly is out with her own ad ripping her rivals for the barrage of negative ads, hoping in the next week to tip the scales of voter support her way.

"I have to do it in my way, getting in front of as many people as possible. I have a track record that they cannot touch. And I think a lot of people know that, hopefully more people than not will know it by March 17," Kelly said.

Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot is among those expressing confidence that Kelly can pull out a victory.

"I know what it's like to be at the back of the pack and have people discount you and say you have no hope, but I also know the voters get to decide, not polls, not pundits," Lightfoot said.

On Friday, Stratton is hosting a get-out-the-vote rally with another big name politician: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

By Craig Wall