Congresswoman Kelly declares readiness for the Senate

Aug

2025

In the News

Congresswoman Kelly declares readiness for the Senate

During an exclusive in-person interview at the Chicago Crusader Newspaper office on July 31, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-2nd District) laid out her vision for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by longtime Senator Dick Durbin. Kelly, a Democrat who currently represents Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District, has served in Congress since 2013 and says she’s ready to take her record of legislative advocacy and district-centered leadership to the next level — at a time when the stakes for Black, Brown, rural, and working-class Americans have rarely been higher.

Kelly’s decision to run comes during a climate of deep concern over the future of critical federal programs. With Republicans now holding a majority in the U.S. Senate and former President Donald Trump once again occupying the White House, the road ahead for economically challenged communities is bleak. Under this administration, cuts to healthcare access, senior services, food assistance programs, and climate investments have already begun — and many of the most painful consequences won’t be fully felt until after the next election.

That, says Kelly, is why this race is so urgent.

“People are going to be shocked when they find out everything they lost — but by then it will be too late to do anything about it,” she said during her interview at the Crusader. “We cannot afford to have someone unprepared in the Senate at a time like this. I know what it means to legislate. I know how policy gets done. And I know how to fight for the people who will suffer the most.”

Kelly is not a newcomer to service. She previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives and later became chief of staff to then-Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias before running for Congress. She won a special election in 2013 to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr. in the 2nd District and has remained a vocal advocate for gun violence prevention, healthcare access, economic development, and racial justice throughout her tenure in Washington.

If elected, Kelly would become the second Black woman from Illinois to serve in the U.S. Senate, following the historic tenure of Carol Moseley Braun, who held the seat from 1993 to 1999. Kelly has acknowledged Moseley Braun’s legacy and the significance of building upon the path she forged.

But Kelly says she brings a distinct advantage to this race: the diversity of the district she already represents.

Stretching from Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs to Kankakee County and parts of Central Illinois, the 2nd District is among the most demographically and economically varied in the state. It includes rural farm towns, densely populated Black neighborhoods, middle-income suburbs, and struggling post-industrial communities.

“There is no district like mine. It’s urban, suburban, rural, majority Black, but also has white and Latino families. You see every issue America is facing in my district — and you learn how to serve people across all those differences,” Kelly said.

That exposure, she said, helps her see the broader picture of how federal policy impacts all people, not just one demographic. She’s worked to bring broadband infrastructure to rural schools, supported clean energy development, and fought to reduce maternal mortality among Black women. She has also advocated for expanding Medicaid coverage and lowering prescription drug costs — issues that disproportionately affect seniors and low-income Americans.

According to the U.S. Census, Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District has a population of approximately 700,000. About 55% of residents identify as Black or African American, 31% as white, and nearly 9% as Hispanic or Latino. The district is home to nearly 10,000 small businesses, dozens of manufacturing facilities, and hundreds of farms — many of which face rising costs and shrinking federal support under the current administration.

Kelly emphasized that the needs of farmers in Kankakee are just as real as those of grocery clerks in Roseland, and she has built her legislative priorities accordingly.

“I’ve held job fairs and town halls, pushed for infrastructure dollars, helped secure COVID relief for small businesses, and I’m constantly working with mayors and local officials,” she said. “The people know me — and they know I show up.”

That visibility has been a hallmark of her career. Kelly still lives in Matteson and frequently travels across her district. Her strong constituent services and bipartisan working relationships have earned her a reputation as a responsive, grounded legislator — something she believes will translate well in the Senate.

Unlike many first-time Senate candidates, Kelly would arrive in the chamber with more than a decade of federal legislative experience, including time on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. She also co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls and served as the first Black chair of the Illinois Democratic Party. She’s worked closely with Senator Durbin on a number of issues and said their collaboration has prepared her to pick up where he leaves off.

“He’s been a mentor and a guide,” Kelly said. “He knows how the Senate works, and he knows what it takes to get things done. I’ve had the benefit of learning from him and working with him. I’m ready to continue that fight.”

Kelly also addressed the political realities of a Republican-controlled Senate. With the GOP holding 53 seats to the Democrats’ 47 (including two independents who caucus with Democrats), the Senate is positioned to shape much of the national agenda over the next two years. That majority allows Republicans to dictate committee assignments, block or confirm presidential appointments, and decide which bills are even allowed to come to the floor for debate.

“People don’t always realize how powerful the Senate is,” Kelly said. “If we’re going to protect our democracy and our rights — from reproductive freedom to fair housing to education — we need Senators who already know the ropes and are ready to lead on Day One.”

Kelly has been campaigning actively throughout the state and participating in town halls, community events, and grassroots outreach. On August 8, she held a community policy session focused on affordable healthcare access in the Metro East region. On August 12, she joined educators in Champaign to discuss education funding and the implications of federal budget rollbacks under the Trump administration.

In those appearances, she reiterated many of the same concerns she shared during her July 31 interview at the Crusader — particularly the threat of delayed impact from the current wave of budget cuts.

“What we’re seeing right now is just the beginning. By next spring, more people will feel the pain — whether it’s in schools, hospitals, or the food on their table,” she said. “By then, this Senate seat will already be filled. We can’t gamble on inexperience.”

Kelly’s campaign is also emphasizing coalition-building and intersectionality. She is endorsed by several women-led political organizations and recently joined forces with “Win With Black Women,” a national collective that promotes Black women in leadership roles. While she is running against several other Democrats in the primary, Kelly says she remains focused on what distinguishes her: experience, empathy, and action.

“I don’t need a learning curve,” she said. “I’ve been in the fight. I’m still in the fight. I’m just ready to take it further.”

The Democratic primary for the Senate seat will take place in March 2026. Until then, Kelly plans to continue traveling the state, expanding her base, and reminding voters what’s at stake.

“Whether you live in Chicago or Danville, Cairo or Harvey — you deserve a Senator who knows you, who’s worked for you, and who’s ready to keep fighting for you,” she said. “That’s what I’ve always done. That’s who I am.”

By Sharon Fountain