Sen. Dick Durbin Endorses Raja for Congress
“Raja is a strong progressive and the best choice to succeed Tammy Duckworth and represent the hardworking taxpayers of the northwest Chicago suburbs.”
SCHAUMBURG, IL., (January 20, 2016) — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is backing Raja Krishnamoorthi in the Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District of Illinois.
“Raja has impressed me with his focus on fighting for working families to help build and grow a vibrant middle class in America that is the most certain way to move our economy forward,” said Durbin, the state’s senior senator and Senate Minority Whip, the second highest ranking position among Senate Democrats. “Raja is a strong progressive and the best choice to succeed Tammy Duckworth and represent the hardworking taxpayers of the northwest Chicago suburbs. The product of humble roots, Raja will make sure that the same programs that were there for his family, like quality public schools and Social Security and Medicare, will be there for future generations.”
Durbin was elected to the Senate in 1996 and first served in the U.S. House beginning with his election in 1982 to the seat once held by Abraham Lincoln. While a member of the House, Durbin won a landmark ban on smoking on commercial airline flights of less than two hours in 1988 that was eventually expanded to all domestic flights. Over his career, Durbin has spearheaded numerous other laws concerning consumer and product safety, college student loans and affordability, gun violence, national security, and fiscal reform and government oversight.
“I look forward to working in Congress with Senator Durbin to craft legislation to assist working families in Illinois and the 8th District,” Krishnamoorthi said. “I am very humbled by Senator Durbin’s support and his belief in me to represent the 8th District in Congress.”
Sen. Durbin’s endorsing Raja follows key labor union support of Raja announced earlier this month from the Amalgamated Transit Union, the United Steelworkers and Ironworkers Local 63. Durbin’s endorsement also comes after House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced her backing of Raja for Congress.
“Raja’s combination of public and private sector experience uniquely prepares him to work in Congress to develop and protect American jobs, defend a woman’s right to choose, and strengthen America’s gun laws,” Durbin said.
The son of immigrants, Raja grew up in Illinois. After college and law school, he became issues director for Barack Obama’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. He also served as a founding prosecutor in Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s anti-corruption unit.
A lifelong progressive, Raja is running for Congress to stand up for compassionate immigration reform, real action on climate change, equal pay for women, a more level playing field for the middle class and sane gun laws. He is committed to fighting attempts by the Republican Congress to cut the Social Security and Medicare benefits his parents and millions of other Americans rely on.
Durbin’s endorsement continues Raja’s impressive momentum with less than two months before the March 15election. Durbin joins more than 100 leaders and organizations endorsing Raja. In addition to Durbin and Pelosi, Krishnamoorthi has earned the support of Former Senior Advisor to President Obama David Axelrod and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, along with the Illinois State Council of Machinists, Air Line Pilots Association, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2, OPEIU Local 45, and Illinois Letter Carriers President Ken Christy.