Durbin backs Krishnamoorthi for Congress

Schaumburg businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi is set to announce the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin Wednesday, picking up the backing of Illinois' top Democrat in Washington.

Krishnamoorthi is vying for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District against state Sen. Mike Noland of Elgin and Villa Park Mayor Deb Bullwinkel.

"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," Durbin said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, is leaving the seat after two terms to run for U.S. Senate.

Noland has won the backing of the state's largest public employee union and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.

"This is another in a series of endorsements from the D.C. power elite for my opponent, and that says to me that he's the one they trust to maintain the Beltway status quo," Noland said.

Meanwhile, Bullwinkel spokesman Tim Nazanin said, "Deb is working hard every day to win the endorsement that matters most, the voters of the 8th Congressional District."

The winner of the March primary is set to face Republican DuPage County Board member Pete DiCianni in November. DiCianni's primary opponents were removed from the ballot by the Illinois State Board of Elections. At least one of them, Republican Andrew Straw of Streamwood, has filed to run as a write-in candidate.