‘We have to move forward’: Krishnamoorthi on Senate loss, Beltway drama, insurrection and next steps

Years of planning, millions of dollars raised, and dreams of representing Illinois as its senator evaporated when U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi lost the March 17 primary election to Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

How is the Schaumburg Democrat grappling with that fateful outcome, while preparing to depart Congress after 10 tumultuous years, which included a pandemic, an insurrection and impeachment proceedings?

“I think we have to move forward. We have to look to the next challenge and see how we can try to serve the higher cause,” Krishnamoorthi told the Daily Herald in a Thursday interview.

Regarding Stratton, whom he endorsed in the Nov. 3 general election, “she’s going to be a great senator,” he said.

“I’m going to continue speaking out on the issues that I care about,” Krishnamoorthi said of his final 12 weeks in office. “At this point I truly am focused on finishing the year strong. We just don’t want to leave anything on the field at this point.”

The to-do list includes resolving myriad constituent concerns, many involving immigrants whose cases are in limbo because of changes enacted by the federal government.

“These are people who have legally followed every step of the process … and they are just facing tremendous uncertainty,” Krishnamoorthi said.

There’s also packing up offices in Washington, D.C., and Schaumburg, still filled with mementos and photos that range from posing with President Barack Obama to baby pictures of his three children.

“It’s an interesting and a poignant time,” Krishnamoorthi said.

‘Call me Raja’

In 2012, Krishnamoorthi experienced an earlier primary defeat in the 8th Congressional District race against now-U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

He rebounded and won the seat in 2016. Krishnamoorthi, whose parents immigrated from India when he was an infant, acknowledged his 29-letter name, Subramanian Raja Krishnamoorthi, might be a lot for some voters.

“We related to people through my first name. I said, ‘Call me Raja.’ That became a tagline for the first commercial and others.”

Krishnamoorthi took office on Jan. 3, 2017.

“One of the happiest moments was being sworn in and having my wife and three kids there with me.”

A short honeymoon

The rookie congressman entered Congress at a low point for Democrats, with Republican majorities in the House and Senate empowered by President Donald Trump’s election.

On Jan. 28, 2017, he joined protesters at O’Hare International Airport opposing a Trump executive order imposing restrictions on people entering the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries.

“That was a harrowing moment,” Krishnamoorthi said. “I remember finishing up my events for the day in the early evening and heading home, when I got a call saying the Trump administration was implementing ‘Muslim ban 1.0.’”

“I said, ‘Oh my God, this is Orwellian,’” he recalled. “We literally exited on I-90 and then turned around and headed for the airport,” where he helped release some Chicago-area Muslims with green cards who had been detained.

Front-row seat

As a member of both the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Krishnamoorthi has been privy to history-making testimony.

He questioned notables like former FBI Director James Comey and Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen on issues including whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

That catapulted him from little-known suburban lawmaker to a regular commentator on Fox, CNN, MS NOW and other media.

When Cohen testified before the oversight committee in February 2019, Krishnamoorthi asked what the president said to him in their final conversation.

“Unfortunately, this topic is being investigated right now by the Southern District of New York,” Cohen said.

“Is there any other wrongdoing or illegal act regarding Donald Trump we haven't yet discussed today?” Krishnamoorthi pursued.

Cohen testified “yes,” noting federal prosecutors were probing into that subject.

The exchange went viral. “And that set off another round of investigations and questions,” Krishnamoorthi recounted.

Capitol under attack

Jan. 6, 2021, “felt like it would be a normal day where we would certify the election and adjourn,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Mid-morning, Capitol Police pounded on his Cannon Building door, warning him and two staffers to evacuate.

“It turns out that there was a pipe bomb that was planted within hundreds of feet of my office,” Krishnamoorthi recalled.

They were moved to various locations as rioters stormed the Capitol, and ended up barricading themselves in the Rayburn House Office Building until order was restored and Krishnamoorthi could vote. “That was a proud moment,” he said.

He grabbed the first plane to Chicago only to be seated next to a woman who whisked out her phone and started scrolling through photos shot from inside the Capitol.

“She was one of the insurrectionists, you could say,” he said. “That was a very, very strange moment.”

In the aftermath, Krishnamoorthi received multiple threats, resulting in police being stationed at his house.

“It was just a bad time. Thankfully, it ended after a couple of years,” he said.

Campaign crucible

Krishnamoorthi raised a massive war chest ahead of a highly anticipated 2026 Senate run. He looked like the front-runner until Stratton joined the fray.

“Because of President Trump, the atmosphere is incredibly politically polarized,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Chicagoan Stratton, who characterized herself as a “fighter” against Trump, had formidable backing from Gov. JB Pritzker, who donated millions to her campaign.

“It presented a unique challenge, and obviously it was a challenge that I had not faced before in my time running for office,” Krishnamoorthi said. “But … I was really proud of the way in which we responded and were able to still rally a lot of support around the state.”

The primary came as the Chicago area reeled from arrests, deportations and violence that occurred during Operation Midway Blitz, the federal government’s immigration enforcement campaign last fall.

“People were particularly angered by the president, and that helped to color the campaigns in important ways,” Krishnamoorthi said.

He credits his family for being his “safety net” through the crucible.

“It’s incredibly disappointing. But it’s one of those things where you can look back and relitigate issues, or you can look forward and figure out what’s the next step,” Krishnamoorthi said. “How do you serve the higher purpose, which is fixing our government — it’s dysfunctional right now.”

A July Federal Election Commission filing covering May 2025 through June 2026 shows Krishnamoorthi’s campaign accumulated about $31.6 million in receipts, including $19 million from his House election fund, and spent about $31.5 million, leaving around $74,000.

The campaign fund still has some obligations to cover, and it’s not been determined what will happen to the rest, Krishnamoorthi said.

Congressional legacy

Among his accomplishments, Krishnamoorthi cites passing laws such as modernizing the U.S. skills-based education system and securing $46 million in community grants for local projects.

He also launched investigations into the youth vaping epidemic that resulted in regulations, and into unsafe levels of heavy metals in baby food that led to limits.

However, he takes most pride in resolving more than 15,000 constituent service cases since 2017.

They range from tracking down lost Social Security benefit checks to helping a U.S. military interpreter being pursued by the Taliban to leave Afghanistan.

“Those are extremely meaningful for me,” he said.

What’s next?

“I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do,” Krishnamoorthi said of leaving The Beltway. “The prospect of winding up my time here is really consuming the majority of my brain share.”

There’s no shortage of advice from extended family and friends with suggestions like “’you should really look into video gaming,’” and from others such as an Uber driver who encouraged him to consider a rideshare career.

As for running for public office again, “I don’t know. I’m not making any announcements right now,” said Krishnamoorthi, laughing.

“I think I’m hard-wired for public service,” he added. “I feel like this is my calling in the sense that I get so much satisfaction from our team helping people and making a difference in their lives for the better.”

mpyke@dailyherald.com