Endorsement: Krishnamoorthi for Democrats in the 8th Congressional District

Raja Krishnamoorthi's front-and-center role in the recent impeachment drama in Congress has increased his prominence nationally as well as in the 8th District. A member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence conducting the investigation of President Donald Trump, Krishnamoorthi pressed witnesses on national TV during hearings that went on for weeks. The Schaumburg Democrat has become a regular on a spectrum of national TV shows, from Fox News to MSNBC.

Among his other recent efforts, Krishnamoorthi went full-throttle against the vaping industry after its products were linked to hundreds of severe illnesses and some deaths last summer. The House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, which he chairs, launched an investigation into Juul Labs' role in teen vaping. He introduced a bill that would limit the amount of nicotine in vaping products and called for an end to flavored e-cigarettes. The effort received bipartisan backing rare in today's Congress while drawing the ire of pro-vaping lobbyists.

His performance after three years in Congress wins Krishnamoorthi our strong support in the March 17 Democratic primary election. Krishnamoorthi faces two other Democrats in the 8th District, which includes much of Northwest suburban Cook and parts of DuPage and Kane counties.

They are Dr. Inam Hussain, an anesthesiologist from Libertyville, and William Olson, a Schaumburg author. Neither has held elected office. Among his reasons for running, Hussain criticized Krishnamoorthi for attending a Houston rally in September for controversial Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who appeared clasping Trump's hand. The issue has dogged Krishnamoorthi but does not minimize his accomplishments.

Krishnamoorthi receives our endorsement.