unfolding to replace longtime U.S.

Senator Durbin in next year's primary elections since the 80 year-old senator announced his retirement last month, 3 Democratic candidates have launched campaigns.

That includes 2 members of Congress, Robin Kelly and Roger Christian.

More.

Kristen, more thing and Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.

We've recently spoke with both Stratton and Kelly about their campaigns here now to discuss his candidacy for the U.S. Senate is Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Schomberg who represents the 8th congressional district.

Welcome and good to see you in person.

Hey, Same here.

Thank you.

So go.

As we said, you've represented the 8th congressional district since 2017 covering portions of DuPage Kane and Cooke counties.

This also includes the 41st Ward of Chicago.

Why do you want this job?

How do you intend to serve the people of Illinois differently or better in the Senate to then you have served your district in Congress so far.

Well, first of all, thanks for having having me.

>> You know, my family and I have been privileged to live the American dream.

I was born in India came when 3 months old and things were going well suddenly my father lost his income.

But thanks to the generosity, the American people in public housing and food stamps.

We were able to get back on our feet and then ultimately make it into the middle class.

In Peoria, Illinois.

And my father said, you know, whatever you do, make sure this country is there for the next families who need it.

That's become my North star.

My mission statement and Congress now Senator Durbin, who's been a champion of the underdog for decades.

People like my family, for instance, and now that he has decided to announce his retirement, I thought, well, this is my duty to try to be there for the next families who need it be a champion for underdogs who are seeping seeking the American dream at a time when it's under threat by Donald Trump and economic chaos of the moment.

I made a career of standing up to bullies and now have to stand up to the biggest bully of them.

All.

>> The race got competitive quickly.

As we mentioned, Lieutenant Governor Stratton Representative Kelly also in the running how do you plan on setting yourself apart from your fellow Democrats during this primary?

I like both of them were closely with them.

I think they're too.

Differences.

One as I said before, I made a career of standing up to bullies from my perch in Congress.

Weather is going after e-cigarette companies.

He preyed on our youth trying to hook them on to the or Purdue Pharmaceuticals who has tried to hook a generation of people into Oxy contin or food can got conglomerates that go after unfortunately, our families by tainting toxic.

>> Taking baby food with toxic heavy metals.

I've gone after them held them accountable and now I need to do the same with regard to the Trump administration.

The other kind differences.

I think that the American dream, as I said right now is under threat.

People want to realize their full economic potential and having been a small business person and now in Congress having worked on issues of economic mobility, upward mobility, such as authoring the law that enables 11 million people each year to get a higher quality skills-based education.

That's extremely important for the 60% of Americans without a four-year college degree.

And so these are the economic pain points that people are feeling right now.

How do I how do I make it in America?

How do achieve a better economic station in life?

And that's kind of been at the center of my work both within and outside within Congress and before Congress.

>> It sounds like you've laid out, you know, some of your priorities being a particularly economic.

Do you think that, you know, these are issues that the race is going to come down to?

I think so.

I think everywhere I go, people are very upset about the economic station in life.

Just give you an example this morning I was in Rockford.

>> At a family-owned business with 25 employees because of the horrible tariff policies of this administration imposing blanket tariffs on products from around the world.

This company of 25, which was going gangbusters as recently as last year, is now laying off people.

And so I had a chance to speak with the owner as well as the employees.

And and, you know, basically what we need is stable economic policy that allows for the growth of small businesses in Illinois and in other places.

And that's among the various challenges people are facing right now.

>> You have mentioned that you spent your whole life standing up to bullies and had opposed President Trump's a lot of the actions by his administration most recently calling President Trump's student visa freeze and his social media vetting propose a lot students both quote, discriminatory and a strategic blunder.

You yourself are, of course, a Harvard law Why do you think the president is going after universities and international students this way?

Well, I think with regard to international students, specifically he's going after Chinese origin.

Students.

>> Now, let's be clear.

Anybody who would seek to do us harm in this country, whether they are affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party or any other entity should not belong here.

However, he's not just going after them.

He's going after people of Chinese origin may be seeking a student visa and come from Hong Kong where they were persecuted by the very entity.

That's our adversary.

And I think the reason he's going after these people as he's trying to distract us from the fundamental economic problems that beset Americans.

He doesn't want to talk about the fact that this could include big beautiful bill, which I call a large lot lousy law is going to strip 8 to 10 million Americans of their health care or the food stamps that help my family survive are being cut to the tune of 200 to 300 billion dollars.

>> if elected.

One of my other questions.

Are you going did you?

Not only you be the only second Indian American ever elected to the U.S. And of course, the first was former vice President, Kamala Harris.

What does it mean to you?

>> Well, it's a big deal.

There's an old saying Washington, D.C., if you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu.

And I think that this community, the South Asian community, feels like they need to pull up the proverbial seat to the proverbial table.

Now, especially with rising and South Asian rising sentiment against minorities of all kinds.

And as you know, a racial, religious, ethnic minority.

With 29 letters in my name, I am that stereotypical person who maybe Donald Trump doesn't want to see in the U.S. Senate but who belongs there on behalf of all of those who might have been other AISD, whether you're minority LGBTQ member, a woman or anyone else.

>> Before we let you go so far, you have out raised your fellow candidates in this race for the 19 million Dollar Campaign Representative Kelly having 2 million, the lieutenant governor's pack has now reported what she's bringing in yet.

But obviously we'll find that out as the race continues.

How do you plan on keeping that up?

>> I well, I'm just so blessed with thousands of donors who are willing to chip in whatever they can because of the central mission of our campaign and my office, which is make sure this country is there for the next families in need make sure everyone acts has access the American dream.

And so I think that vision for our office now and maybe hopefully in the future as a U.S. senator will continue to propel our resources forward.

I bring that up just because there has been some question raised about your relationship ties to your feelings about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

>> whether or not any of your fundraising is tied to his supporters.

Now, look, I think that the issue is this, which is I oppose discrimination of any kind against anyone anywhere, whether it's in India or whether it's here.

I was the first member of Congress to arrive O'Hare International Airport to help free a couple dozen Muslim green card holders during Muslim ban.

One point, oh, I think that this kind of insinuation by some that somehow I have dual loyalties is personally offensive, but that's something has been litigated in past campaigns and the voters found it to be a silly charge, OK,