>> The race to replace retiring Senator Durbin is officially on 2 weeks after the 80 year-old announced he would not seek a 6th term.

3 candidates have already launched campaigns.

The growing field includes Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and 2 U.S.

Representatives Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi the moves signal a big change in Illinois's political landscape as though to those 2 congressional seats will also be opening up here to discuss the changes coming to Illinois politics and her candidacy for the U.S. Senate is Congresswoman Robin Kelly whose second district covers the far South side and south suburbs.

Welcome back to Chicago tonight.

Thank you so much for that.

You've represented that district for more than a decade.

What's your best message to voters statewide who may not be as familiar with on my district actually starts on the south side of Chicago and Los south of Danville and West.

A Pontiac almost feel like I have Illinois in my district which I love the diversity.

But I think that >> helps me because I understand many different voices within the state of Illinois.

At 4,500 farms.

And as I said, South side of Chicago in debate, a swap of the south suburbs.

Yeah, quite a range of constituents there.

I what are some of the major accomplishments you see is making you the right person for this job?

Well, I know that I've been effectively do on every level of government.

I work for local government, state government.

I work for Alexi Giannoulias in the treasurer's office.

I was a state rep and I worked for the county and I'm very proud of my accomplishments in federal government.

I worked on health care issues.

done a lot of work around maternal mortality and morbidity.

So it was our that led Medicaid coverage calling from 60 days to the year.

And that will definitely help save lives.

We lose too many to maternal mortality and especially black women.

And this will definitely change that.

I've done a lot of work on gun violence prevention.

This is what I ran And when we pass a person bill in 30 years, my part of it was the trafficking in the store purchasing that Chicago has to deal with that.

another consumer protection tight bills done.

Some work around artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

In your campaign announcement, you said you've been an underdog your whole life.

Do you see yourself as an underdog in this race or boys been underestimated a dog?

When I ran the state rep by win against a 10 year incumbent when I ran for treasure Iran against a multimillionaire to become the the Democratic nominee.

I didn't win the race.

And then when I ran for Congress was me and about 16 other people that wind and that worries some new stuff.

Tough fight, some use in tough races.

And but I'm I'm ready, yes, no stranger a crowded field.

And we may be seeing one Will you know what you're facing?

At least 2 opponents with?

>> Fairly formidable resources.

Congressman Krishnamurthy has some 20 million dollars in his campaign fund.

Lieutenant Governor Stratton has the support of our billionaire governor, are you confident you can overcome those hurdles?

You know, I would not have gotten in the race about and feel like I could win and that would add.

I know I'll have the resources I need to win.

And I'm very confident about that.

>> You are the first black woman to chair the state Democratic Party.

You didn't run for second term after the governor report.

Iran well, but, you know, you stepped aside sort of after made clear the governor made clear he had a different preferred candidate.

Looking back on it now, how do how do reflect on that power struggle?

Well, I know I did a very good job as a state party chair and actually I step back.

>> The day before the vote just to actually relieve the people that were supporting me.

That is why I did it.

Not because I'm not a fighter because I am.

But you know, it happened.

It's behind me.

I've moved forward.

I know I did a good job.

People tell me all the time.

Even.

You know now.

So I'm I'm I'm confident and feel good about what I was able to contribute the time I was there.

>> Well, you know, in addition to Senator Durbin, a longtime Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky also stepping aside after the current term, some Democratic voters say they want a new generation of leaders within the party.

What's your reaction to that?

I think we need a mix of people.

>> In the party, I mean, we're losing 2 did a lot for the state of Illinois, but I think we need to make some people.

I think there's different lenses that need to be heard from a need to be seen.

>> Well, you know, the Republican Party currently holds obviously the presidency, both houses of Congress.

Should you be elected should that balance of power, you know, stay the same after the midterms.

How would you try to overcome those obstacles for Democratic lawmakers?

Well, I've been in Congress 12 years and only 4 of those years.

Have I been in the majority?

So you get used working around those obstacles working across, you know, the aisle with.

>> Those who work with you and share some of your values.

And I've done all of that.

I passed legislation under Trump and Biden, you know, and I think that you need to do.

not like in Illinois where everybody, Democrat, Democrat, Democrat, you, you really have to learn to work with everyone not give up on your values, but still where you can work together, work together well and has a lot of folks, you know, in Congress, the Republicans in Congress, particularly in the House, have moved farther to the right.

Has that gotten more difficult for you in recent years?

I work with who I can work with.

You know, I've had Republicans call me and say, would you do this bill with share this bill with spot in this bill with me and who I can't work with.

I don't.

It's been reported that Congresswoman Lauren Underwood also interested in the seat.

>> If you jumps and that's 3 members of the Illinois delegation that would be running.

Could that complicate, you know, legislative efforts on behalf of your constituents?

>> I hope it would complicate what was still in the house.

man was still doing a job site a bad confident I'm still going to do what I do.

And I'm sure 2 colleagues compete going to continue on with what they do.

>> You know, just 5 black women have served in the United States Senate.

What does that say to you about the challenges black women face still in politics?

Well, it's very difficult.

just the barriers and obstacles.

And you know what, people?

>> think what we can accomplish, but we have accomplished When you look at our growing numbers in the House and and we did grow in the Senate for the first time.

2 black women are serving.

So we have to keep pushing forward and running for office and that's how we win.

We have you know, stay in the game.

Get off the sidelines.

>> How do you feel?

You know, you've been in this role, as we said you know, more than a decade.

How do you feel about giving up your seat in Congress to run this race?

It was a hard you know, going to say it was.

And I thought about a lot of things.

But I also know that I am effective leader and well qualified to take on the challenge of running and also to be the U.S.

Senator.

I work with.

Many senators already worked a lot with Senator Durbin.

So I know I can do the job.

No question in my mind, you know, your campaign is still in its early days.

What kind of work are you doing?

Are planning to get started on a tip to get out.

Meat voters all around the state >> I've already started.

you know, I I've done Tele town hall meetings, town hall meetings in and out of my district.

I spoken at Democratic Party events calling calling calling, can imagine a lot of time on the phone for something like this.

What we've got about a minute left.

But you know, if you win the seat, what would your priorities be?

Ones who want to take off?

I carry a huge health care portfolio now and I still see it necessary to carry that in the Senate.

I look at gun violence as a public health crisis and that was still be part of what I'm trying to conquer, but also part of it would be fighting the Trump administration in and JD Vance because they'll still be in office and some of the cuts they want to make.

I really want I feel like we all do better when we all do better sound and do everything I can to lift my constituents, whether they voted for me not, what's going to be a long