A new poll in the hotly contested U.S. Senate race shows that this contest for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat could be a very close one, with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton neck-and-neck on the eve of the Democratic primary election.<\/p>\n
“Well, I’m just very grateful to have the endorsement and support, personal endorsement of Reverend Jesse Jackson, and, of course, Yusuf Jackson. I was at operation Rainbow PUSH on Saturday, and some of the officials came up to me and said, ‘You know what? The reverend, before he passed, gave you his endorsement.’ And I was just thrilled to hear that,” Stratton said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
A poll shows Illinois Senate candidates Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi neck-and-neck in the Illinois primary election 2026.<\/p>\n
But it turns out that the endorsement Rev. Jesse Jackson reportedly gave to Stratton before he passed away, that she released over the weekend<\/a>, was not actually an endorsement. Instead, it was part of a draft ballot, never intended for release.<\/p>\n Stratton said someone gave her an endorsement pamphlet, something that Jackson family members are now walking back.<\/p>\n The situation prompted Jackson family members to issue a retraction and an apology. On Monday, the reverend’s son, Yusef Jackson, sent out a statement, saying that it was a draft sample ballot, released without authorization, adding, “It is important to note that the Jackson Family does not issue political endorsements, nor do Rainbow PUSH or the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.”<\/p>\n A new poll of likely Democratic primary voters shows this Senate race may be too close to call. Krishnamoorthi, with 31.6%, holds a two-point lead over Stratton, with 29.4%. That’s less than the margin of error. Rep. Robin Kelly remains a distant third, with 13.6%.<\/p>\n