Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is poised to become the state’s next senator after winning the Democratic primary Tuesday night, defeating Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Krishnamoorthi had received over $8 million in support from crypto super-political action committee (PAC) Fairshake, among other entities, while Stratton was backed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. The Illinois Senate seat is rated “solid Democratic” by Cook Political Report, meaning the winner of Tuesday’s primary will most likely win the November general election and represent the Prairie State in the Senate in 2027.
Fairshake’s ads largely attacked Stratton, rather than directly supporting Krishnamoorthi, a strategy she also used in the 2024 elections. The PAC generally supports primary candidates for races they are likely to win, boasting that the vast majority of its supported candidates have won elections in 2024.
Stand With Crypto, a Coinbase-backed group that awards rates to lawmakers based on how crypto-friendly they are, gave Stratton an “F” rating based on a single statement she made about her primary opponent receiving support from “MAGA-backed crypto bros.” The memo states that she has not voted on any crypto bills or made any statements on crypto in general.
Krishnamoorthi received an “A” grade based on his voting record and his responses to a questionnaire sent by the group.
Another candidate Fairshake opposed, La Shawn Ford, also won his primary race, according to the Associated Press. Fairshake spent nearly $2 million to oppose Ford’s run for the House of Representatives. Ford’s team sent the PAC a notice to cease, alleging that Fairshake’s ads were “defamatory,” according to the Forest Park Review.
A Fairshake spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on either race or Ford’s allegations.
