Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) announced on Monday that she would not be vying for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) seat next year, saying instead she would opt for reelection in the House.
“I got to work when I was elected in the 2018 cycle and passed a bill to lower health-care costs for people who have [Affordable Care Act] coverage. It’s helped millions of families around the country afford health care. And now Donald Trump and my colleagues across the aisle are seeking to undo all of that progress that we’ve made,” she told CNN’s Kasie Hunt in an interview.
“So, when I reflected on the way that I could best serve families in Illinois and around the country, I really decided to stay in the House of Representatives,” she added. “I’m in leadership and to help the trip as we seek to reclaim the majority.”
Underwood was among a handful of House Democrats expected to make a run for Durbin’s seat. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi have already launched campaigns.
NBC Chicago, citing multiple sources, reported earlier this month that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and his team were trying to scuttle a potential Underwood Senate campaign, including reportedly describing her as “damaged goods” to donors.
Pritzker disputed the reporting, calling it “ridiculous.”
“Remember, I ran for Congress when I was 31 years old. And there were an awful lot of people who said to me that, ‘It’s not your turn.’ I ran anyway. In fact, we need more young people. We need the new generation,” Pritzker told the Chicago news outlet. “When there‘s an open opportunity, everybody who’s interested in running should step forward and do so. I would not dissuade somebody from running for public office.”
Hunt on Monday asked Underwood if Pritzker’s team had sought to keep her from running and if the team had called her “damaged goods.”
“Well, I didn’t speak to the governor, and I don’t need to speak with him. But what I do know is that kind of ugliness has no place in our politics,” she told Hunt. “I know that Illinois voters are going to decide this election. Illinois voters can’t be bought, right? And this is going to be a really rigorous, competitive election. And I think the voters are excited to have a choice.”
Asked if Pritzker had pushed her out of the race, Underwood replied, “absolutely not.”
Given the Democratic leanings of Prairie State, whoever wins the primary for Durbin’s seat next year is considered the heavy favorite to win in November 2026.