Former House Democrat wins party nod in Illinois primary
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Former Rep. Melissa Bean won the Democratic primary for Illinois's 8th Congressional District after 16 years out of office.
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Former Rep. Melissa Bean won the Democratic primary for Illinois's 8th Congressional District seat, positioning her for a potential House comeback after 16 years out of office. Bean previously represented the Chicago-area district until losing her reelection bid in 2010. She is running to succeed Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who vacated the seat. Bean's primary victory sets up a general election contest that will determine whether she can reclaim the seat she once held. The 8th District is a Democratic stronghold, making the primary victory the likely decisive contest for the House seat.
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PoliticsIllinois' $50 million primary experiment
<div>Data: AdImpact; Chart: Axios Visuals</div><p>Democrats will learn whether money talks in 2026 in the Illinois Senate primary Tuesday in a race that will almost certainly determine who replaces Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is hoping the better-funded candidate emerges victorious in Illinois, just like in Texas this month, when state Rep.<a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_blank"> James Talarico</a> beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett, 52%–46%.</p><hr><ul><li>Krishnamoorthi has vastly outraised — and outspent — his two primary opponents: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> Two outsized presences have added a layer of intrigue to the race. Fairshake, a crypto PAC, has spent $7.7 million on TV ads, according to AdImpact. The group, which played big in 2024, is sitting on <a href="https://www.axios....

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