Black pastors from Illinois endorse Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in US Senate race to replace IL Senator Dick Durbin
Dozens of Black clergy gathered Thursday on Chicago's West Side to send a message about the race for the U.S. Senate in Illinois. The seat is being vacated by Senator Dick Durbin next year.
The faith leaders endorsed Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in the race, hoping it will hold some sway beyond their church walls.
Krishnamoorthi hopes their endorsement will give him a boost at the ballot box.
The three major Democratic candidates, Krishnamoorthi, Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, have been raising money and stockpiling endorsements for months. As these faith leaders have been evaluating the race, they felt it was important to come together for Krishnamoorthi now.
"So we need to trust Raja, trust him with our vote, trust him with our feet on the ground," said Warren Dorris with Prayer Tower Ministries in Joliet.
Dozens of Black pastors from around the state gathered to deliver an ecumenical endorsement Thursday in the U.S. Senate race, rallying behind Raja Krishnamoorthi.
"We don't need another politician," Bishop Shirley Coleman said. "We need a public servant."
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Krishnamoorthi took time over a luncheon gathering on the West Side to greet and chat with the clergy members, some of whom he's know for a decade.
"For me, I've known him for over 10 years," said William Crowder, a former pastor at Barton Manor Christian Church. "He's a person of integrity. He's supported me. I feel like he will make a tremendous gift from Illinois to the United States Senate."
Others said this endorsement was not a knock on Kelly or Stratton, but instead it was a nod to Krishnamoorthi.
"He understands that people are hurting," said Pastor Ira Acree with Greater St. John Bible Church. "He understands that inflation is really impacting people in black and brown communities at astronomical levels."
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"And these folks know better than anyone else, what those challenges are," Rep. Krishnamoorthi said. "And so they know that, given that I am, you know, tasked, I'm laser-like focused on addressing those economic challenges."
Both Kelly and Stratton responded that they too have received numerous endorsements from Black clergy, but what they don't have is Krishnamoorthi's war chest.
The latest federal filing's show Krishnamoorthi has more than $18 million cash on hand, while Kelly has just under $2 million, and Stratton has just under $1 million.
The pastors insisted their endorsement is not about Krishnamoorthi's fundraising. He is hoping their support will boost his backers in the months ahead.
"Although the endorsements of these 100 plus pastors means the world to me, I'm seeking the endorsement of the voters of Illinois," Krishnamoorthi said.
While it can be hard to measure the impact of endorsements, Krishnamoorthi is vowing to make sure that voters will remember this day in this group of supporters, even though the primary is still four months away.
