5 Things to Know About Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democratic Senate Hopeful in Illinois

Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic U.S. representative from Illinois, is running for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Mark Kirk. Krishnamoorthi, 42, is a lawyer and former state deputy treasurer who has served in Congress since 2017.

He was born in New Delhi, India, and moved to the United States with his family at age 3. Krishnamoorthi grew up in Peoria, Illinois, and attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

In Congress, Krishnamoorthi sits on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Education and the Workforce Committee. He has focused on issues such as job training, manufacturing, and combating the opioid crisis.

Krishnamoorthi is the first Indian American to represent Illinois in Congress. He is also the first Hindu elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the state.

The primary election is scheduled for March 2022. Krishnamoorthi faces several other Democratic candidates in the race to challenge Kirk.