Trump’s ‘big bill’ takes center stage in Illinois’ U.S. Senate race
[July 12, 2025]
By Ben Szalinski
PEORIA – With major future cuts to social service programs now written
into law, Democrats seeking Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat in 2026 are
hitting the campaign trail seeking to position themselves among the
law’s most vocal opponents.
“We want Illinoisians throughout our state to understand the ripple
effects of the Trump administration’s cruelty and be prepared for what’s
to come,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said during a panel discussion at
the Greater Chicago Food Depository Thursday.
The federal policy bill, dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” signed by
President Donald Trump on July 4 will slash federal spending for health
care and other human service programs over the next several years, in
many cases leaving states to pick up the tab if they are to continue
providing benefits. The bill is expected to cost Illinois more than $700
million for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, cut Medicaid
spending in Illinois by $48 billion over the next 10 years, and
potentially force some rural hospitals to close.
As Illinois’ 2026 candidates prepare to begin circulating nominating
petitions next month, the three Democrats vying for retiring Sen. Dick
Durbin’s Senate seat met with residents around the state to hear about
the local impacts of the bill and rally support for their campaigns.
Stratton held an official state event in Chicago to discuss the Pritzker
administration’s response to SNAP changes, while U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly
and Raja Krishnamoorthi visited downstate communities to discuss the
bill.
Kelly gets feedback in Peoria
Kelly, who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District across
parts of Chicago, the south suburbs and rural eastern Illinois, visited
with voters in Peoria to hear their concerns about the bill.
The Bradly University graduate said her goal is to make sure Americans
are aware of the bill’s effects – even though many of them are slated to
begin after the 2026 midterm election.
“In polling and different things that we’ve done, half of the population
doesn’t even realize what’s going on,” Kelly said.
Kelly played up her relationship with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem
Jeffries, saying she has been part of a coalition of House Democrats
that have been traveling the country holding town hall meetings about
federal spending cuts.
“Every group that we can speak in front of, we need to speak in front
of,” Kelly said. “And so that’s one of the reason’s we’re traveling.”
Krishnamoorthi visits rural pharmacy
Krishnamoorthi, who represents the 8th Congressional District in the
northwest suburbs, visited a pharmacy in Petersburg about 30 minutes
northwest of Springfield.
He echoed concerns other Illinois Democrats have expressed about the
“large, lousy law” cutting Medicaid and that it could limit health care
services in rural communities.
“When you have that many people who all of a sudden don’t have a way of
paying for their health care, then it hurts all those rural health care
providers that depend on Medicaid as a form of payment for so many of
their patients,” Krishnamoorthi said.
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U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, left, meets with independent pharmacy
owners, including Dave Bagot of Petersburg Pharmacy (right), in
Petersburg on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by
Ben Szalinski)
Krishnamoorthi also worried about domino effects from growing deficits
as a result of the bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates
will increase by more than $3 trillion. According to the nonpartisan
health research organization KFF, the growing deficit could trigger
automatic spending cuts, which could force Medicare cuts even though it
was not reduced in the bill.
“We’re also talking about seniors who could be affected by Medicare
cuts,” Krishnamoorthi said. “And so at the end of the day, however,
everybody’s going to be affected because if, God forbid, one of these
hospitals in these areas in the rural parts of Illinois are closed, then
everyone, regardless of how their health care is paid for, would be
affected negatively.”
SNAP cuts worry candidates
Stratton did not hit the campaign trail with any public events this
week, but the Pritzker administration must now decide how it will
proceed with new spending requirements signed by the president and the
effects of fewer residents receiving social service benefits.
Stratton and other top Pritzker administration officials discussed the
impact of cuts to the SNAP program during a panel discussion at the
Greater Chicago Food Depository as the state seeks more immediate
solutions that lawmakers could approve before the 2026 election. The
lieutenant governor, who resides on Chicago’s South Side, said reducing
eligibility for a food program exacerbates other issues such as crime,
economic productivity and learning in schools.
“Hunger is not a problem that stays isolated,” Stratton said. “The
repercussions seep out, harming everyone and everything in its path
until something changes.”
Kelly told voters in Peoria that SNAP cuts aren’t just a problem for
low-income recipients.
“If you cannot buy food, then you’re not shopping at Kroger or wherever
you shop,” Kelly said. “And so then Kroger is not buying as much food
from the farmers and then they won’t need as many people to work there.”
The Republican field in the Senate race has yet to take shape.
Republican Rep. Darin LaHood from the Peoria area held a virtual
townhall with 16th Congressional District voters to discuss why he
believes the bill will benefit Illinois.
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coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily
by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. |
