Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, announced Jan. 5, 2026, he is stepping down later this month from his role in leading the Democrats in the Committee.
In a statement Krishnamoorthi thanked Democratic Party leader Hakeem Jeffries for placing him in that Select Committee where he served for the past 3 years, making him the first Indian American to ever lead a congressional committee as Chair or Ranking Member.
(Krishnamoorthi is currently running for and poised to win upcoming Democratic primaries this February for his race to enter the US Senate (RajaforIL.com).)
In his statement regarding the Committee, Krishnamoorthi also thanked the members for their “seriousness, expertise, and a strong sense of responsibility” even though members did not always agree, but “we consistently found ways to collaborate, seek common ground, and focus on strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness and security.”
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He also had words of appreciation for Staff carrying out the day-to-day tasks of the Committee. “Their focus was not only on confronting the challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party, but on advancing policies that unlock American innovation, protect workers and consumers, and ensure that the United States remains the world’s leading economic and technological power.”
He said he was proud that together members of both parties were able to build a bipartisan Committee that served the nation. “Our efforts advanced policies to protect American innovation, secure critical supply chains, counter forced labor and economic coercion, and prevent U.S. capital and technology from being used to undermine our security or values. Just as importantly, we demonstrated that the United States can compete from a position of confidence by investing in our people, our ideas, and our democratic institutions.”
The Congressman dwelt on the challenges posed by China in several domains, and emphasized there were no easy answers. Meeting these challenges, “demands nuance and seriousness, a commitment to practical and enforceable policy solutions, and an unwavering resolve to strengthen American competitiveness without succumbing to fear or prejudice.”
US Senate Campaign
Krishnamoorthi is running for a US Senate seat from Illinois, and currently he is among the frontrunners for his party’s support in the primaries. According to an announcement January 5, from his campaign, the Indian American candidate has a 28 point lead over other contenders to date. Early voting in Illiois is set to begin February 5, 2026.
The campaign raised nearly $3.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a fourth consecutive quarter of raising more than $3 million.
“He has far outraised his opponents in every quarter of the primary so far. The campaign ended 2025 with over $15.2 million cash on hand,” his campaign said.
Krishnamoorthi’s ‘Raja For Illinolis’ campaign manager Brexton Isaacs expressed confidence about winning not just the primary race, but also the general election come November 2026. “With seventy days to go, eight months of momentum at our back, and a strong foundation of grassroots support, we are the only team in this race that is built to win,” Isaacs said.