A coalition of elected officials and community leaders in Jackson County, Illinois, endorsed Raja Krishnamoorthi for U.S. Senate, December 18, 2025. Their endorsements add to the list of downstate supporters backing the Indian American’s Senate bid. They join former Lt. Governor Sheila Simon of Carbondale, who backed Krishnamoorthi earlier this month.
“I am deeply honored to have earned the support of so many local leaders who understand what it takes to serve and uplift their communities,” Krishnamoorthi said in the press release. “As a son of downstate, I know firsthand what Southern Illinois families are up against, and I am ready to be their voice in the U.S. Senate. I look forward to partnering with these leaders to deliver real results for families in every corner of our state.”
The latest Jackson County endorsements include:
Former Jackson County Board Chairman & Current Member John Rendleman
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Jackson County Board Member Christine Snyder
Carbondale City Council Member Dawn Roberts
Carbondale City Council Member Nathan Colombo
Makanda Township Supervisor Michael Holub
Makanda Township Highway Commissioner Ed Hoke
Former Jackson County Treasurer Sharon Harris-Johnson
Former Jackson County Board Chair Gary Hartlieb
Former Carbondale Township Supervisor Karen Hartlieb
Former Democratic State Central Committeeman Kathy West
Former Jackson County Board Member Frank Riley
Former Jackson County Board Member Tom Redmond
Former Jackson County Board Member Paulette Curkin
Community Activist & Leader Mary O’Hara
Krishnamoorthi’s campaign has garnered support from local leaders and organizations including the likes of IBEW Local 134 and Teamsters Joint Council 25 – two of the largest and most influential labor organizations in Chicago. Others backing him include UFCW Local 881, multiple Illinois Letter Carriers Association locals, and more. Support has also swelled among local officials, with more than two dozen mayors and hundreds of local leaders backing him, the campaign press release said.
“From Oak Park to Carbondale to Rockford, leaders from every corner of the state are uniting behind Raja, a proven champion for working families,” the campaign said.
This summer, Krishnamoorthi embarked on a downstate “listening tour” that included events in the Quad Cities, Rockford, Petersburg, Bloomington, Springfield, Metro East, Carbondale, and more.
Earlier this month, Krishnamoorthi unveiled his Plan to Restore the American Dream and Make Life More Affordable, a 24-point economic agenda that aims at the ambitious goal to “lower costs, expand opportunity, and ensure that every Illinoisan can achieve their American Dream.” The plan ranges from eliminating federal taxes on Social Security benefits and supporting first-time homeowners to hunger among children.