TV advertising has already begun in Illinois’$2 2026 Democrat primary for U.S. Senate, and new fundraising numbers released Tuesday show the race is shaping up to be expensive.

The retirement of longtime Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin has set up a competitive primary for U.S. Senate in Illinois. The field includes more than one woman of color, which is notable given that only four Black women have ever been elected to the Senate and five total have served in the legislative body.

One world issue that’s likely to become a talking point is the Israel-Hamas war, given IL-09 has a highly concentrated Jewish population along with its large Middle Eastern and Asian populations, too. It’s also the home of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.