Rep. Jan Schakowsky Backs Raja for Congress

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL 9th District) today announced her endorsement of Raja Krishnamoorthi’s candidacy to replace Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL 8th District) in Congress.

“Raja is the best choice to succeed Tammy Duckworth in Congress,” Schakowsky said. “I look forward to Raja joining me in the fight to make equal pay for equal work the law of the land. Raja knows that when women succeed, America succeeds. Raja will work hard in Washington for gender equality and economic security for working families.”

Schakowsky serves in the House Democratic Leadership as Chief Deputy Whip and Vice Chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where she serves on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

“I am thrilled that Rep. Schakowsky has endorsed me to follow Tammy Duckworth in serving the hardworking families of the 8th District in the northwest Chicago suburbs,” Krishnamoorthi said. “Rep. Schakowsky is a leading advocate in Washington for working families and women to make sure that gender equality becomes a reality. I would be honored to have the opportunity to represent Illinois with her on Capitol Hill.”

The endorsement from Rep. Schakowsky follows last week’s news that Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL 4th District) is also supporting Raja for Congress. In addition to a total of six Members of Congress backing Krishnamoorthi, other key supporters include State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-28th District) and State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-46th District), along with more than 50 prominent local Democratic activists and party leaders in the 8th District.

Raja announced at the end of May that he had raised more than $400,000 for his campaign in less than two months during the second fundraising quarter of 2015. He formed his campaign committee in April with the Federal Election Commission.

Krishnamoorthi, 41, of Schaumburg, has a unique understanding of the challenges facing the U.S. economy and their implications for families and future workers. With successful experience in both the public and private sectors, he will go to Congress with clear ideas to help more Americans find good jobs and economic security in a changing world.

Raja currently serves as President of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries. He is a co-founder of InSPIRE, a non-profit organization that provides training to Illinois students and veterans in solar technology, and was formerly Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council, whose mission is to promote innovative technologies that support economic growth and job creation in Illinois.

Raja grew up in Peoria and lives in Schaumburg with his wife and two sons. For more information about Raja, please visit www.rajaforcongress.com

List of Public Supporters of Raja Krishnamoorthi:

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9th)
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez Gutiérrez (D-IL-4th)
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3rd)
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL-7th)
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20th)
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT-4th)
State Senator Dan Kotowski, 28th District
State Senator David Koehler, 46th District
U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III, retired
U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, retired
Newt Minow, former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
Abner Mikva, former U.S. Rep., U.S. Court of Appeals and White House Counsel
David Wilhelm, former Democratic National Committee Chair
OPEIU Local 45
Ken Christy, President of Illinois Letter Carriers
Frank Avila, Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Mike Alvarez, Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
U.S. Ambassador Marge Benton, former Ambassador to UNESCO
John Rogers, Chair of President’s Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans
State Senator Bill Marovitz, retired, Committeeman, IL Democratic Party
Former Illinois State Rep. Paul Froehlich
Al Prochaska, Northwest Suburban Teachers, former President
Beth Siela Marcin, President, Greater Palatine Area Democrats
Ted Mason, Committeeman, Elk Grove Township Democrats
Pat Powers, Vice President, Elk Grove Township Democrats
Esther Carrera, Secretary, Elk Grove Township Democrats
Matt Flamm, Committeeman, Palatine Township Democrats
Sue Walton, Former Committeeman, Palatine Township Democrats
Mike Cudzik, Committeeman, Schaumburg Township Democrats
Laddi Singh, Former Candidate for State Rep. & CEO, Prof. Diagnostic Services
Tim Burns, Elk Grove Village Library Board Trustee; School Board District 59
Lynne Kelley, Elk Grove Township Democrats Precinct Captain
Sunil Bhare, School Board District 59 and DuPage County Democratic Activist
Thakar Basati, Greater Palatine Area Democrats Board Member
Julie Sass, Elk Grove Township Democrats Precinct Captain
Rob Nesvacil, Committeeman, Wheeling Township Democrats
Kathleen Sances, Fmr Committeman, Wheeling Township Dems
Wendy Warden, Past Chair, 8th District Democrats and Independents
Patricia P. Johnson, Carol Stream Library Trustee
Moon Khan, DuPage County Precinct Captain, Former York Trustee
Bob Frankel, Schaumburg Township Library Trustee
Mike Murray, Schaumburg Democrats, Board member
David S. McArtin, Command Master Chief, U.S. Navy, Retired
Steve Giles, DuPage County Democratic Activist
Nasir Jahangir, DuPage County Democratic Activist
Laurel Bault, Kane County Democratic Activist
Donna Riley, Cook County Democratic Activist
Eric Douglas, Cook County Democratic Activist
Donald Bee, Cook County Democratic Activist
Patricia Masek, Schaumburg Democratic Activist
Sue Berndt, Cook County Democratic Activist, Brown Bag Progressive Member
Lyn Huckin, Cook County Democratic Activist, Brown Bag Progressive Member
Rene Shapiro, Cook County Democratic Activist, Brown Bag Progressive Member
Peg Lane, Brown Bag Progressive Member, NW Suburbs Organizing for Action
Wendy Valentine, Cook County Democratic Activist, Brown Bag Progressives
Ann Ryan, Cook County Democratic Activist
Susan MacDonald, Cook County Democratic Activist
Shree Gurusamy, DuPage County Democratic Activist
Ram Villivalam, President, Indo-American Democratic Organization
Dennis Mondero, President, Asian-American Action Fund