After U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly said this week that Rep. Jonathan Jackson was among 18 members of the Congressional Black Caucus endorsing her Democratic primary bid to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Jackson announced he is not backing Kelly and instead remaining neutral in the race.
Despite having “deep respect and admiration” for Kelly, whom he described in a statement late Wednesday as “thoughtful, hardworking, and a strong advocate for the people of Illinois,” Jackson said, “As a general practice, I have decided it is better not to make endorsements during Democratic primaries.”
The Jackson nonendorsement comes at an inopportune time for Kelly as she attempts to ramp up her bid in what is expected to be a hard-fought race to succeed Durbin, who is retiring at the end of his term.
Kelly’s campaign declined to elaborate on what led to the errant announcement, which her team issued Monday morning ahead of an hourlong fireside chat before the City Club of Chicago.
“We’re proud of the support we’ve received from so many of Robin’s Congressional Black Caucus colleagues and the strong coalition she is building among voters and leaders across Illinois,” Kelly’s political director, John Moore, said in a statement.
Aside from Kelly, a seven-term congresswoman from south suburban Matteson, the declared candidates for the March 17 Democratic primary to replace Durbin include five-term U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of northwest suburban Schaumburg and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton of Chicago, who has the backing of Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois’ other senator, Tammy Duckworth.
“I understand that this primary season may have raised questions, and I sincerely apologize for any confusion that may have occurred,” Jackson, a two-term congressman from Chicago and a son of civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson, said in a statement.
A spokesman for Jackson chalked it up to “a misunderstanding between the members.”
Jackson “was expressing his general support and admiration for Congresswoman Kelly, which may have been interpreted as a full endorsement,” spokesman Robert Patillo wrote in an email.
Despite Jackson’s “general practice” of not making Democratic primary endorsements, he did publicly back Rep. Danny Davis for a 15th term last year when the veteran West Side politician faced four challengers in the Democratic primary.
The decision to back Davis “was deeply personal” and “reflected both personal loyalty and a shared vision rooted in a lifetime of movement-building and mutual respect,” Patillo wrote.
“Congressman Davis isn’t just a colleague, he’s a longtime family friend and civil rights ally,” Patillo wrote. “He marched and worked alongside Rev. Jesse Jackson for decades, fighting for equity, justice, and investment in underserved communities. Jonathan grew up seeing that leadership firsthand.”
The seat Kelly would give up in pursuit of the Senate seat has ties to the Jackson family.
Jackson’s brother, former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., resigned the 2nd Congressional District seat in 2012 before pleading guilty the following year to conspiring to defraud his campaign fund of roughly $750,000.
Kelly won a special primary and general election for the seat in 2013 and has held it since.
In 2023, Kelly supported her predecessor’s unsuccessful effort to win a pardon from President Joe Biden, a spokeswoman told the Tribune last year.
