ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill.—Two of the leading Democrats running for an open seat in the U.S. Senate next year made stops in the Metro East Thursday, days after filing for the March 17 primary closed on Monday.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi visited Touchette Regional Hospital in Cahokia Heights for a tour and to learn about local healthcare impacts prompted of expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies and the longer term impact of the federal budget reconciliation bill signed into law this summer. It includes new work requirements for Medicaid, among other changes.

Touchette officials say the “Big Beautiful Bill” could mean an increase of uninsured patients it sees, and patients deciding not to seek care.

“Once they go without insurance, they’re going to go without care. And if they get care it’s going to be when they’re sicker, and it’s going to cost all of us a lot more to take care of them,” Krishnamoorthi, who represents part of Chicago’s western suburbs said.

Democrats in Congress want movement on legislation to restore ACA tax credits in exchange for voting to end the federal government shutdown. 

Thursday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton visited Fletchers Kitchen & Tap for a meet and greet at the restaurant with a crowd that included Belleville mayor Jenny Gain Meyer and State Rep. Jay Hoffman.

Krishnamoorthi and Stratton, along with Rep. Robin Kelly, are the three main contenders in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Durbin is an East St. Louis native who has maintained a connection to downstate. The three leading contenders all have strong ties to the Chicago area either as a member of Congress or in the General Assembly. Krishnamoorthi was raised in Peoria and has tried to claim the outstate mantle.

“I deeply am concerned that every part of the state rise in prosperity, rise in health outcomes, rise in its standing in the country in terms of a place where people can live, work and raise a family,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Stratton, a former state representative from Chicago, who has already received the endorsement of St. Clair County Democrats,  drove home the idea that she and Pritzker have kept a promise about downstate over the past seven years.

“When you all said don’t forget us down state, make sure you come back down…and how many people I’ve seen over and over and over again, because we never forgot all of Illinois,” she told the audience. In an interview, she highlighted roles in the administration focused on rural issues and agriculture.

Hoffman says downstate Illinois figures to play the same role it has in other statewide races, including primary victories for JB Pritzker and Rod Blagojevich. In a race featuring multiple candidates with Chicago ties, candidates will need to look elsewhere.

"I think that what’s going to happen is they split those votes there so like it has so many democratic primaries, Southern Illinois Southwestern Illinois and Central Illinois is going to be vitally important," he said.

"We’ve seen it over and over and over," he said, referring to the gubernatorial campaigns. "And I think this is going to be very very similar."

A spokesperson for Rep. Kelly said she made a series of Metro East appearances early last month and is sure to return.