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'Raja For Illinois' releases new TV ad features highlighting labor backing
The Illinois Senate hopeful’s latest spot, “Toughest Fighter,” features UFCW Local 881 President Steve Powell praising Raja Krishnamoorthi’s efforts to stop a major grocery merger and defend union jobs.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 11, Nov 2025
- 12:53 EST
- 20
L - Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers Union President Steve Powell; R - Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi / Courtesy: Raja For Illinois
'Raja for Illinois' has released its fifth television advertisement of the campaign season, titled “Toughest Fighter.” The ad showcases United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881 President Steve Powell, who credits Krishnamoorthi for his role in opposing the proposed Kroger–Albertsons grocery merger.
Powell says the merger would have increased grocery prices for consumers and put thousands of union jobs at risk across the United States. The new ad positions Krishnamoorthi as a persistent advocate for working families and underscores his commitment to holding corporations accountable.
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“We were ‘this close’ to a catastrophic grocery monopoly. It would’ve hurt a lot of people,” Powell says in the ad. “Politicians sure like to talk about high prices… but Raja actually did something. He pushed and he pushed and he pushed. He helped block this terrible merger, because that’s what he does. No one fights harder. You can call him Raja. I call him the toughest fighter for working people I know.”
The blocked Kroger–Albertsons merger would have been the largest grocery consolidation in U.S. history, combining two of the nation’s biggest supermarket chains. Labor unions warned that it would reduce competition, drive up food costs, and threaten the livelihoods of store employees.
Krishnamoorthi’s involvement in opposing the merger, alongside Local 881 UFCW, strengthened his standing as a strong ally of the labor movement.
Local 881 UFCW endorsed Krishnamoorthi earlier this year at the launch of his Senate campaign, publicly declaring him the labor candidate in the Illinois U.S. Senate primary. To date, he remains the only candidate in the race with a union endorsement.
In addition to Local 881 UFCW, Krishnamoorthi’s campaign has attracted support from the Illinois Federation of Teachers Local 1211, Illinois Letter Carriers Association President Luis Rivas, National Association of Letter Carriers branches 825, 31, 2810, 4016, and 2076, and Elevator Constructors Local 2. These organizations, like Local 881, cite Krishnamoorthi’s long-standing record of fighting for fair wages, workers’ protections, and economic stability for middle-class families.
Since July, the 'Raja for Illinois' campaign has maintained a strong media presence through a series of television ads, including “Bullies,” “Underdog,” “29,” and “Serious Times.” Each ad focuses on Krishnamoorthi’s policy priorities, including lowering costs for working families, protecting jobs, and challenging corporate and political power structures.
The “Toughest Fighter” ad builds on this message, reinforcing Krishnamoorthi’s image as a determined advocate for labor rights and economic fairness. It also highlights the growing influence of labor organizations in shaping the Senate race as the campaign moves into its next phase.
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