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Neil Khot airs first TV ad during Bears playoff
Khot is one of at least eight Democrats seeking to succeed Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is vacating the seat to run for the U.S. Senate.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 20, Jan 2026
- 16:41 EST
- 19
Screengrab from the ad / YouTube (Neil for Congress)
Neil Khot, who is seeking the democratic nod in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, aired his first television advertisement during the Chicago Bears’ playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 18.
The 30-second advertisement ran on NBC 5 Chicago during the nationally televised game and represented the campaign’s largest media purchase to date, with the slot costing six figures, according to the campaign.
Also Read: Affordability, immigration drive Neil Khot’s Illinois Congress bid
Khot, a small business owner based in Hoffman Estates, linked the timing of the commercial to the high-profile playoff game.
The advertisement, titled “Why I’m Fighting for the 8th District,” focuses on Khot’s personal background and his stated commitment to supporting immigrant communities in the district and across Illinois.
In the ad, Khot recounts his family’s immigration story and says he arrived in the United States three decades ago with $300 before going on to build small businesses that created hundreds of jobs in Illinois.
“I’ve lived here for 30 years and this is my home, and now I cannot leave my house without my passport,” he says in the spot. “I want to fight, and I want to give back to the country that gave me everything.”
The narration in the commercial says Khot’s values were shaped by his immigrant mother, who raised him as a first-generation American, and credits her with teaching him “compassion, fairness, and the importance of community.” The ad also says Khot has stood up against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Bears game ad marked a major expansion of the campaign’s media strategy as the primary approaches. In addition to broadcast television, the campaign said its paid media plan will include cable, streaming and digital platforms.
Khot is one of at least eight Democrats seeking to succeed Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is vacating the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. The 8th District covers parts of Chicago’s northwest suburbs, including Elgin, Schaumburg and Des Plaines.
Financial disclosures show the campaign has raised more than $750,000 so far in the 2026 cycle, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. The campaign has also announced endorsements, including from Santita Jackson, daughter of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.
The March 17 primary will determine the Democratic nominee for the general election on Nov. 3.
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