House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Tuesday said she’d like to see Raja Krishnamoorthi replace Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth — who is running for Senate — in Illinois’ 8th District.  

“I strongly endorse Raja Krishnamoorthi because he is a true progressive and the best candidate to represent working families in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs,” Pelosi said in a statement in which she also praised the lawyer and mechanical engineer’s work ethic and professional experience. “These qualities will enable him to pursue our common goal of fighting for progressive causes and strengthening and growing our middle class.”  

Krishnamoorthi has amassed a war chest of approximately $950,000 and has earned the backing of former Obama aide and Chicago political veteran David Axelrod, five members of the state’s congressional delegation and other current and former members of Congress.  

Krishnamoorthi is not alone in vying for the open seat created by Duckworth’s bid to knock off incumbent Republican Sen. Mark S. Kirk — state Sen. Michael Noland, whose campaign touts the support of nearly a dozen labor groups and scores of local lawmakers, and Villa Park Village President Deb Bullwinkel are also running for the seat.  

The latest Federal Election Commission filings shows Noland at a distant second in the money game, with about $72,000 in cash on hand at the end of September, and Bullwinkel reporting just shy of $39,000.  

“Nancy Pelosi has led the battle to enact President Obama’s agenda — from enacting policies to promote the middle class to protecting women’s reproductive rights and fighting climate change. I am humbled that she believes I am the best candidate to hold the 8th District seat for Democrats and build on the strong, progressive record of Tammy Duckworth,” Krishnamoorthi said.  

The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report /Roll Call rates the race Safe Democrat .  

Related:

Tammy Duckworth Scores SEIU Endorsement


Illinois Congressional Candidate Scores Axelrod Endorsement


Roll Call Race Ratings Map: Ratings for Every House and Senate Race in 2016


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.