Senate candidate caught sending voters fake emails from colleague who didn't endorse him

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) found himself embroiled in controversy over a series of deceptive email blasts to his supporters as he mounts a Senate bid.

According to NBC News, "for months, the Krishnamoorthi campaign had been sending fundraising emails purporting to be written" by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), a prominent lawmaker and favorite among anti-Trump activists, "according to a review of nearly a dozen of those emails." One of these emails had Lieu saying, “It’s never been more clear that Raja is exactly the kind of leader we need fighting back against this insanity in the Senate. I’m proud to endorse his critical campaign to flip the Senate blue.”

However, Lieu has never actually endorsed Krishnamoorthi, and the emails were sent without his knowledge. In fact, per the report, he only found out about them when a staffer for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called Lieu's office to ask why he had endorsed Krishnamoorthi without giving her a heads-up first.

“Congressman Lieu had no prior knowledge of these emails and has not endorsed anyone in the Illinois Senate primary,” stated Lieu's chief of staff, Marc Cevasco. “We’re still gathering information to figure out what happened here. But obviously elected officials should be aware if emails are sent using their name.”

According to the report, Krishnamoorthi, Lieu, and Duckworth do have a connection in that they serve on the executive board of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

“Obviously, this is problematic,” said one source close to Lieu. While the two members of Congress are friends who have worked together, the source said, “Ted was less than pleased to find out about this. It’s a contested and a somewhat contentious primary. He does not want to be playing in Illinois.”

Krishnamoorthi is running in a competitive field of Democratic candidates in Illinois that also includes Rep. Robin Kelly and Lt.Gov. Juliana Stratton.

Drama over false or misleadingly implied endorsements has flared up in other races as well.

In the South Carolina governor race this year, GOP Rep. Nancy Mace attacked one of her opponents, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, for airing ads that implied endorsements from President Donald Trump and outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster. Evette responded by posting on X, "Nancy, the only one lying in this race is you when you pretend to be a Trump Supporter."