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NEW: Democrat Rep. Loses Primary Race After Laughable Election Day ‘Scandal’

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Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is getting roasted online after supporters at his election night watch party were hit with sky-high drink prices, including nearly $13 for a bottle of water.

The Illinois Democrat, a five-term congressman, came up short Tuesday night, narrowly losing a hard-fought Senate primary to Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. But it wasn’t just the loss that grabbed attention.

At a Chicago hotel event where supporters gathered to watch returns roll in, attendees shelled out roughly $13 for water and about $22 for a glass of wine — a tough sell for a campaign that leaned heavily on affordability messaging.

The backlash was swift.

Online critics pointed to the disconnect, noting Krishnamoorthi’s campaign had raked in more than $30 million — one of the biggest fundraising totals in the country this cycle. He also had backing from the crypto industry’s top super PAC, Fairshake, which spent heavily in the race.

“Dude hired three pollsters (that we know of) and is still charging $13 for a water,” Democratic pollster Adam Carlson wrote on X.

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“Thanks, volunteers, for working for me. Now pay $13 for water,” Republican strategist Collin Corbett wrote on social media. “I guess, based on how Raja treats his staff, this shouldn’t be surprising.”

“That’s worse than some stadium prices,” Politico Playbook wrote in response to the $13 water.

Even a popular Chicago bar account piled on.

“I’m professionally and personally horrified,” the account wrote.

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The optics cut against Krishnamoorthi’s own pitch to voters. Throughout the campaign, he cast himself as a champion of rising costs, warning that everyday Americans are getting squeezed.

“Life has become simply too expensive,” Krishnamoorthi said. “The cost of living has skyrocketed, opportunity has stalled, and it’s affecting every Illinoisan — whether they’re 8 years old or 80.”

Rep. Krishnamoorthi

Democrats across the country have been hammering cost-of-living concerns as they look to reclaim control of Congress in November’s midterms.

Stratton, meanwhile, offered a different vibe on election night. Her watch party at another Chicago venue featured an open bar, along with free sandwiches and sliders for supporters.

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