Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois held an election night party that featured a cash bar charging nearly $13 for water and soda and over $20 for wine.
The campaign of Krishnamoorthi, who lost the Democratic Illinois Senate primary Tuesday, hosted the celebration at The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, according to a photo shared by Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Gregory Royal Pratt. The reporter, who stated in an X post that he was in attendance at the party, enclosed a picture of its cash bar’s pricey drinks menu —which listed water and soda at $12.85 a drink, domestic beer at $15.34, premium beer at $18.03, and wine or spirits at $21.87.
“In case you’re wondering, the senate candidate has spent more than $20 million on succeeding [Democratic Illinois Sen.] Dick Durbin but the campaign party is cash bar,” Pratt wrote in his post.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) records list the total receipts of Krishnamoorthi’s failed campaign as over $30 million, its total disbursements at about $24 million, and its cash on hand at nearly $7 million, for coverage ending Feb. 25. Meanwhile, Democratic Illinois Lt. Gov. Stratton’s victorious campaign listed only $4 million in total receipts, just under $3 million in disbursements, and more than $1 million in cash on hand, for the same coverage period.
At Raja Krishnamoorthi’s election night party. In case you’re wondering, the senate candidate has spent more than $20 million on succeeding Dick Durbin but the campaign party is cash bar. pic.twitter.com/apNd7tDfLj
— Gregory Royal Pratt (@royalpratt) March 17, 2026
Despite being severely outspent, Stratton still defeated Krishnamoorthi by seven percentage points, the Associated Press (AP), reported with 92% of the vote counted.
Krishnamoorthi’s campaign did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Founding partner of Democratic polling firm Zenith Research, Adam Carlson responded to Pratt’s post, writing on X, “Dude hired three pollsters (that we know of) and is still charging $13 for a water.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee’s (NRSC) Sarah Gallagher replied to the Chicago Tribune reporter’s post Wednesday with a photo of a table with nine cans of soda and three bottles of water, adding “so this table of drinks would cost $154.20.”
so this table of drinks would cost $154.20 https://t.co/WJykh3nYmp pic.twitter.com/cfJugxsWij
— Sarah Gallagher (@sgallz_) March 18, 2026
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago touts itself as “one of the most desirable locations in Chicago, right on the shore of Lake Michigan, in the coveted Gold Coast district,” according to the hotel’s website.
Nearby Wrigley Field, home stadium of Krishnamoorthi’s beloved Chicago Cubs, charged just $7.99 for bottled water and soda, The New York Times’ The Athletic reported in April 2025.
Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also came under scrutiny for including a cash bar at his November 2025 victory party. However, Mamdani only charged $13 for beer at his bar — two dollars cheaper than Krishnamoorthi’s price for domestic brews.
Both Mamdani and Krishnamoorthi both notably emphasized affordability and cost of living during their respective campaigns.
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