Financial reports just filed by the three leading candidates show Gov. JB Pritzker opening up his wallet for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
After sitting on the financial sidelines for a good deal of this Senate campaign, Pritzker is finally putting his money where his lieutenant governor is, sending millions to a political action committee that's funding new ads for her.
Days after the ABC7 Chicago Democratic Senate candidates forum, the push for votes is amping up on TV and in the campaign coffers.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly released her fist TV ad in the race, hoping to raise her visibility and support among undecided voters.
"I'm running for Senate, and I approve this message because it's time to dismantle ICE and get it the Hell out of Illinois," Kelly is heard saying.
"We must start by abolishing ICE," Stratton says.
A new ad supporting Stratton focuses on the same anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement theme. There are also two other ads paid for by the Illinois Futures political action committee, funded in large part by Pritzker.
Just released financial disclosures show Pritzker gave $5 million to the PAC.
"Pritzker may have been waiting to see how her campaign unfolded and to see how strong of a candidate she is. He also may be looking at the more intense period of the campaign, which is now, thinking that this would be the best time to boost her candidacy," ABC7 Chicago political analyst Laura Washington said.
"Donald Trump has weaponized ICE against our cities and our people," Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi says.
Krishnamoorthi is the current frontrunner.
He's been running TV ads since last summer, and continues to pump them out due to his massive campaign war chest.
But with a recent independent poll showing nearly a third of voters still undecided, there's still a chance for Stratton and Kelly to make a move, and make the race closer, as the March 17 primary approaches.
"Race has been fairly lopsided until now, and people have not really been paying attention. I think things are going to heat up very quickly, and you're going to see this as being a very competitive, very heated race down to the home stretch," Washington said.
Over the next six weeks, voters are likely to pay a lot more attention to the Senate race. And while money will fuel the campaigns, the candidates' ability to get their supporters to the poll will also be key.
Early voting starts next week.