Illinois votes to send Juliana Stratton to the U.S. Senate
The state's lieutenant governor defeated Republican Don Tracy in a race marked by disputes over cost of living and Chicago's political influence.
By Grace Anderson ·
Juliana Stratton secured the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois, defeating Republican challenger Don Tracy. The Associated Press called the race, clearing the path for the current lieutenant governor to move to Washington and replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin.
Stratton, a Democrat from Chicago, has held office in Illinois for over a decade. She previously served in the state House of Representatives before joining Governor JB Pritzker in 2019. Her platform focused on expanding federal healthcare, raising the minimum wage to $25 an hour, and limiting the influence of corporate political action committees.
Tracy, a Springfield lawyer and former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, campaigned on reducing the cost of living. He argued that high property taxes and automatic gas tax increases drove up prices for residents. He also criticized the early closure of reliable power plants, a move he said contributed to higher energy costs.
Tracy positioned himself as a representative for the entire state, not just urban areas. He warned that with Durbin retiring, every statewide elected official could end up based in Chicago or Cook County. He pointed to his experience in appointed roles, including chairing the Illinois Gaming Board, as evidence of his ability to manage state operations without prior elected office.
Stratton highlighted her work as lieutenant governor, specifically the Birth Equity Initiative she launched to address Black maternal mortality. Tracy countered that his priorities included making the first year of community college free and expanding direct primary care access. He also proposed a federal process to seal eligible nonviolent criminal records.
