Stratton claims Illinois Senate seat after defeating Tracy
The Chicago Democrat secures the open seat left by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, according to an Associated Press call.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Juliana Stratton has won the U.S. Senate race in Illinois, according to a call by The Associated Press.
The 66-year-old Chicago Democrat will replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin. She has served as lieutenant governor since 2019 under Governor JB Pritzker. Before that, she represented a district in the Illinois House. Her opponent, Don Tracy of Springfield, had never held elected office but served in appointed roles, including chairing the Illinois Gaming Board.
The campaign focused on economic and social divides. Stratton, a Chicago Democrat, advocated for a $25 federal minimum wage and Medicare for All. She also proposed removing corporate political action committees from the political process. As lieutenant governor, she launched a Birth Equity Initiative to address the Black maternal mortality crisis.
Tracy, a senior counsel at the law firm Brown, Hay & Stephens, made lowering the cost of living his top priority. He criticized high property taxes, automatic gas tax increases, and the early shutdown of reliable power plants. He warned that with Durbin leaving, all statewide elected officials could be based in Cook County.
The race concluded on November 3, 2026. The result cements Stratton’s position as the next senator. The seat will be vacant until the next general election in 2028, though the timeline for a potential special election has not been finalized by the state legislature.
Stratton will take office following the next full term. Her victory marks a continuation of Democratic control over the state’s senior congressional delegation.
