Democrat Juliana Stratton wins election to U.S. Senate from Illinois

By The Associated Press
November 03 2026 05:01 PM

Democrat Juliana Stratton won election Tuesday to the U.S. Senate representing Illinois, defeating Republican Don Tracy. Currently lieutenant governor, Stratton will succeed Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat who is retiring after five terms. Stratton will be the second Black woman to serve Illinois in the Senate. She was twice elected lieutenant governor as Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate and had Pritzker’s endorsement in a contentious Democratic Senate primary. Stratton backs Medicare for All and is an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, including his decision to deploy National Guard and federal immigration agents in Chicago. Tracy is a former Illinois Republican Party chairman. The Associated Press declared Stratton the winner at 8:00 p.m. EST.

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