Juliana Stratton Wins Illinois Senate Race Against Don Tracy

Illinois voters chose Stratton to take over Durbin’s seat, setting up a new Senate role.

Nov 3, 2026 9:43 PM Nov 4, 2026 11:53 AM Save

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In election night remarks prepared for delivery in Chicago, Stratton credited supporters and volunteers with building a statewide campaign.

“This campaign wasn’t mine — it was ours. And this victory belongs to all of us,” Stratton said in the prepared remarks.

Stratton outlined priorities including affordable health care, reproductive freedom, workers’ rights and voting rights. She also pledged to advocate for farmers, caregivers, small businesses, public schools and immigrant communities.

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She said voters had described struggling to afford groceries, rent and child care, even while working full time. She promised to represent those who did not vote for her as well as those who supported her.

“I can’t promise that we’ll agree on everything. But I can promise that I will never stop listening, never stop showing up, and never stop fighting for you,” her prepared remarks said.

Stratton thanked Durbin and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, whom she said she looked forward to joining in Washington. She described succeeding Durbin as humbling, calling him a personal hero.

Her prepared remarks also reflected on her family’s history, connecting her election to the experiences of her great-great-grandfather William Stephens, who was enslaved, and her own service as Illinois’ first Black lieutenant governor.

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“I don’t take the history of this seat lightly, because I know that I did not get here alone,” Stratton said in the prepared remarks.

She urged constituents to hold her accountable by contacting her office, challenging her decisions and offering feedback.

Gov. JB Pritzker praised Stratton in a statement following her victory, citing their eight years working together.

“For eight years, I have watched her approach every aspect of public service with the qualities that matter most: a willingness to listen, kindness, and a genuine desire to improve Illinoisans’ lives,” Pritzker said. “Juliana will be a fantastic senator.”

Hernandez Statement On Stratton Win

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Following tonight’s monumental election of Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton to the U.S. Senate, Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) Chair Hernandez released the following statement:

“I couldn’t be more proud that Illinois is sending Juliana Stratton to represent us in Washington. The Democratic Party of Illinois believes in her vision for a fairer Illinois, and knows that she’ll remain undeterred in fighting against Republicans’ push to take us backwards. It’s also not lost on me that Illinois is sending a Black woman to the U.S. Senate for the second time, and will soon have two powerhouse women of color representing us in the upper chamber. Our state remains a trailblazer for broken ceilings.”

“From her work on agriculture to birth equity, Juliana has proven she has the experience, determination, and compassion to advocate for a better quality of life for every single Illinoisan. Throughout the cycle, she was a candidate that made people excited to rally behind her. And every door knocked, voter call made, and canvass launch through Organize Illinois 2026 helped lead to tonight’s historic victory.”

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