In a dramatic political turnaround, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton has secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate after mounting a remarkable comeback in the final stages of a fiercely contested primary race. With approximately 90% of votes counted Tuesday night, Stratton outpaced her main rival, U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, according to Associated Press projections.
The victory marks a significant shift in political momentum for Stratton, who had trailed in polls for months before receiving a decisive endorsement and substantial financial backing—reportedly totaling $12 million—from Illinois billionaire Governor JB Pritzker. This support enabled her to launch a powerful late-stage campaign that resonated with Democratic voters.
Stratton’s campaign gained traction through her strong stance on immigration reform, particularly her direct call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—a position that distinguished her from Krishnamoorthi’s more moderate approach of targeting “Trump’s ICE” rather than the entire agency.
Addressing supporters in Chicago during her victory speech, Stratton declared: “Courage inspired me to run. Courage powered this campaign and courage will bring this fight straight to Donald Trump’s front door.”
The primary witnessed unusually high voter engagement for a non-presidential election year, with over 1.1 million ballots cast in the Democratic contest—potentially exceeding the record turnout from the 2004 primary when Barack Obama sought the Senate seat.
Should Stratton prevail in November’s general election against her Republican opponent, she would make history as the sixth Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate since its establishment 237 years ago. Her election would also mark the first time three Black women—Stratton joining Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Rochester—simultaneously serve in the upper chamber. The seat is currently held by retiring five-term Senator Dick Durbin, 81, who will conclude his service next year.