Juliana Stratton Secures Historic Senate Victory to Succeed Dick Durbin in Illinois
Inside the Ramova Theatre in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, the room erupted into celebration just seconds after 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton had just won the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, cruising to a decisive victory over Republican challenger Don Tracy and third-party candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr., news.wttw.com reported.
With 85% of the votes counted late Tuesday, Stratton held 61% of the vote. Tracy trailed with 37.4%, while Harrington captured 1.6% in unofficial returns. The Associated Press called the race immediately as polls closed across Illinois, cementing a transition for a U.S. Senate seat held by Durbin for three decades.
When Durbin steps down in January after a 30-year career in Washington, Stratton will become just the sixth Black woman to serve in the United States Senate. Her victory also marks a historic milestone alongside U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, making Illinois the first state ever represented simultaneously by two women of color in the Senate.
From Statehouse to Washington: A Decisive Campaign
Stratton's path to the general election required surviving a heated March Democratic primary where she defeated two members of Congress and eight other candidates, overcoming millions in opponent ad spending with the backing of Gov. JB Pritzker, wbez.org reported. In the general election, she faced Tracy, a businessman, attorney, and former chair of the Illinois Republican Party who led the state GOP from 2021 until his resignation in July 2024.
Throughout the campaign, the candidates presented starkly different visions for the state and the country. Stratton campaigned on a progressive platform, vowing to fight for affordable healthcare, a federal hourly minimum wage raised to $25, the expansion of Medicare to replace private insurance, and the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She repeatedly tied Tracy to President Donald Trump, arguing that Trump-backed policies and tariffs drove up the cost of everyday necessities like groceries, rent, and gas.
Tracy countered by pitching a moderate course aimed at reining in inflation, lowering gas prices, and championing local businesses. Speaking to supporters at his Springfield watch party after conceding at 10 p.m., Tracy emphasized his commitment to everyday families. The work of being a voice for working families, however, does not end when the ballots are counted,
Tracy said. Those families still need an advocate for common sense solutions, lower costs and safer communities.
Third-Party Pastor Bridges Voter Polarization Before Democratic Victory
The Senate contest also featured third-party candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr., running under the American Center Party banner. A pastor and former financial services professional, Harrington positioned his campaign as a bridge for voters alienated by deepening political polarization.
Yet the night ultimately belonged to the Democratic ticket, continuing a 12-year drought for Illinois Republicans winning any statewide office. Thirty-four years after Carol Moseley Braun broke the barrier in Illinois, the state is preparing to send another trailblazer to Washington when the new six-year term begins in January 2027.
Juliana Stratton projected to replace Dick Durbin in US Senate pic.twitter.com/uSqcYRmVao
More on Juliana Stratton
Former Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton Wins Senate Race to Succeed Dick Durbin https://t.co/r9RrIxzfxc
Stocks and dollar fluctuate after Democrats’ midterm Sweep
Democrats seized control of both the Senate and the House in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, a...
Democrat Ben Brist Defeats Bob Donovan to Help Flip Wisconsin Assembly
Ben Brist, a Democrat and seven-year Army veteran, defeated longtime Republican politician Bob Donovan on Tuesday night in...
Charleston parking and rental taxes can increase visit costs
Charleston can be expensive, but the total depends on your dates, group size, cars, and dining. City-operated garages...
Washington Manor opens its doors at $3,540 per month
Washington Manor Opens at $3,540, $2,795 Below Area Care Costs Washington Manor opens its doors at $3,540 per...