Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has won the Democratic Senate primary in Illinois, NBC News projects, defeating Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Stratton led vote-rich Cook County with about 40% to Krishnamoorthi’s 29% and Kelly’s 23% with roughly 80% of expected votes in, carrying Chicago by a large margin and tying in the suburbs.
A South Side native, Stratton said voters are “fed up” with Washington and want someone to check President Donald Trump’s actions. If elected, she would become the sixth Black woman to serve in the Senate and would mark the first time three Black women served simultaneously in the chamber.
Stratton overcame a steep financial disadvantage: Krishnamoorthi spent about $29 million on ads, while Kelly spent $1.4 million and Stratton’s campaign $1.1 million. Gov. JB Pritzker endorsed Stratton and helped fund Illinois Future PAC, which spent $14.9 million on ads supporting her and attacking Krishnamoorthi. Stratton also faced nearly $10 million in attacks from Fairshake, a group funded by cryptocurrency executives; a spokesperson declined to comment. Pritzker signed state crypto regulations last year, and Stratton has been endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who favors crypto oversight.
Stratton positioned herself as the most progressive candidate, backing Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The three candidates diverged on approaches to ICE—Krishnamoorthi called to “abolish Trump’s ICE,” while Kelly suggested dismantling the Department of Homeland Security. Stratton rejected concerns that proposals like abolishing ICE could be weaponized politically, arguing the federal government itself has been weaponized against citizens.
She has said she would not support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to continue leading the Democratic Senate caucus, arguing voters want fighters, not “folders.” Stratton is favored in the November general election in Democratic-leaning Illinois and is expected to face former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, whom NBC projects won the Republican primary. Former Vice President Kamala Harris carried Illinois by 11 points in 2024.