Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won Illinois’ Democratic Senate primary Tuesday and is positioned to become one of three Black women serving in the U.S. Senate simultaneously.
Stratton Defeats Krishnamoorthi, Kelly
Stratton edged out Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, with Rep. Robin Kelly finishing in third place, according to projections by Decision Desk HQ. She will now face former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy in the November general election.
During her victory speech, Stratton thanked her fellow candidates and expressed her focus on the upcoming general election. “Tonight’s message is clear: We’re ready to take our democracy back into our own hands,” Stratton said Tuesday night. “I’ve seen the very best of Illinoisans who have taken to the streets, stood up for their neighbors and refused to back down. … Courage inspired me to run, courage powered this campaign and courage will bring this fight straight to Donald Trump’s door.”
Focus on Representation
Stratton highlighted her initiatives to improve maternal health outcomes and foster girls’ political participation as examples of how representation leads to tangible change for women in the state.
She also shared a personal story about her father, who was barred from visiting the U.S. Capitol as a teenager due to the color of his skin. “He wasn’t allowed to because of the color of his skin,” she told The 19th last week. “This is not my great-grandfather, it’s not my grandfather, this is my father. Now his daughter is running to work in and serve the people in that very same building that he was not allowed to visit as a high school student. It’s the only chance in the country to elect a Black woman. I’m really proud I have the best path to do so.”
Just five Black women have served in the Senate, including former Vice President Kamala Harris. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland became the first Black women to serve simultaneously after winning their 2024 campaigns.
Illinois Senate History
Illinois was the first state to elect a Black woman to the Senate, sending Carol Moseley-Braun in 1992. Both Moseley-Braun and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, first elected in 2016, endorsed Stratton.
The Illinois Senate race was the only one of its kind this cycle in which two Black women elected officials ran against each other. Stratton also cited Moseley-Braun and former President Barack Obama as examples of the state’s history of successful Black candidates.
“I’m just going to keep doing whatever I can,” she said. “It’s not enough just to get to the table — you have to scoot over and make room for others to sit at the table as well, and sometimes we have to build our own tables.”
Campaign Funding and Endorsements
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker contributed significantly to Stratton’s campaign through his personal funds, a move that drew criticism. The race also saw large amounts of PAC spending in the final weeks.
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) criticized Pritzker for financially supporting Stratton, with chair Yvette Clarke stating that a governor shouldn’t unduly influence the race. Stratton expressed disappointment with the comments, reaffirming her support for the CBC’s mission.
Following the death of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Stratton announced his endorsement. However, his son later clarified that his father had not finalized his choice before his death.
Both Stratton and Kelly faced criticism for reusing endorsements from Obama, who has not formally supported a candidate in the Senate race.
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