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Illinois

Stratton, Tracy Set Illinois Senate Showdown

Democrat Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy will compete for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections

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Democrat Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy will face off in November for the U.S. Senate seat Sen. Dick Durbin is vacating in January. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat with the backing of Gov. JB Pritzker, and will face Republican Don Tracy. Both candidates have identified affordability as the top issue in the race.

Why it matters

The race will determine who succeeds Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring in January, leaving the seat open for the first time in this contest. The outcome will shape Illinois' representation in the Senate for the coming years.

Stratton has served as Illinois lieutenant governor since 2019, while Tracy led the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024. The extraction does not report polling numbers or vote projections for the November contest.

The players

Juliana Stratton

Illinois Lieutenant Governor and the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat, serving since 2019.

Don Tracy

The Republican nominee for the Illinois U.S. Senate seat who previously led the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024.

Dick Durbin

Democratic U.S. Senator from Illinois who is retiring in January, opening the seat for the 2026 race.

JB Pritzker

Governor of Illinois whose backing helped Stratton win the Democratic nomination.

The details

Stratton secured the Democratic nomination with Gov. JB Pritzker's support, and Tracy clinched the Republican nomination. Stratton also criticized U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens' endorsement of Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race in a post on X.

Timeline

  1. 2019: Stratton began serving as Illinois lieutenant governor.

  2. 2021: Tracy began leading the Illinois Republican Party.

  3. 2024: Tracy's tenure as Illinois GOP chair ended.

  4. January 2027: Durbin's Senate seat becomes vacant upon his retirement.

Political Context

The race follows Sen. Dick Durbin's decision to retire, which opened one of Illinois' two Senate seats for competition. The two nominees will now compete in the general election to fill the seat he is vacating.

Illinois voters will choose between Stratton and Tracy in the November general election to fill the seat being vacated by Durbin. The outcome will determine who represents the state in the U.S. Senate beginning in January 2027.

The takeaway

Voters in Illinois will decide between two nominees with distinct party backgrounds, and affordability is the central issue both campaigns have emphasized. Following the general election closely will show how the state's Senate delegation shifts after Durbin's departure.

Further reading

For broader coverage of the state's voting contests, see Elections in the Illinois Politics section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Chicago.

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