Stratton Wins Illinois Senate Race Over Tracy
Five Democrats were projected to win Senate seats in states where polls had closed as of 8 p.m. ET.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Do you think artificial intelligence will do more harm than good to society?
Democrat Juliana Stratton defeated Republican Don Tracy in the Illinois Senate race. Five Democrats were projected to win Senate seats in states where polls had closed, including Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
Why it matters
The early projections give Illinois voters and the national Democratic caucus a clear initial read on the election's outcome. Preliminary ABC News Voter Polls also show AI and data centers weighing on voters' minds in several states.
Projections were based on polls closed as of 8 p.m. ET, and the ABC News Voter Polls are preliminary, with about 6 in 10 Ohio and Nebraska Senate voters saying AI will do more to hurt society than help. The source does not provide final vote totals or margins for the Illinois race.
The players
Juliana Stratton
Juliana Stratton is the Democratic candidate who won the Illinois Senate race against Republican Don Tracy.
Don Tracy
Don Tracy is the Republican candidate who lost the Illinois Senate race to Juliana Stratton.
Chris Coons
Chris Coons is the U.S. Senator from Delaware who was projected to be reelected.
Cory Booker
Cory Booker is the U.S. Senator from New Jersey who was projected to be reelected.
ABC News
ABC News conducted the Preliminary ABC News Voter Polls on AI and data centers in several states.
The details
Stratton, a Democrat, defeated Republican Don Tracy in Illinois, while Democratic incumbents Chris Coons, Cory Booker, Ed Markey and Jack Reed were projected to be reelected in their states. Preliminary ABC News Voter Polls indicate that AI data centers were a crucial factor for about a quarter of New Hampshire voters, and that North Carolina Senate voters are split, with about 6 in 10 saying AI hurts society and roughly one-quarter saying it helps.
Timeline
- 2026-11-03, 8 p.m. ET: Polls closed in the listed states, including Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts, and projections followed.
Political Context
Data center moratorium votes in North Carolina, including in Raleigh, show that local opposition to AI infrastructure is shaping the debate in states with Senate races. Opponents of data center expansion have pressed concerns over costs and community impact, and the preliminary polls suggest those concerns resonate with a meaningful share of voters.
For Illinois voters, the outcome determines which candidate will represent the state in the U.S. Senate. Voters in states weighing data center projects may see AI-related policy debates feature more prominently in future campaigns.
The takeaway
Early projections and preliminary polling indicate that AI and data centers are becoming measurable issues for voters, not just background concerns. Readers tracking these races can watch certified results and final poll data to see whether that pattern holds.
Further reading
For more on the candidates and races, explore Illinois Elections coverage.
Live Poll
Do you think artificial intelligence will do more harm than good to society?
