Julianna Stratton Wins Illinois Senate Seat to Join Tammy Duckworth
The projected victory makes Illinois the first state to send two women of color to the U.S. Senate simultaneously.
By Alina Campbell ·
Julianna Stratton secured the Illinois Senate seat on Tuesday night after defeating Republican challenger Don Tracy. The result positions the state to break a national record once Stratton is sworn into office on January 3.
That inauguration date marks the moment Illinois will possess two women of color serving in the U.S. Senate at the same time. Stratton will sit alongside incumbent Tammy Duckworth, a distinction no other state has achieved in the nation's history.
The path to the general election involved a crowded field of Democratic contenders. Stratton outperformed high-profile candidates, including Representatives Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, during the March primary. She then turned her attention to the Republican nominee, former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.
Stratton spent the previous eight years serving as Lieutenant Governor under Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. The governor supported her Senate bid, providing a key endorsement that bolstered her campaign ahead of the primary vote.
Duckworth reacted to the projected win in a conversation with NBC Chicago. She stated, “I'm super proud of Illinois, and I'm really looking forward to having Juliana Stratton as my partner in Washington.” Duckworth added that the achievement proves representation matters.
Stratton also spoke to the press after the results emerged. She recalled advice received when she first entered the state legislature in 2017. “People told me, 'Don't ruffle too many feathers. Don't make too many waves. You're a freshman. Sit back. Just learn.,” Stratton said. She noted that she ignored that counsel then and plans to continue working actively in Washington, D.C.
