It didn’t take long for the race to succeed retiring Sen. Richard J. Durbin in Illinois to begin taking shape.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton launched her campaign Thursday, the day after the longtime No. 2 Senate Democrat announced he wouldn’t seek a sixth term next year.
Stratton is the first entrant into what’s expected to be a crowded Democratic primary that will likely determine Illinois’ next senator, given the state’s deep blue tilt. In a video announcing her campaign, Stratton cast herself as a Washington outsider, saying her story isn’t one of a “typical senator,” and that “typical isn’t what we need right now.”
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to distract us, to create such a mess that we don’t even know where to start,” she says. “But in Washington, they’re still doing the same old things they’ve always done, and that old playbook isn’t working.”
A former state legislator, Stratton was first elected lieutenant governor in 2018 on a ticket with Gov. J.B. Pritzker, becoming the first Black woman to serve in the role. Since taking office, she’s overseen the administration’s Justice, Equity and Opportunity initiative and chairs the board of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew Program, which funds efforts to support communities that have been affected by violence, incarceration and economic disinvestment.
In her launch video, she contrasted what Democrats allege are Republican proposals to cut health care spending with efforts in Illinois to eliminate medical debt, as well as Trump’s tariff policy with the elimination of a grocery tax in Illinois. She also touted the state’s raising of the minimum wage to $15 an hour, passage of gun safety legislation and enshrining of abortion rights into state law.
Stratton isn’t likely to have the Democratic race to herself for long. Rep. Robin Kelly, who is in her sixth full term in the House, said Thursday that she would announce her plans next week.
“The people of Illinois deserve a leader in the Senate who will be a champion and defender for us in these difficult times,” Kelly said in a statement. “To that end, I will be making an announcement next week about my plans moving forward to ensure all Illinoisans have a proven fighter, someone grounded in service and compassion, in Washington.”
At least two other House Democrats could also potentially enter the race: Chicago-area Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lauren Underwood.
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