WASHINGTON — Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton emerged victorious Tuesday from a bruising Democratic primary to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), in a key test of billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker’s political clout as he draws 2028 buzz.
Pritzer had thrown his weight behind Stratton, his second-in-command for his entire governorship, touting her progressive track record and praising her as a “fighter.”
The Democratic primary had largely turned into a three-way race between Stratton and US Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly. Stratton held about 40% of the vote when the Associated Press called the race in her favor. Krishnamoorthi received 33% of the vote and Kelly garnered 18% support. “I was proud to run with her in our last two elections, proud to serve alongside her for the last seven years, and proud to endorse her US Senate campaign,” Pritzker said remarks Tuesday night. “She is an outstanding, kind and genuine person who loves this state with all her heart, and I am grateful for her and for all that we have achieved together.”
Krishnamoorthi had been the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on China until he stepped down in January, while Kelly is a former chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.
The race was dominated by a debate on how to respond to President Trump’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration. Stratton pushed to abolish US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) completely, while Krishnamoorthi called for reforms doing away with “Trump’s ICE,” and Kelly introduced articles of impeachment against then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem prior to her firing by President Trump March 5.
Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, reached deep into his pockets to buoy Stratton, donating at least $5 million to the Illinois Future PAC, which supported the lieutenant governor to the tune of at least $14 million.
But super PACs backing Krishnamoorthi dwarfed that total, with the India-born lawmaker raising an eye-watering $30.5 million — including $19 million from his House campaign — thanks to support from the crypto industry and, controversially, Palantir executives.
Stratton, who has made campaign finance a major primary issue, has only raised about $4 million for her campaign, per the latest financial disclosures.
Pritzker’s meddling in the Senate race to succeed Durbin, 81, the No. 2 Democrat in the upper chamber, had rankled some within his party who accused him of putting his thumb on the scale.
“A sitting governor shouldn’t be heavy-handing the race,” Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), who is backing Kelly, told Punchbowl News March in a statement calling Pritzker’s actions “beyond frustrating”.
“I would like a black woman to represent us in the United States Senate. I just want the best person. She happens to be a black woman,” Pritzker responded. “By the way, I think I’ve proven for many years now that I stand with communities of color across the state and with candidates.”
The Senate currently has five black lawmakers, two of whom are women.
Pritzker has been coy about his 2028 aspirations and is generally among the lower-polling tier of candidates attracting the most buzz. The governor has maintained that he is focused on his current job — he is seeking a third term later this year — and isn’t ruling out a run for the presidency. Stratton will face former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, who won the state’s GOP Senate primary Tuesday, in the November general election. The Democrat will be heavily favored in the deep blue state.
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