Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has secured the Democratic nomination for an open US Senate seat, marking a significant political breakthrough for the relatively lesser-known state leader, reported by CNN.
Stratton’s victory was backed heavily by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who endorsed her early and contributed $5 million to a supporting super PAC, according to the report. She leveraged his popularity among Democratic voters, frequently highlighting their joint record on the campaign trail.
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton won the Democratic nomination for the state’s US Senate seat, beating a rival who out-spent her and handing a victory to her boss and potential 2028 presidential candidate, Governor JB Pritzker https://t.co/8vfF2VOD66
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She defeated a crowded field that included US Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly. Despite Krishnamoorthi raising nearly $30 million, his campaign failed to consolidate support, creating space for Stratton’s late surge, CNN reported.
Stratton will now face Republican candidate Don Tracy in November. Given Illinois’ strong Democratic leaning, she enters the general election as the frontrunner.
If elected, she would become only the second Black woman from Illinois to serve in the Senate and the sixth in US history.
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