Having served since 1997, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin announced in April of 2025 that he would not seek re-election in 2026. His departure opens up a key Senate seat in a solidly blue state that has trended Democratic in recent presidential cycles but still features pockets of Republican strength, particularly in rural and downstate regions.
Illinois remains a cornerstone of the Democratic electoral map, consistently voting blue in every presidential election since 1992. President Joe Biden won the state by about 17 percentage points in 2020, but Vice President Kamala Harris only won the state in 2024 by 8 points. While Illinois is not considered a traditional swing state, Republicans remain competitive in statewide races, especially in off-year cycles with lower turnout. Illinois also has a diverse electorate—ranging from deep-blue Chicagoland to conservative southern state counties—this race, while leaning Democratic, is expected to draw significant national attention and funding. The GOP last won a U.S. Senate seat in Illinois in 2010, which was also an open contest, in which Republican Mark Kirk narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Alexi Giannoulias by two points. Senator Kirk lost his first reelection bid to Democratic challenger and now Senator Tammy Duckworth by 15 points. Since then, Democrats have consistently held both Senate seats, but the 2026 race may tighten depending on national trends and candidate strength.
The Senate race will coincide with the 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election. Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker was first elected in 2016 and is seeking a third term. With a Cook Political race rating of Solid Democratic, this is not a contest that is expected to get competitive. Therefore, much of this year’s electoral focus will be on the Senate contest, especially if the GOP recruits a competitive candidate, potentially leading to an expensive race.
The Illinois Democratic and Republican primaries were held on March 17, 2026. Lt. Governor Stratton won the Democratic nomination and defeated several candidates, including Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08). On the Republican side, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party, Don Tracy, secured the Republican nomination.V4P PAC has not yet endorsed in this race.
In her submitted questionnaire, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton says Illinoisans are looking for fighters, leaders who will get in the” ring” and “go to the mat” for them when times are tough. Stratton, who didn’t plan a run for the Senate, felt called to run for this seat because President Trump has “dragged us into a five-alarm fire.” As she travels across the state, Stratton hears from voters who are worried about whether they can afford to care for their families, put food on the table, or pay for medical care when emergencies strike. She also acknowledges that when working families get squeezed, marginalized communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected. What she hears most, though, is a call for courage, claiming that voters in her state want leaders who will stand up, speak truth, and fight for them instead of corporate special interests and billionaires.
Stratton believes she stands out as a candidate due to her service as Illinois’s Lieutenant Governor, where she has delivered tangible results. In this role, alongside Governor JB Pritzker, she has helped eliminate the state grocery tax, relieve medical debt for thousands of families, and raise the minimum wage. She’s proud that Illinois is building an economy for the future through clean energy, legal cannabis, and investment in communities that have too often been left behind. Stratton says those are the kinds of solutions she’ll take to Washington, fighting to make life more affordable, expand opportunity, and defend fundamental rights under a presidential administration she says “disregards the rule of law and stomps on the Constitution.”
Stratton stands out in the race as the only viable candidate rejecting corporate PAC money, relying instead on grassroots support and a growing statewide coalition of working families, civic leaders, and elected officials who know her record of delivering results. Her campaign has already raised $2 million in its first five months, with plans to reach an $8 to $10 million fundraising goal to fuel an aggressive media, field, and digital outreach program. Stratton says her campaign will meet voters where they are—at the doors, on social media, and in communities across Illinois—to share her vision of an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. With endorsements from Governor JB Pritzker, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Representative Danny Davis (IL-07), and EMILYs List, Stratton says she’s fired up to keep building momentum.
If elected, Lt. Governor Stratton will fight to make life more affordable for working-class families in Illinois, while fighting back against the Trump Administration’s reckless trade war and tax on working families.
