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Juliana Stratton

Democratic candidate for United States Senator, Illinois · Open seat

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

Juliana Stratton is the Democratic nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. Incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin is retiring. She has been Illinois' lieutenant governor under Gov. JB Pritzker since 2019, and she won the Democratic nomination in the 2026 primary.

Where Stratton stands

Tariffs and trade: Opposes President Trump's tariffs and calls for ending them. She says they caused a trade war with U.S. allies and raised prices, and calls the trade policy illegal.
Oversight of the president: Says she will "be a check on this president" and hold President Trump accountable if elected.
Presidential nominees: Pledged not to vote to confirm any of President Trump's nominees.
War in Iran: Says she will not vote for any bill that provides supplemental funding for the war in Iran. She blames President Trump for starting the war.
Cost of living: Says President Trump's tariffs and the war in Iran have pushed up the cost of living, including gas prices.

Background

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (48th), 2019–present
Illinois State Representative, 5th District, 2017–2018 (per Daily Herald questionnaire)
Kenwood Academy Local School Council member, 2012–2015
2026 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Illinois
Lives in Chicago; age 61 (per Daily Herald, October 2026)

In the news

Stratton, Tracy clash over Trump, affordability in lone U.S. Senate forum Capitol News Illinois, October 21, 2026
Juliana Stratton: 2026 candidate for the U.S. Senate Daily Herald, October 16, 2026
Democrat Juliana Stratton faces Don Tracy, former GOP chair, in Senate battle for Dick Durbin's seat Chicago Sun-Times, October 14, 2026

Also running for United States Senator

Don Tracy Republican
Whitfield Harrington Jr. American Center

Sources

Last researched October 22, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.