Pritzker scores big: Stratton wins Illinois Senate primary in test of governor’s clout

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Democratic Lt.Gov.Juliana Stratton of Illinois is now a giant step closer to becoming only the fifth Black woman elected tothe Senatein the nation’s history.

Stratton on Tuesday topped Reps.Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, her top two rivals among a crowded field of contenders, in a contentious and extremely expensive Democratic Senate primary, the Associated Press reports.

Stratton, a former state lawmaker who has served two terms as lieutenant governor under Gov.JB Pritzker, a fellow Democrat, will now be considered the clear frontrunner in blue-leaning Illinois to succeed Democratic Sen.Dick Durbin, who’s retiring at the end of the year after three decades in the Senate.

PRITZKER FLEXES POLITICAL MUSCLE IN ILLINOIS’ SENATE PRIMARY

Illinois Lt.Gov.Juliana Stratton speaks during a news conference on Jan.28, 2025, about the impact of President Donald Trump’s order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans.Illinois Gov.JB Pritzker is at right. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The Democratic Senate primary, as well as down-ballot battles for a quartet of Chicago-area open House seats, were hotbeds for contentious party disagreements over battling illegal immigration and policy towards Israel, how best to push back against PresidentDonald Trump‘s unprecedented second-term agenda, and the generational struggles among Democrats.

Three Democratic candidates stand on a debate stage at a university auditorium before an audience.

Democratic U.S.Senate primary contenders U.S.Reps.Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Lt.Gov.Juliana Stratton take the stage for a debate on Jan.26, 2026, at the University of Chicago.(Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

But Stratton was backed by Pritzker, who had plenty on the line in the Senate primary.

That’s because the billionaire governor and potential 2028 White House contender, who was unopposed for his party’s nomination as he seeks to become the first Democrat to serve three terms steering the nation’s sixth-most populous state, dipped into his large war chest to dish out millions to fund a super PAC supporting Stratton

Democratic Gov.JB Pritzker of Illinois heavily supported Lt.Gov.Juliana Stratton in the state’s 2026 Democratic Senate primary.(Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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The Senate primary was viewed as a test of Pritzker’s political cloutin Illinoisas he likely gears up for a 2028 presidential run.The governor has seen his national profile skyrocket over the past 14 months as he’s become a top Democrat leading the resistance to Trump.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire.He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast.”