Stratton projected to win Illinois Senate seat

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is the projected winner of the state’s U.S. Senate race, setting her up to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. The result was reported as a projection, and certified vote totals were not included in the accounts reviewed. Stratton, a Democrat, defeated Republican Don Tracy, according to an election projection. Another report also named independent candidate Whitfield Harrington among those she defeated. The reports did not provide a margin of victory or establish that the result had been formally certified. Durbin announced in April 2025 that he would retire at the end of his term. He has served in the Senate since 1997. Stratton is scheduled to take her seat on January 3. Stratton has served as Illinois lieutenant governor under Gov. J.B. Pritzker for eight years, according to one account. Pritzker backed her Senate campaign. She won the Democratic nomination in March after defeating several candidates, including U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi. During the general-election campaign, Stratton said she would oppose policies of President Donald Trump’s administration. She also advocated raising the federal minimum wage to $25 an...