Three Black women will serve together in the Senate for the first time as Juliana Stratton makes history
Illinois Senate Result
Stratton, a Democrat and Illinois lieutenant governor, won Tuesday’s Senate election against Republican Don Tracy. She is set to take the seat held by Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring after five terms.
Stratton was elected lieutenant governor twice as Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate. Pritzker endorsed her during a contentious Democratic Senate primary.
A Senate Milestone
She will join Democratic Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland. Neither was up for election this cycle.
Positions and Campaign
Stratton supports Medicare for All and has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. Her criticism has included his decision to deploy National Guard members and federal immigration agents in Chicago. Tracy previously chaired the Illinois Republican Party.
Key points
- Juliana Stratton defeated Republican Don Tracy to win Illinois’s U.S. Senate seat.
- She will succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, who served five terms.
- Stratton will be the second Black woman to represent Illinois in the Senate.
- Her election brings the number of Black women serving in the Senate simultaneously to three for the first time.