Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the state’s Democratic primary for Senate on Tuesday night, overcoming a surge of spending from crypto industry groups with the help of the financial and political backing of Gov. JB Pritzker.
Stratton defeated Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who had a huge financial advantage for most of the race, and Rep. Robin Kelly, to claim the nomination. The seat was open because of the pending retirement of Sen. **** Durbin, a longtime member of Senate Democratic leadership.
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Joined by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, left, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is running for an open U.S. Senate seat, speaks to residents at the Montclare Senior Residences of Avalon Park in Chicago, March 12, 2026. AP Photo/Sophia Tareen
Krishnamoorthi, a prolific fundraiser, entered the race with a $19 million war chest and began airing ads last summer, eventually building a substantial lead. Stratton, meanwhile, struggled with fundraising, bringing in just over $4 million over the length of the campaign.
But the support of Pritzker, a billionaire and likely 2028 presidential contender, proved crucial to powering a Stratton comeback. He put more than $5 million into a super PAC supporting her, helping to close the financial gap.
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Fairshake, a super PAC set up and funded by the crypto industry, jumped in toward the end of the race and spent $10 million attacking Stratton, citing regulations on the industry she and Pritzker supported. Crypto’s money, however, was not enough to stop the momentum Stratton had built.
Stratton is now heavily favored to win in November. If she does, there will be three Black women in the Senate for the first time. (Sens. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware are the others.)
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