The 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois marked a significant turning point in the state’s political landscape following the retirement announcement of long-time incumbent Senator Dick Durbin in April 2025. Having held the seat since 1997, Durbin’s decision to decline a sixth term created the first open Senate race in Illinois in over fifteen years.
In the Democratic primary held on March 17, 2026, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton emerged victorious, defeating her primary rivals, U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly. Stratton’s campaign was significantly bolstered by an early endorsement and substantial financial backing from Governor JB Pritzker, whose political team was reportedly active in clearing the field for her. Throughout the race, Stratton positioned herself as an outsider compared to her opponents' Washington experience, pledging to support bold initiatives such as the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raising the minimum wage to $25 an hour, and instituting Medicaid for All.
Her main challenger, Raja Krishnamoorthi, led the field in fundraising for much of the cycle, amassing over $30 million—a figure that included a significant transfer from his House campaign account. Despite his financial advantage and early polling leads, his support eventually plateaued. Stratton’s victory was powered by a late surge in momentum, particularly within the city of Chicago and several downstate population centers. If she is successful in the general election, she will become the second African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Illinois.
On the Republican side, Don Tracy, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party, secured the nomination. Tracy won approximately 40% of the vote in a primary field that included attorney Jeannie Evans and real estate manager Casey Chlebek. Tracy’s platform focused on reducing the cost of living, specifically targeting energy and healthcare expenses.
The election cycle also featured several competitive U.S. House primaries. In the 2nd Congressional District, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller won the Democratic nomination, ending the political comeback attempt of former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.. In the 9th District, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss won a contentious race that drew national attention. Other notable primary victors included State Representative La Shawn Ford in the 7th District and former Representative Melissa Bean in the 8th District.
A defining characteristic of these 2026 primaries was the unprecedented level of spending. Nearly $92 million was spent across the Senate race and four open-seat House races. This influx of capital came largely from special interest Super PACs, including those affiliated with the cryptocurrency and AI industries. Despite these massive expenditures, the results were mixed for special interest groups; while some backed successful candidates, others saw their preferred choices rejected by voters who were critical of "dark money" influence.
Voter turnout, however, remained low across the state. In some areas, such as McLean County, only about 21.2% of registered voters participated, marking a third consecutive decline for midterm primary elections in that jurisdiction. Analysts attributed this low engagement to a lack of contested local and state legislative races.
As the general election approaches on November 3, 2026, political analysts currently rate the Senate seat as "Solid Democratic" or "Safe Democratic," positioning Stratton as the heavy favorite to succeed Durbin.


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