Juliana Stratton Upsets Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi to Win Illinois Senate Primary

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is projected to be the Democratic nominee for Senate in Illinois after defeating Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, among others, on Tuesday night.

Stratton prevailed in a rare open primary in the state after Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, announced his retirement following nearly 30 years in the upper chamber. A Republican hasn’t won statewide in Illinois in 12 years, priming Stratton to take the spot after November’s general election.

“We did it. We showed what’s possible when you listen to the people and give the people what they want,” Stratton told supporters after her victory. “What’s possible when you stay true to your values, fight for what you believe in, and never take anything for granted.”

Stratton also pledged to support all Illinoisans — including those who did not vote for her — in Washington.

“I’d like to thank each and every Illinoisan who showed up to participate in this election and refused to be silenced no matter who you cast your ballot for,” she continued. “Tonight’s message is clear. We’re ready to take our democracy back into our own hands.”

Stratton’s victory was a major upset, demonstrating that endorsements and statewide name ID could overpower Krishnamoorthi’s massive war chest. He raised $30 million for his bid (including $20 million transferred from his U.S. House account). Krishnamoorthi had emerged early as the frontrunner, opening with early polling advantages and airing television ads months before his competitors.

“Now we must come together as Democrats and as Americans to make sure that we return to the principles that made us a beacon of freedom and opportunity for the world,” Krishnamoorthi said after conceding the race to Stratton on Tuesday.

“I will have almost a year remaining in the best job I’ve ever had representing the good people of Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, and I pledge to you tonight that I will continue to do that job to the best of my ability to fight for the kind of country we all still believe in,” he continued.

Stratton was endorsed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and five of the 17 U.S. representatives from Illinois. The race was widely seen as a test for Pritzker, who donated $5 million to a group supporting Stratton and campaigned alongside her ahead of his rumored run for president in 2028.

Duckworth told NOTUS that she endorsed Stratton because of her work on maternal health and universal child care in the state House.

“I’ve watched Raja for nine years, and he hasn’t worked with me at all,” Duckworth said. “All he’s done is fundraise and name four post offices. On the other hand, Juliana is working extensively on many issues to benefit the people of Illinois. ”

Rep. Robin Kelly, who trailed in third, was officially endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus. Pritzker’s early endorsement of Stratton caused a rift after CBC Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke accused him of “heavy-handing” the race against Kelly.

Democratic strategist Thomas Bowen, who did not work on any of the campaigns, told NOTUS ahead of Tuesday’s election that the biggest issue on the ballot for Illinois voters was the Democrats’ response to President Donald Trump. Voters chose between three distinct styles about how to counter him in the solid-blue state, he said.

“Robin put forward a kind of warm, embracing grandmotherly style,” Bowen said. “Raja has done a little more on a methodical, ‘Trump accountability’ plan. Juliana’s communication and the communication on her behalf has been very much, ‘I’m marching right in the streets.’”

The candidates differed on several issues during the primary, including how to address concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Stratton and Kelly have called to “abolish” and “dismantle” ICE, respectively, while Krishnamoorthi has discussed reforms of the agency.

Stratton also attacked the amount of outside spending in the race throughout her campaign. Krishnamoorthi received significant contributions from groups linked to cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence companies. Overall, crypto-affiliated groups spent more than $10 million against Stratton.

“Krishnamoorthi and Stratton have both attempted to sort of muddy each other’s donor base with MAGA donors, ICE donors, contractors, private prisons,” Bowen said. “They’ve all been sort of playing the sort of typical games about ‘Oh, look, your money is bad’ to try to peel off voters.”