Stratton Wins Senate Race, Capping Stunning Comeback
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton celebrates her victory in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Tuesday night in Chicago. (Photo: Chicago Sun-Times)
In one of the most stunning reversals of fortune in recent Illinois political history, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton overcame a monthslong head start from her main opponent to capture the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate Tuesday.
With around 90% of the vote counted as of 1:00 A.M. Wednesday, Stratton led Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Schaumburg) with around 473,000 votes to around 392,000 votes, a difference of 40% to 33%.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Lynwood) was in a distant third, with around 213,000 votes, or about 18% of the vote.
The Associated Press called the race for Stratton shortly after 9:30 last night.
The race was seen as Krishnamoorthi’s to win for months as he launched a barrage of statewide television ads in July, spending months unopposed on the airwaves until a dark money Super PAC funded by Governor JB Pritzker came on the air with both positive Stratton ads and negative Krishnamoorthi ads after the first of the year.
The “Strattmentum,” as Pritzker’s and Stratton’s teams tried to coin in the closing days of the campaign combined with breaking of undecided voters in her favor carried her across the finish line.
Krishnamoorthi held serve in suburban Cook County and the collars, for the most part, but Stratton dominated in the city of Chicago and downstate to carry her to victory.
“Tonight we showed what’s possible when you listen to the people and give the people what they want,” Stratton said before a roaring crowd a little after 10pm Tuesday.
Stratton is seen as a heavy favorite to become the fourth African American senator from Illinois next year, as she faces former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy in November. Tracy easily won the GOP primary over Chicago attorney Jeannie Evans.
The victory is seen as a political triumph for Pritzker’s political team, who pushed Stratton across the finish line.
His other preferred candidate, Comptroller candidate Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago), declared victory in the Democratic primary Tuesday night, but he Associated Press has yet to call the race as of early Wednesday morning.
It solidifies Pritzker’s grip on a state party he has dominated with money and organization since taking office in 2019.
“Never doubt Team Pritzker,” one Democratic operative texted late Tuesday. “Never.”
