--- title: "Stratton vs. Tracy: 2026 Illinois Senate race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-senate-il" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Illinois Senate race: Juliana Stratton (D) vs. Don Tracy (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 The 2026 U.S. Senate election in Illinois features Democratic Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton facing Republican attorney and former state party chair Don Tracy for the open seat created by retiring Senator Dick Durbin. The matchup hinges on contrasting approaches to economic relief, immigration policy, healthcare expansion, and regional representation across Illinois. ## Candidates - **Juliana Stratton** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Juliana_Stratton) - **Don Tracy** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://dontracyforil.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ## Issues ### Economy & Cost of Living Salience: high Stratton proposes raising the federal minimum wage to $25 and taxing millionaires to fund middle-class tax relief, whereas Tracy advocates reducing federal spending, lowering taxes, and cutting regulations to curb inflation. **Juliana Stratton:** Lowering costs and raising minimum wage Stratton centers her economic platform on relief for working and middle-class families in Illinois. She supports ending Trump-era trade policies, raising the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour, and providing middle-class tax cuts funded by higher taxes on millionaires. - Raise federal minimum wage to $25 per hour - Pass middle-class tax cuts funded by taxes on earners over $1 million annually - End Trump trade war policies to lower everyday prices > “Making life more affordable will be one of Juliana’s key priorities at the federal level too.” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) > “Fighting for a $25 Minimum Wage” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** Lowering spending and cutting regulations Tracy focuses on combating high living costs by reducing federal government spending, minimizing waste and fraud, and cutting excess business regulations. He argues that tax-and-spend policies have made Illinois unaffordable and lagging economic growth in the Midwest. - Reduce federal spending and inflation through government efficiency - Cut excess regulations to lower the cost of doing business - Lower taxes, interest rates, and encourage workforce re-entry > “My top priority: lower costs so families can thrive again.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) > “The sky-high cost-of-living in Illinois has made the American Dream seem out of reach for many everyday Illinoisans.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Healthcare Salience: high Stratton supports universal coverage through Medicare for All and medical debt relief, while Tracy favors market competition, price transparency, and denying taxpayer-funded healthcare to non-citizens. **Juliana Stratton:** Supports Medicare for All Stratton advocates for universal healthcare coverage through federal reform, explicitly calling for Medicare for All. She highlights her state-level work relieving medical debt and eliminating the grocery tax to make essential care affordable. - Secure Medicare for All at the federal level - Relieve medical debt for working families > “Securing Medicare for All” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** Price transparency and market competition Tracy supports market-based healthcare solutions to lower consumer prices, including price transparency and increased competition. He strongly advocates eliminating taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits for non-citizens. - Institute healthcare price transparency - Increase market competition among providers - Eliminate taxpayer-funded healthcare for non-citizens > “It also includes lowering health care costs by instituting price transparency, increasing competition, and eliminating taxpayer-funded healthcare for non-citizens.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Border Security & Immigration Salience: high Stratton calls for abolishing ICE and stopping federal immigration enforcement raids, while Tracy advocates securing the border and ending taxpayer-funded benefits for non-citizens. **Juliana Stratton:** Supports abolishing ICE Stratton calls for fundamental immigration enforcement reform, specifically pledging to abolish ICE. She opposes aggressive federal enforcement tactics that separate communities and snatch residents off the streets. - Abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Oppose aggressive federal immigration raids > “Abolishing ICE” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) > “sending masked agents to snatch our neighbors off the streets” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** Securing border and ending benefits Tracy places border security at the center of his public safety and economic agenda. He opposes providing taxpayer-funded benefits or healthcare to non-citizens, criticizing politicians who resist border enforcement. - Secure the U.S. border - Eliminate taxpayer-funded benefits and healthcare for non-citizens > “They’re against securing the border. They support giving taxpayer-funded benefits to non-citizens.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Public Safety & Crime Salience: medium Stratton prioritizes passing federal common-sense gun safety legislation, while Tracy focuses on tougher criminal accountability and opposing policies that release violent offenders. **Juliana Stratton:** Supports common sense gun safety Stratton emphasizes gun violence prevention as a civil rights and safety priority. She supports passing federal common-sense gun safety legislation. - Pass common sense gun safety laws > “Passing Common Sense Gun Safety Laws” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** Holding violent criminals accountable Tracy campaigns on backing law enforcement and reversing policies that release violent offenders back onto urban streets. He advocates for strict criminal accountability alongside workforce and educational opportunities for youth. - Hold violent criminals accountable and support law enforcement - Oppose policies that release violent offenders onto streets - Provide work and educational opportunities to prevent youth crime > “We see the results in Chicago, where violent criminals are let back onto the streets.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) > “keeps our neighborhoods safe by holding criminals accountable and providing work and educational opportunities so our young people never turn to a life of crime.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Energy & Environment Salience: medium Stratton demands urgent federal action to combat climate change, whereas Tracy emphasizes protecting American energy independence and lowering gas and utility costs through a balanced energy strategy. **Juliana Stratton:** Supports urgent climate action Stratton views environmental protection as critical to protecting future generations and building a safe environment. She pledges to take urgent federal action on climate change. - Take urgent action on climate change > “take urgent action on climate change” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** Energy independence and reasonable energy policy Tracy advocates for national energy independence to lower utility and gasoline prices for families. He supports a balanced energy strategy that reduces costs while keeping an eye on clean energy development. - Lower energy and gas costs through reasonable policy - Protect national energy independence - Balance affordability with a clean energy future > “This includes lowering energy and gas costs by pursuing a reasonable energy policy, protecting our energy independence, with an eye on a clean energy future.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Education & Workforce Development Salience: medium Stratton proposes restoring the federal Department of Education and expanding trades training, while Tracy advocates educational and work opportunities targeted at preventing youth crime. **Juliana Stratton:** Supports public education and trades Stratton proposes restoring federal oversight and expanding career pathways for working families. Her goals include restoring the federal Department of Education, supporting trade and technical schools, and funding early childhood programs. - Restore the federal Department of Education - Expand federal support for trade learning and technical schools - Invest in early childhood education programs like Head Start > “Restoring the Department of Education” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) > “Expanding Federal Support for Trades Learning and Technical Schools” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** Workforce training and merit hiring Tracy emphasizes vocational, work, and educational opportunities aimed at keeping youth out of crime. He also advocates hiring based on merit in government and reducing barriers to business operation. - Provide workforce and education opportunities for young people - Promote merit-based hiring - Cut excess regulations to reduce business costs > “keeps our neighborhoods safe by holding criminals accountable and providing work and educational opportunities so our young people never turn to a life of crime.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Reproductive Freedom & Civil Rights Salience: medium Stratton advocates codifying Roe v. Wade and voting rights protections, while Tracy opposes progressive gender policies in women's sports. **Juliana Stratton:** Codifying Roe and voting rights Stratton prioritizes protecting individual rights and democratic institutions. She pledges to restore federal abortion protections under Roe v. Wade, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and safeguard LGBTQ+ rights. - Restore abortion protections of Roe v. Wade - Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act - Safeguard LGBTQ+ rights > “Restoring the Abortion Protections of Roe v. Wade” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) > “Passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** Opposes progressive gender policies Tracy opposes extreme social agendas promoted by career politicians, specifically speaking out against allowing biological males to compete in female sports categories. - Oppose biological males playing in girls' sports - Stand against extreme cultural agendas > “They promote boys playing in girls’ sports.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Regional Representation & Governance Salience: low **Juliana Stratton:** No documented position in our sources **Don Tracy:** Representing all 102 Illinois counties Tracy argues that all statewide elected officials currently reside in Cook County or Chicago, leaving downstate and central Illinois without representation. He promises to represent all 102 Illinois counties in Washington. - Provide representation for 101 counties outside Cook County - Leverage background in Urbana, Mt. Sterling, and Springfield > “I am the only candidate who will give a voice to all of Illinois' 102 counties in Washington, DC.” > — Don Tracy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Tracy) ### Campaign Finance Reform Salience: low **Juliana Stratton:** Rejecting corporate PAC money Stratton pledges to reject all corporate PAC contributions in her Senate campaign to ensure government serves working families rather than wealthy corporate interests. - Reject all corporate PAC money in the race > “Rejecting ALL Corporate PAC Money in this race” > — Juliana Stratton, via [Campaign site](https://www.julianastratton.com) **Don Tracy:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/illinois-senate-election-winner) — Illinois Senate Election Winner: Democrats 98.7%, Republicans 1.4% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/SENATEIL-26) — Illinois Senate winner?: Juliana Stratton 98.9%, Don Tracy 1.9% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-senate-il)