# Illinois U.S. Senate election campaign > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/illinois-us-senate-election-campaign > Updated: 2026-10-21T00:15:06.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton has secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, a race to fill the seat being vacated by Senator Dick Durbin. During the campaign, polling indicated she held a 13-point lead over Republican nominee Don Tracy, focusing her platform on healthcare affordability, reproductive rights, immigration, and economic opportunity. If elected, Stratton would become only the third Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. The campaign has been marked by sharp rhetoric; Stratton has connected Tracy to the policies of Donald Trump, while Tracy has used Chicago billboards to label Stratton a “socialist.” Financial disclosures from the Federal Election Commission show that at the end of September, Stratton had $1.6 million in cash on hand. Tracy reported $1.1 million in cash, though he had lent $2 million to his campaign in August 2025. Stratton previously won her primary with 40.4% of the vote, supported by a $10 million boost from Governor JB Pritzker. The candidates are scheduled to hold their first and only televised debate. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-21: Juliana Stratton and Don Tracy to hold first Senate debate Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy will face off in their only televised debate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/juliana-stratton-and-don-tracy-to-hold-first-senate-debate ### 2026-10-10: Juliana Stratton leads Illinois Senate race as election approaches Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton leads Republican Don Tracy by 13 points in the race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin, potentially becoming only the third Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/juliana-stratton-leads-illinois-senate-race-as-election-approaches --- Cite as: Illinois U.S. Senate election campaign. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/illinois-us-senate-election-campaign