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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Takeaways from the Illinois primary elections

Stratton won the Democratic primary for Illinois’ open Senate seat and campaigned on progressive priorities.

Takeaways from the Illinois primary elections
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This article1 analysis · Oct 8, 2026
CNN
Mar 18, 2026
tl;dr

Illinois Democrats nominated Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for the open Senate seat, while several House primaries produced wins and losses for former members and candidates. The results highlighted continuing divisions over ideology, generational change, Israel and outside spending.

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No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Stratton in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Stratton’s record.

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Illinois lieutenant governor and Democratic Senate candidate who won the primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT
La Ford
D · IL

Illinois state representative and Democratic House candidate who won the 7th District primary

Illinois representative and defeated Senate primary candidate

Don Tracy
R · IL

Republican nominee for the Illinois Senate seat

Cook County commissioner and Democratic House candidate who won the 2nd District primary

Former representative and Democratic House candidate who won the 8th District primary

Democratic House candidate defeated by Melissa Bean

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President criticized in Pritzker's victory speech and Stratton's remarks

Democratic House candidate defeated in the 7th District primary

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who backed Junaid Ahmed

Richard J. Durbin
D · IL · SEN

Retiring Illinois senator whose seat was contested

Evanston mayor and Democratic House candidate who won the 9th District primary

Illinois representative and defeated Senate primary candidate

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate Democratic leader whom Stratton said she would not support

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Senator who backed Junaid Ahmed and criticized crypto super PAC spending

Retiring representative whose seat was contested in the 7th District

ALSO MENTIONED  JB Pritzker, Illinois governor and supporter of Stratton; Chris Kennedy, Former candidate in the 2018 Illinois Democratic gubernatorial primary; Jesse Jackson Jr., Former representative who lost his bid to regain his old House seat; Kat Abughazaleh, Democratic House candidate defeated by Daniel Biss; Rod Blagojevich, Former Illinois governor whose 2002 primary is used for turnout comparison

Part of a bigger story

21 OUTLETS
Juliana Stratton Wins Illinois Democratic Senate Primary

Juliana Stratton won the Democratic primary for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat, securing the nomination. Both sides’ coverage also notes Gov. JB Pritzker’s support for her campaign. Center outlets report the result and, in some articles, examine Pritzker’s influence and the win’s broader political implications; right-leaning outlets pair the result with Pritzker’s financial support and the race’s national attention.

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