Juliana Stratton Wins Senate Democratic Primary in Illinois

CHICAGO—Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the Democratic Senate primary in Illinois on March 17 and will likely become the successor to retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Stratton defeated Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and will face former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

Given Illinois’s Democratic lean, Stratton is all but guaranteed to win in the midterms in November.

In her victory speech, Stratton said she was “humbled and honored” to get the Democratic nod.

“I want you to know that I’m running to be your advocate and fighter in Washington,” she said.

She called for “real courage” in the nation’s capital in standing up to President Donald Trump, whom she called out by name.

In a Jan. 29 debate on ABC affiliate WLS-TV, Stratton, Krishnamoorthi, and Kelly supported major changes to federal immigration enforcement and called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while supporting pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and other long-term illegal immigrants.

Stratton, Krishnamoorthi, and Kelly broadly supported higher wages, expanded housing assistance, tax changes targeting wealthy individuals and corporations, and stronger food security programs.

The three candidates also said the United States is facing a constitutional crisis under Trump and called for stronger congressional oversight and institutional reforms.

In a Feb. 19 debate on WGN-TV, Stratton said the minimum wage should be $25 per hour.

Kelly agreed with Krishnamoorthi that it should increase from $7.25 per hour to $17 per hour.

Regarding health care, Krishnamoorthi advocated a public option, expanded Medicaid, and incremental reforms, although he said he would support Medicare for All if it reached a Senate vote.

Stratton and Kelly supported Medicare for All and argued that health care should be a universal right.

Voters who spoke with The Epoch Times voted for either Krishnamoorthi or Stratton.

Cynthia Greenwood said she voted for Krishnamoorthi.

“I think he’s fabulous,” she said. “I’ve been to a lot of events he’s been at, and I think he’s a wonderful representative of our state.”

Greenwood said that Trump needs to be checked.

“We need good people in Washington,” she said.

She also said affordability is an important issue to her, as “there are so many people that are slipping behind.”

Xiao Cuizhu said she voted for Stratton because she did not like the other candidates.

Cuizhu said that preserving American democracy is the issue she cares about and that people’s voices are not being heard by those in Washington.

Betsy, who declined to give her last name, said she voted for Krishnamoorthi because he was “more central” than the other candidates.

Betsy said the issue that matters to her is the need for people, not just those in Washington, to come together to solve problems.

“We’re just not working together to come to the greater good and realizing that different people were raised with different experiences and therefore have a different perspective,” she said.

“And we need to make it better for all of us.”

Lisa Stewart said she voted for Stratton because she is “excited about what she can bring.”

“I’m excited that black female leadership is being celebrated in Illinois rather than buried, because way too often America accepts the labor of black women but doesn’t promote them with authority,” she said.

Stewart said the issues she cares about are Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the town of Evanston, affordable housing, public safety, and the need for new leaders in power.