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U.S. Senate · Illinois

Statewide, Illinois

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Juliana Stratton, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Juliana Stratton2,501,45661.4%
Don Tracy1,510,96837.1%
Whitfield Harrington Jr.64,5551.6%

About 96% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • The seat is open. Incumbent Sen. Dick Durbin (D), first elected in 1996, announced on April 23, 2025 that he would not seek re-election.[1]
  • Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary over U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi and several other candidates. Don Tracy, former chair of the Illinois Republican Party, won the Republican primary.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 3 candidates

Juliana StrattonDPROJECTED WINNERLieutenant Governor of Illinois (since 2019)Full profile →Don TracyRAttorney, Brown, Hay & Stephens; former chair of the Illinois Republican PartyFull profile →Whitfield Harrington Jr.American Center PartyPastor, Prayer City of Chicago ChurchFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Juliana Stratton
    Supports[2]

    Stratton's campaign priorities page lists restoring the abortion protections of Roe v. Wade as a legislative priority.

  • Don Tracy
    —
  • Whitfield Harrington Jr.
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Juliana Stratton
    Supports[2]

    Stratton's campaign priorities page lists passing gun safety laws as a legislative priority.

  • Don Tracy
    —
  • Whitfield Harrington Jr.
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Juliana Stratton
    Opposes[2]

    Stratton's campaign priorities page lists "Abolishing ICE" among her legislative priorities.

  • Don Tracy
    —
  • Whitfield Harrington Jr.
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Juliana Stratton
    Supports[2]

    Stratton's campaign says she would pass a middle-class tax cut paid for by a tax increase on people making more than a million dollars a year.

  • Don Tracy
    —
  • Whitfield Harrington Jr.
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Juliana Stratton
    Supports[2][1]

    Said she supports Medicare for All.

  • Don Tracy
    —
  • Whitfield Harrington Jr.
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Juliana Stratton
    Supports[2]

    Stratton's campaign priorities page lists raising the federal minimum wage and fighting for a $25 minimum wage.

  • Don Tracy
    In their own words[3]
    “It's the bottom rung of the success ladder and that's why the focus is misplaced on the minimum wage”

    At the Feb. 11, 2026 Republican primary debate (ABC-7 Chicago, Univision, League of Women Voters), per Capitol News Illinois

  • Whitfield Harrington Jr.
    —

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Juliana Stratton
    —
  • Don Tracy
    In their own words[3]
    “the jury's still out”

    At the Feb. 11, 2026 Republican primary debate, on whether President Trump's tariffs will achieve their policy aims, per Capitol News Illinois

  • Whitfield Harrington Jr.
    —

Research notes & limits

Candidate statements and biographical details are drawn from Ballotpedia's compiled profiles, including Candidate Connection survey submissions for Tracy and Harrington. Independent primary sources (campaign sites, news coverage) were not individually verified beyond Ballotpedia's citations due to the BASIC research budget. Added biography sources (Ballotpedia, Wikipedia, WGLT/Capitol News Illinois); Harrington's biography rests only on his Ballotpedia profile and survey.

Sources · 16

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Juliana's Priorities — Juliana Stratton for Illinois · Juliana for Illinois (campaign) Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Illinois GOP Senate candidates take the stage in first major debate · NPR Illinois / Capitol News Illinois · 2026-10-19 News report
  4. 4.United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  5. 5.Juliana Stratton · Ballotpedia Reference
  6. 6.About the Lieutenant Governor · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Official record
  7. 7.Juliana Stratton · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  8. 8.Illinois U.S. Senate election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  9. 9.United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  10. 10.Don Tracy · Ballotpedia Reference
  11. 11.Illinois Republicans Name Don Tracy As New Chairman · WGLT / Capitol News Illinois News report
  12. 12.Springfield attorney Don Tracy announces U.S. Senate bid · IPM Newsroom · 2025-08-13 News report
  13. 13.U.S. Senate · Illinois results 2026 · NBC News News report
  14. 14.United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  15. 15.Whitfield Harrington Jr. (Illinois) · Ballotpedia Reference
  16. 16.U.S. Senate · Illinois results 2026 · NBC News News report