Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton pulled off a primary upset on Tuesday, defeating two sitting members of Congress to secure the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. The victory sets up a November showdown against Republican Don Tracy, the former state party chair, in what’s shaping up to be one of the most consequential elections for Illinois in years.

Stratton’s win came despite being significantly outfunded by her main rival, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who had over $15 million on hand compared to her $1 million at the start of 2026. What she lacked in campaign cash, though, she made up for with powerful backing from Gov. JB Pritzker, who actively campaigned alongside her throughout the state. Pritzker even funneled $5 million into a super PAC supporting her candidacy.

The race tested some of the most divisive issues within the Democratic Party right now. Stratton took aim at Krishnamoorthi’s voting record and his donations from an ICE contractor, making immigration a central focus of her campaign. At her victory speech, she pledged to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, push for Medicare for All, and increase wages. “We are ready to take our democracy back into our own hands”, she told supporters in Chicago.

For voters like Rochelle Brockenborough, 64, Stratton’s stance on foreign policy mattered too. “I wanted to make sure there was no AIPAC money”, Brockenborough said at her polling place. “That’s important to me”. The influence of pro-Israel funding in Democratic races became a flashpoint throughout the primary season, with several candidates competing to prove their progressive credentials.

Stratton’s path to victory wasn’t without controversy. She posthumously claimed an endorsement from the late Rev. Jesse Jackson that his family said was never meant for public release, forcing a quick retraction. Krishnamoorthi, who called for dismantling ICE, noted his own journey as the son of Indian immigrants during his concession speech.

Beyond the Senate race, Illinois Democrats dominated House primaries across the Chicago area. The most contentious was the 9th District, where Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss edged out a crowded field of 15 Democratic candidates. Biss, backed by retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky, positioned himself as the progressive choice in a race that highlighted debates over AIPAC influence and party priorities.

Gov. Pritzker, running unopposed in his own primary, used his victory speech to blast the Trump administration’s immigration policies and called the presidency an “unmitigated disaster”. He’s seeking a historic third term, the first Illinois governor to do so since the 1980s.

With Illinois being a Democratic stronghold, most primary winners are expected to cruise to victory in November, signaling a generational shift in the state’s political leadership.