2026 United States Senate election in Illinois

The 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Illinois. Democratic lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton and Republican former state party chair Don Tracy are seeking their first term in office. The winner will succeed Democratic incumbent Dick Durbin, who is not seeking re-election after five terms.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

2026 United States Senate election in Illinois

Primary elections were held on March 17, 2026. Aided by the support of Governor JB Pritzker, Stratton won the Democratic nomination with 40.1% of the vote over congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and congresswoman Robin Kelly. Tracy won the Republican nomination with 39.9% of the vote over attorney Jeannie Evans. Republicans have not won a Senate election in Illinois since (/wiki/2010UnitedStatesSenateelectionsinIllinois).

Democratic primary

2026 United States Senate election in Illinois

On April 23, 2025, incumbent Senator Dick Durbin, who has held the seat since 1997, announced he would not seek re-election. The following day, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton launched her campaign with the immediate endorsement of Governor JB Pritzker.

Reports soon emerged that Pritzker and his allies were attempting to discourage other prominent Democrats from entering the race, particularly U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly, and Lauren Underwood, though Pritzker denied the claims. Kelly announced her candidacy on May 6, followed by Krishnamoorthi the next day, while Underwood declined to run and instead sought re-election to the House.

By July, Krishnamoorthi led the field in fundraising with roughly $21 million. Each of the top candidates secured significant endorsements: Stratton from suburban Democrats, state legislative leaders, and Senator Tammy Duckworth; Krishnamoorthi from local suburban officials; and Kelly from members of the Congressional Black Caucus and LGBT advocacy groups.

Krishnamoorthi emphasized his experience on the House Intelligence Committee and focused on foreign policy and economic mobility, while Stratton benefited from substantial financial backing from Pritzker and his family. Stratton pledged not to accept corporate PAC donations, although she accepted individual contributions from billionaires, whereas Krishnamoorthi and Kelly accepted corporate PAC support.

The campaign featured sharp exchanges over ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). By December 2025, Krishnamoorthi had raised $24 million, including donations linked to associates of President Donald Trump, Palantir, and The Heritage Foundation. Meanwhile, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, which supported Stratton, received funding from CoreCivic, another ICE contractor.

The Associated Press and The Chicago Tribune called the race for Stratton on March 17, 2026, defeating U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly.

Nominee

• Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (2019–present)

Eliminated in primary

• Steve Botsford, former legislative staffer and candidate for Chicago City Council in (/wiki/2023Chicagoaldermanicelection#Ward43) • Sean Brown, attorney • Awisi Bustos, CEO of the Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and daughter-in-law of former U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos • Jonathan Dean, solar energy entrepreneur • Robin Kelly, U.S. Representative from Illinois's 2nd congressional district (2013–present), former chair of the Illinois Democratic Party (2021–2022), and nominee for Illinois Treasurer in (/wiki/2010Illinoiselections#Treasurer) • Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative from Illinois's 8th congressional district (2017–present) and candidate for Illinois Comptroller in (/wiki/2010Illinoiselections#Comptroller) • Bryan Maxwell, engineer • Kevin Ryan, former teacher • Christopher Swann, program manager for Feeding America

Disqualified

• Adam Delgado, former ATF agent • Anthony Williams, pastor and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2022UnitedStatesSenateelectioninIllinois)

Declined

• Dick Durbin, incumbent U.S. Senator (1997–present) • Mike Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer (2015–present) (running for re-election) • Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Secretary of State (2023–present), former Illinois State Treasurer (2007–2011), and nominee for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2010UnitedStatesSenateelectioninIllinois) (running for re-election) • JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (2019–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Stratton) • Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General (2019–present) (running for re-election) • Lauren Underwood, U.S. Representative from Illinois's 14th congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election) • Gilbert Villegas, Chicago alder from the 36th ward (2015–present) and candidate for Illinois's 3rd congressional district in (/wiki/2022UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinIllinois#District3)

Debates and forums

WBEZ also hosted a forum with lower-polling candidates from both parties, with Democrats Steve Botsford, Sean Brown, Jonathan Dean, Bryan Maxwell, Kevin Ryan, and Christopher Swann attending.

Fundraising

<table><thead><tr><th>Campaign finance reports as of February 25, 2026</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Candidate</td><td>Raised</td><td>Spent</td><td>Cash on hand</td></tr><tr><td>Steve Botsford (D)</td><td>$368,570</td><td>$341,353</td><td>$27,217</td></tr><tr><td>Jonathan Dean (D)</td><td>$107,149</td><td>$85,563</td><td>$21,586</td></tr><tr><td>Robin Kelly (D)</td><td>$3,307,723</td><td>$2,586,869</td><td>$720,854</td></tr><tr><td>Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)</td><td>$30,481,291</td><td>$23,905,475</td><td>$6,575,816</td></tr><tr><td>Brian Maxwell (D)</td><td>$21,976</td><td>$15,146</td><td>$6,830</td></tr><tr><td>Kevin Ryan (D)</td><td>$124,249</td><td>$118,890</td><td>$5,358</td></tr><tr><td>Juliana Stratton (D)</td><td>$4,058,200</td><td>$2,799,456</td><td>$1,258,744</td></tr><tr><td>Christopher Swann (D)</td><td>$4,768</td><td>$4,175</td><td>$593</td></tr><tr><td>Source: Federal Election Commission</td></tr></tbody></table>

Polling

<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Robin Kelly</th><th>Raja Krishnamoorthi</th><th>Juliana Stratton</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Victory Research</td><td>March 13–15, 2026</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>14%</td><td>32%</td><td>29%</td><td>–</td><td>25%</td></tr><tr><td>FM3 Research (D)</td><td>March 10–12, 2026</td><td>678 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>18%</td><td>33%</td><td>38%</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>March 9–10, 2026</td><td>700 (LV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>13%</td><td>30%</td><td>32%</td><td>–</td><td>25%</td></tr><tr><td>Tulchin Research (D)</td><td>March 4–8, 2026</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>12%</td><td>39%</td><td>28%</td><td>4%</td><td>15%</td></tr><tr><td>Change Research (D)</td><td>March 3–5, 2026</td><td>717 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>14%</td><td>36%</td><td>26%</td><td>8%</td><td>16%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>March 2–3, 2026</td><td>577 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>11%</td><td>30%</td><td>33%</td><td>–</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>February 23–24, 2026</td><td>546 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>13%</td><td>29%</td><td>27%</td><td>–</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>–</td><td>32%</td><td>37%</td><td>–</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>Tulchin Research (D)</td><td>February 14–19, 2026</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>10%</td><td>42%</td><td>26%</td><td>6%</td><td>16%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>February 2–3, 2026</td><td>574 (LV)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>8%</td><td>34%</td><td>23%</td><td>–</td><td>37%</td></tr><tr><td>GBAO (D)</td><td>January 25–28, 2026</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>13%</td><td>43%</td><td>17%</td><td>–</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>Victory Research</td><td>January 21–25, 2026</td><td>806 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>11%</td><td>32%</td><td>21%</td><td>6%</td><td>30%</td></tr><tr><td>GBAO (D)</td><td>January 8–12, 2026</td><td>900 (LV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>15%</td><td>41%</td><td>16%</td><td>–</td><td>28%</td></tr><tr><td>Emerson College/WGN-TV</td><td>January 3–5, 2026</td><td>568 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>8%</td><td>31%</td><td>10%</td><td>6%</td><td>46%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>December 8–9, 2025</td><td>667 (LV)</td><td>± 3.8%</td><td>9%</td><td>32%</td><td>20%</td><td>–</td><td>39%</td></tr><tr><td>Change Research (D)</td><td>December 4–8, 2025</td><td>1,007 (LV)</td><td>± 3.2%</td><td>7%</td><td>42%</td><td>14%</td><td>4%</td><td>33%</td></tr><tr><td>Victory Research</td><td>November 20–24, 2025</td><td>– (LV)</td><td>–</td><td>22%</td><td>29%</td><td>18%</td><td>3%</td><td>28%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>September 25–26, 2025</td><td>576 (LV)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>8%</td><td>33%</td><td>18%</td><td>–</td><td>41%</td></tr><tr><td>Change Research (D)</td><td>September 17–19, 2025</td><td>1,143 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>8%</td><td>41%</td><td>17%</td><td>–</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>GBAO (D)</td><td>August 12–17, 2025</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>12%</td><td>38%</td><td>18%</td><td>–</td><td>29%</td></tr><tr><td>Z to A Research (D)</td><td>August 8–10, 2025</td><td>615 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>13%</td><td>51%</td><td>28%</td><td>–</td><td>8%</td></tr><tr><td>GBAO (D)</td><td>June 5–10, 2025</td><td>1,200 (LV)</td><td>± 2.8%</td><td>14%</td><td>32%</td><td>19%</td><td>4%</td><td>31%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Results

Results by county Stratton Krishnamoorthi Kelly Tie

Stratton won with 40.2% of the statewide vote; she secured 47 counties, including Cook and Will counties in the state's northeast. She recorded her best result in St. Clair County, winning 54.3% of the vote. Krishnamoorthi won 53 counties, carrying DuPage, Lake and Kane counties around Chicago. He performed best in Mercer County with 59.0% of the vote. The two leading candidates tied in Jasper County, with 32.9% of the vote each. Finally, Kelly placed third in the race; however, she did win Kankakee County with 38.2% of the vote. Kelly represents a majority of Kankakee residents as congresswoman for Illinois's 2nd congressional district.

<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Juliana Stratton</td><td>484,321</td><td>40.2</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Raja Krishnamoorthi</td><td>399,331</td><td>33.1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Robin Kelly</td><td>218,133</td><td>18.1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Kevin Ryan</td><td>59,553</td><td>4.9</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Bryan Maxwell</td><td>9,636</td><td>0.8</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Sean Brown</td><td>7,855</td><td>0.7</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Awisi Bustos</td><td>7,738</td><td>0.6</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Christopher Swann</td><td>7,558</td><td>0.6</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Jonathan Dean</td><td>6,448</td><td>0.5</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Steve Botsford</td><td>5,140</td><td>0.4</td></tr><tr><td>Total votes</td><td>1,205,713</td><td>100.0</td></tr></tbody></table>

Republican primary

Candidates

• Don Tracy, former chair of the Illinois Republican Party (2021–2024), former member of the Illinois Gaming Board (2015–2019), and candidate for lieutenant governor in (/wiki/2010Illinoisgubernatorialelection)

Eliminated in primary

• R. Cary Capparelli, former member of the Illinois International Port District board (2000–2009) and perennial candidate • Casey Chlebek, national director for the Polish American Congress PAC and candidate for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2020UnitedStatesSenateelectioninIllinois) and (/wiki/2022UnitedStatesSenateelectioninIllinois) • Jeannie Evans, attorney • Pamela Denise Long, occupational therapist • Jimmy Lee Tillman, author

Declined

• Mike Bost, U.S. Representative from Illinois's 12th congressional district (2015–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Tracy) • Rodney Davis, former U.S. representative from Illinois's 13th congressional district (2013–2023) • Darin LaHood, U.S. Representative from Illinois's 16th congressional district (2015–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Tracy) • Richard Porter, former member of the Republican National Committee and the Illinois State Police Merit Board

Debates and forums

WBEZ also hosted a forum with lower-polling candidates from both parties, with Republican Pamela Long attending.

Fundraising

<table><thead><tr><th>Campaign finance reports as of February 25, 2026</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Candidate</td><td>Raised</td><td>Spent</td><td>Cash on hand</td></tr><tr><td>R. Cary Capparelli (R)</td><td>$13,471</td><td>$5,994</td><td>$7,477</td></tr><tr><td>Casey Chlebek (R)</td><td>$105,000</td><td>$100,295</td><td>$4,704</td></tr><tr><td>Jeannie Evans (R)</td><td>$629,827</td><td>$539,908</td><td>$89,919</td></tr><tr><td>Pamela Long (R)</td><td>$22,288</td><td>$21,309</td><td>$979</td></tr><tr><td>Don Tracy (R)</td><td>$2,256,985</td><td>$462,099</td><td>$1,794,886</td></tr><tr><td>Source: Federal Election Commission</td></tr></tbody></table>

Polling

<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Jeannie Evans</th><th>Jimmy Tillman</th><th>Don Tracy</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Emerson College/WGN-TV</td><td>January 3–5, 2026</td><td>432 (LV)</td><td>± 4.7%</td><td>3%</td><td>3%</td><td>6%</td><td>–</td><td>84%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Results

Results by county Tracy Evans

<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Don Tracy</td><td>212,619</td><td>39.9</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Jeannie Evans</td><td>121,574</td><td>22.8</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Casey Chlebek</td><td>59,411</td><td>11.1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>R. Cary Capparelli</td><td>56,357</td><td>10.6</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Pamela Denise Long</td><td>53,194</td><td>10.0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Jimmy Lee Tillman</td><td>29,781</td><td>5.6</td></tr><tr><td>Total votes</td><td>532,936</td><td>100.0</td></tr></tbody></table>

General election

Predictions

<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Solid D</td><td>January 12, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Solid D</td><td>January 12, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe D</td><td>January 29, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Race To The WH</td><td>Safe D</td><td>February 2, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>