Illinois’s Juliana Stratton wins Senate Democratic primary to replace retiring senator’s seat

CHICAGO - Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton on March 17 won the Democratic Party primary to replace retiring US Senator Dick Durbin, US media projected, putting her in position to win the November election in this solidly Democratic state.

Ms Stratton, 60, defeated 10 other Democratic candidates vying for the nomination, including US representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly.

Ms Stratton was endorsed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and was viewed as the most progressive of the top three candidates.

She campaigned on a platform to increase the federal minimum wage to US$25 (S$31.92) per hour from US$7.25, and backed the elimination of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has conducted immigrant deportation efforts in Chicago and other major US cities.

If Ms Stratton prevails in the fall general election, she would be the sixth Black person serving in the US Senate when it convenes in January - a new record - assuming Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey is re-elected, as expected.

Ms Stratton’s primary win was a victory for progressives but a political setback for the cryptocurrency industry, which finances a “super PAC” that supported Mr Krishnamoorthi’s campaign and is poised to distribute millions of dollars on behalf of an array of candidates in 2026.

A spirited debate is underway in the US Congress over the scope of regulation for the growing industry.

For much of the primary election night, Ms Stratton, 60, held a steady lead over Mr Krishnamoorthi, 52, as she was outpacing her opponent in vote-heavy Cook County, which includes Chicago, AP results showed on the night of March 17, with about 80 per cent of votes counted.

In the Illinois Republican contest for US Senate, former state Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy was projected the winner.

Besides testing progressives’ power, the Illinois Democratic primary gave voters an opportunity to elect a new generation of lawmakers, as Mr Durbin and two other longtime members of the state’s congressional delegation retire.

Eleven Democratic candidates campaigned to succeed Mr Durbin, whose departure, along with the retirements of other lawmakers, has triggered a wave of competitive Democratic House primaries in the state on March 17.

Illinois is a heavily Democratic state and none of its races are expected to be competitive in November’s midterm elections, when US President Donald Trump’s Republicans will be trying to defend their congressional majorities.

With Mr Trump’s approval rating hovering at 39 per cent according to the most recent Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll, Democrats have turned in solid election performances over the past few months, including winning the governorship of Virginia, holding on for a run-off in a heavily Trump-leaning Georgia district and picking a more moderate nominee for US Senate in Texas.

The immigration factor

The mass arrests of immigrants as part of the Trump administration’s deportation programme and the resulting protests in Chicago played heavily in the campaign.

Ms Stratton staked out the most progressive position of the leading contenders, calling for abolishing the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, saying, “ICE cannot be reformed.”

Ms Kelly, 69, in January introduced an impeachment resolution against former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversaw ICE until Mr Trump fired her on March 5.

Mr Krishnamoorthi wants to fire “Trump’s ICE” and not necessarily shutter the agency forever.

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority and a 218-214 House majority with three vacancies.

Incumbent presidents’ parties typically lose seats in midterms; election analysts say Democrats have a good chance of winning control of the House, but a tougher road in the Senate.

A slew of Democratic and Republican candidates competed to win party nominations to succeed retiring Representatives Danny Davis, 84, and Ms Jan Schakowsky, 81.

Both Democrats represent reliably left-leaning Chicago-area districts.

There were notable primary races in three other open House seats, including Mr Krishnamoorthi’s and Ms Kelly’s, as they looked to jump to the Senate.

Mr Krishnamoorthi was born in India and came to the United States as a child. He has served nearly a decade in the House.

He surpasses his opponents in campaign fundraising so far, with cash on hand of US$6.6 million after raising more than US$30 million.

A member of the House’s New Democrat Coalition, a group of moderate House Democrats, Mr Krishnamoorthi backs raising the federal minimum wage to US$17 per hour over five years.

He has pushed for expanding the federal Medicare health insurance programme for older adults, including allowing people as young as 50 to buy into the program.

Ms Stratton and Ms Kelly banked on appeals to progressive voters with calls for a single-payer, “Medicare for all” federal health insurance programme.

Ms Stratton was endorsed by Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, who features prominently in her campaign ads.

She favours raising the US$7.25 federal minimum wage to US$25 per hour, while her two opponents have settled on US$17.

Her campaign has raised US$4 million and has US$1.3 million cash on hand.

Ms Kelly has served in the House since 2013 and argued her Chicago-area district encompassing urban, suburban and rural voters has given her experience in dealing with a variety of constituent concerns.

She has raised US$3.3 million and her campaign has nearly US$721,000 in cash, according to Federal Election Commission data. REUTERS