A series of high-profile Democratic primaries was headlined by an expensive US Senate race to replace retiring Democratic Whip Dick Durbin.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won a three-way race against US Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly on Tuesday night. As the Democratic nominee, she’ll be heavily favored in November to become just the sixth Black woman senator in US history.

And in the US House, several key primaries around Chicago highlighted divisions in the party and the effect of outside money from groups related to artificial intelligence interests as well as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Road to the midterms

Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (L) poses for a picture alongside Gov. JB Pritzker after the two walked in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago, Illinois on March 14, 2026.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Inside JB Pritzker’s power play in Illinois’ Senate primary – and what it means for a 2028 run
The Illinois state troopers’ code name for Juliana Stratton, the lieutenant governor and the new Democratic nominee for US Senate, is Sprinter. Their code name for JB Pritzker, the governor who put his political capital and upward of $10 million behind getting her there, is Believer.

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