Illinois election 2026: Why the race to succeed Dick Durbin is a top contest to watch

Hey, it's Brandon Pope of Fox Chicago and some history set to be made in the state of Illinois. Dick Durbin retiring after 29 years, giving Illinoisans a rare chance to pick a new senator on November 3rd. So let's meet the candidates on your ballot. Neither one of them are a stranger to state politics. First up, the Democrat, Juliana Stratton. She's the current lieutenant governor of the state of Illinois. She served as Governor J.B. Pritzker's right hand since 2019. It's my honor to introduce your next United States Senator, Juliana Stratton. She secured the Democratic nomination after defeating Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthy in a very competitive and expensive primary. Tonight's message is clear. We're ready to take our democracy back into our own hands. Yeah! Before serving as LGA, Stratton was in the Illinois House and had her own mediation practice. She's looking to become only the second black woman to serve as senator out of the state of Illinois, following Carol Mosley Braun. Next up, the Republican side. Don Tracy is her opponent. He's a businessman, an attorney, a Springfield lobbyist, and also a former chair of the Illinois GOP. He's hoping to break a decade-long Democratic streak when it comes to the Senate race. The last Republican to win a Senate seat in Illinois was Mark Kirk in 2017. He was defeated by Tammy Duckworth. Now, let's get to the issues. Tracy has tried his best to paint Juliana Stratton as a far-left socialist, even placing billboards across the state saying so. Stratton has denied this categorically. Her, what I call, extreme socialist agenda, starting with what she calls Medicare for all. I'm not a socialist. I'm a proud Democrat. I've been a Democrat my entire life. Tracy's taking aim at all her progressive proposals, including abolishing ICE. A $25 minimum wage and also universal health care. Meanwhile, Don Tracy is focused on securing the border, reining in federal spending and maintaining domestic energy. Meanwhile, Stratton's leaning in heavy to anti-Trump messaging. You probably remember that viral advertisement she had with some pretty colorful words for the president. They said it. Stratton is framing Tracy as a proxy for Donald Trump's economic policies that are driving up costs for everyday Illinoisans, whereas Don Tracy is painting Stratton as a far-left extremist who's dangerous for the country. So, which candidate's message resonates most with you at home on election day? Let us know in the comments.