By: Ashmar Mandou
Governor JB Pritzker will once again face off with his 2022 Republican challenger Darren Bailey, as Bailey earned 53 percent of the votes. Pritzker is now running with Christian Mitchell after Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton launched her campaign for Dick Durbin’s U.S. Senate seat. Pritzker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and is seeking a third term as the governor of Illinois. “Right now, grifters of corruption and selfishness, purveyors of bigotry and hatred, have taken control of the White House and Congress,” Pritzker said. Bailey, a former Illinois state representative and state senator, joined with Cook County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Del Mar as his running mate this year. Bailey has criticized Pritzker’s leadership, including blaming him for rising costs, and saying he’s “just another billionaire who has never once felt the pain he’s inflicted.”
For the Democratic ticket, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won by 40 percent, according to AP and CNN. She defeated Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who led in campaign finance leading up to the race. Stratton, was backed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, states she will bring a more progressive agenda to Capitol Hill: She said she would not support Sen. Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader and has called for abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. “Every day from now until November, I will continue to demonstrate that I am ready to fight for the people of Illinois and take back our democracy.” Stratton will face the winner of the Republican race, Don Tracy, who won his party’s race by 39.8%, according to AP and CNN. Tracy is the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party in the heavily-Democrat state. “It’s an honor to be your next Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. It’s time to make Illinois a two-party state again. Thank you to all who volunteered their time or donated to this race. There are many great stories in politics about the underdog coming out on top, and this is going to be one of them,” said Tracy to his crowd of supporters.
