While Tuesday’s primary is likely to decide who will fill a rare vacant Senate seat in blue Illinois, it will also serve as a crucial test for another Democrat: Gov. JB Pritzker.
Pritzker’s lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, is running against Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, among others, to fill the seat that Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin has occupied for 29 years.
Though Krishnamoorthi remains the front-runner, the popular governor endorsed Stratton early and has poured millions of dollars into her campaign. He’s also appeared at events and in advertisements for her. Pritzker is widely expected to launch a bid for president in 2028, and this 2026 contest could serve as an early test of the billionaire’s influence and spending power.