Democrat Juliana Stratton defeated Republican Don Tracy to win the Illinois U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, Nov. 3, The Associated Press reported.

The race was on the ballot for voters across DuPage County, including Lombard and Glen Ellyn, according to a Lombard Community News ballot guide. American Center Party candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr. also appeared on the ballot, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

AP declared Stratton the winner at 8 p.m. EST, according to an AP wire report carried by KWQC. The Chicago Tribune reported AP called the race less than a minute after polls closed.

As of 8:10 p.m. with 19% of the estimated vote counted, Stratton had 66.9% and Tracy had 31.8%, the Chicago Tribune reported. Under Illinois law, eligible ballots can continue to be received and counted for up to 14 days after Election Day, according to NBC Chicago. Official results take longer to certify.

What it means for DuPage County voters

Stratton, the state's lieutenant governor, will succeed Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat retiring after five terms, according to the AP report. Durbin announced in 2025 that he would not seek another term, the Herald-Whig reported. He first won the seat in 1996.

For the first time in 30 years, Illinois will not have a senator named Durbin, Axios reported.

The outcome carries national weight. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, and both parties are battling for control of the chamber in the midterms, Axios reported.

Stratton will be the second Black woman to serve Illinois in the Senate, according to the AP report. She was twice elected lieutenant governor as Gov. JB Pritzker's running mate and had Pritzker's endorsement in a contentious Democratic primary.

The candidates

Stratton won the Democratic primary with about 507,689 votes, roughly 40% of the party total, according to Illinois State Board of Elections primary results. She has served as lieutenant governor since 2019 and was a state representative before that, Axios reported.

Tracy, a Springfield attorney and businessman, chaired the state GOP from 2021 to 2024 and previously led the Illinois Gaming Board, Axios reported. He took the Republican primary with about 215,523 votes, roughly 40% of the GOP total, per state board records.

Tracy ran a relatively quiet general election campaign, the Chicago Tribune reported. His campaign did not hold an election night party.

Where they split on issues

Affordability was the top issue for both leading candidates, NBC Chicago reported, but they disagreed on causes and solutions. Stratton called for raising the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour, according to ABC 7. Tracy pointed to state costs and lingering inflation from the Biden administration, NBC Chicago reported.

The candidates also split on immigration. Stratton supports abolishing ICE, while Tracy favors stronger border enforcement, according to Axios. They disagreed on Supreme Court reform, federal abortion protections and gun restrictions.

Official results will be posted at the Illinois State Board of Elections website once counting and certification are complete.