Overview

• The endorsement is EMILY’s List’s first for a 2026 Senate race and backs Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the March primary to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin.
• Several prominent Illinois Democrats, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, have already lined up behind Stratton.
• Members of the Congressional Black Caucus who support Rep. Robin Kelly objected to EMILY’s List weighing in, according to reporting on their private appeals.
• Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has poured more than $7 million into advertising and leads in polling cited by the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, which argues Stratton needs more paid media.
• Citizen Action/Illinois will open a series of candidate forums on Oct. 6 at Chicago State University with Stratton, Kelly and Krishnamoorthi among the invited participants.