Democrat Juliana Stratton won the Illinois U.S. Senate race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Don Tracy, The Associated Press reported.

AP declared Stratton the winner at 7 p.m. Central time, less than a minute after polls closed statewide, according to the Chicago Tribune. An AP wire report carried by KWQC confirmed the call came at 8 p.m. EST. Evanston voters had been among those casting ballots at precincts across the city, where polls were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to Evanston Patch.

Stratton, the state's lieutenant governor, will succeed Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat retiring after five terms, according to the AP report. American Center Party candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr. also appeared on the ballot, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

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. Evanston Now reported before the election that Illinois races were expected to be called early because of wide projected margins.

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 the seat means

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.

Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, announced in 2025 that he would not seek another term, according to the Herald-Whig. He first won the seat in 1996. For the first time in 30 years, Illinois will not have a senator named Durbin, 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. She won that primary with about 507,689 votes, roughly 40% of the Democratic total, according to Illinois State Board of Elections records.

The candidates

Before becoming lieutenant governor in 2019, Stratton was a state representative, Axios reported. She grew up on Chicago's South Side and lives in Bronzeville, the Chicago Tribune 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.

Harrington founded the American Center Party. He told ABC 7 that voters are frustrated with both major parties.

Where they differed

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.

Also on Evanston ballots

Evanston voters also weighed in on the 9th Congressional District race, where former Evanston mayor Daniel Biss, the Democratic nominee, faced Arlington Heights pastor John Elleson, the Republican nominee, according to Patch. Biss was favored in the district long held by retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Patch reported.

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