Illinois Senate Debate Challenge
Illinois GOP Senate Candidate Tracy Criticizes Democrat Stratton Over Liberal Policies and Debate Commitment
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Illinois Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy is calling out Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for dodging debate commitments, saying she may be "afraid" to face voters on the issues. Tracy has hammered Stratton over what he calls her "far left" policy record, according to The Center Square.
The race is for the seat currently held by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Tracy and Stratton are the major-party candidates squaring off in one of Illinois' most watched Senate contests in years.
Tracy Says Stratton Is Running From a Debate
Tracy has publicly challenged Stratton to commit to a debate, but she has not agreed to one. He says that silence speaks volumes. "She may be scared to expose her far left positions to Illinois voters," Tracy said, according to KTBS. He argues that a sitting lieutenant governor should be willing to defend her record in public.
Tracy has made the debate standoff a central campaign message. He says voters deserve a head-to-head exchange on the biggest issues facing Illinois and the country. So far, Stratton's campaign has not responded publicly to his debate challenge, according to Voice of Alexandria.
Tracy Accuses Stratton of Favoring Criminals Over Victims
Beyond the debate fight, Tracy has attacked Stratton on criminal justice. He accused her of "favoring criminals over victims," according to Wyoming News. Tracy pointed to Illinois' SAFE-T Act, a criminal justice reform law, as evidence of what he calls a soft-on-crime approach backed by Stratton and Gov. JB Pritzker.
Tracy said the law has hurt public safety in Illinois communities. He wants to make crime a top issue in the race. Stratton, as lieutenant governor under Pritzker, has supported the administration's criminal justice agenda, which backers say is a needed reform of a broken system.
Tracy Ties Stratton to Pritzker's Policy Record
Tracy has worked to make Stratton synonymous with Pritzker's two terms in office. He argues that as lieutenant governor, she owns every major policy decision the administration made. That includes tax increases, pandemic restrictions, and progressive social policies, according to Purdue Exponent.
Tracy is casting the race as a clear choice between two directions for Illinois. He says residents are leaving the state in large numbers because of Democratic policies. Illinois has seen consistent population decline, losing a congressional seat after the 2020 census.
What's at Stake in the Illinois Senate Race
The Illinois Senate seat is considered a likely Democratic hold by most race forecasters, given the state's strong lean toward Democrats in statewide elections. But Republicans hope Tracy's attacks on crime and the economy can chip away at Stratton's advantage, according to Fairfield Sun Times.
Tracy is a lawyer and former president of the Illinois Republican Party. Stratton made history in 2018 as the first Black woman elected lieutenant governor in Illinois. The general election is in November 2026, but both campaigns are already in full swing.
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