Pritzker endorses Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton to fill Durbin’s Senate seat

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is endorsing his Lietuenant Governor Juliana Stratton, to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin.

“Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Juliana Stratton, one of Illinois’ fiercest fighters for working families. She is a tested and steady leader who leads from a place of integrity, pragmatism, and dedication. Juliana’s lived experience has made her a passionate and compassionate advocate able to get big things done. I’m proud to call her not just a partner in governance, but a true friend,” Pritzker said in a statement Friday.

Durbin, now 80, announced he would not run for re-election this week. Durbin was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982, and succeeded Paul Simon in the Senate in 1996.

Stratton subsequently announced her campaign for the open seat.

Stratton, a Democrat, briefly served in the state House of Representatives before being elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2018.

“JB is a true leader for our state who has shown the country what it looks like to stand up to Donald Trump and fight for the values we hold dear. Serving the people of Illinois by his side is one of the greatest privileges, and I couldn’t be prouder to have earned his endorsement as I work to bring our record of accomplishments to Washington,” Stratton said in a statement. 

There is speculation that Pritzker himself may run for president in 2028.

Pritzker has done numerous interviews on national broadcasts since Trump was sworn in, increasing his visibility as one of Trump’s most vocal critics, and involved himself in global politics by way of signing trade understandings between Illinois and the State of Mexico and the United Kingdom, and threatened to boycott El Salvador over its detention of an accused MS-13 gang member, deported by the Trump administration.

Illinois Rep. John Goodman (R) also announced his candidacy for Durbin’s vacant Senate seat.