ILLINOIS — Juliana Stratton won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Illinois with roughly 90% of the vote tallied on Tuesday night, leading her main opponent, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois secured the victory in a race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin, who will retire next year after serving five terms in the U.S. Senate.

"We did it. Tonight we showed what's possible when you listen to the people and give the people what they want," Stratton said following her victory. "Courage inspired me to run. Courage powered this campaign and courage will bring this fight straight to Donald Trump's front door."

The primary campaign featured heavy outside spending from competing political action committees. The crypto-backed PAC Fairshake spent more than $10 million opposing Stratton. Protect Progress spent millions supporting Raja Krishnamoorthi and also spent millions supporting Robin Kelly. The spending by these groups did not alter the outcome of the primary.

Stratton received an endorsement and a reported $12 million cash injection from Governor J.B. Pritzker during the campaign. Over 1.1 million votes were cast in the Democratic primary, on pace to exceed the 2004 primary turnout.

Senator Dick Durbin is 81 years old. Both Stratton and Krishnamoorthi opposed the Trump administration's immigration enforcement. Stratton called for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Krishnamoorthi called for the abolishment of "Trump's ICE".

If elected in November, Stratton would become the sixth Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. She would serve simultaneously with two other Black women, Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Rochester, marking the first time three Black women have served together in the U.S. Senate. Stratton is predicted to defeat her Republican opponent in the November midterm election.