Illinois Becomes First State With Two Women of Color in U.S. Senate

Illinois will be the first state in the nation to send two women of color to the U.S. Senate simultaneously. This historic shift takes effect when Julianna Stratton is sworn in on January 3, 2027, to serve alongside incumbent Senator Tammy Duckworth.

Stratton secured her position after defeating former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy in Tuesday’s general election. She had already overcome several high-profile rivals, including Representatives Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, during the March primary.

The newly elected senator served as lieutenant governor for the past eight years under Gov. JB Pritzker. Pritzker publicly endorsed Stratton’s Senate campaign, providing a major boost before the primary vote.

After learning of her projected win, Stratton reflected on her time in the Illinois House of Representatives, where she first took office in 2017. She recalled colleagues telling her to sit back and learn as a freshman. “I ignored that advice then, and I certainly won’t be sitting back and listening quietly when I get to Washington, D.C.,” she said.

Senator Duckworth, who is the first Thai American woman and the first female double amputee in the Senate, welcomed Stratton in an interview. Duckworth expressed pride in the state’s political progress and looked forward to working with her new colleague. “It’s the first time any state has sent two women of color in our nation’s entire history,” Duckworth said. “What it tells me is that representation matters.”