Juliana Stratton earns 2 big endorsements in Illinois Senate primary race
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton earned two big endorsements in her Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate.
Ex-Congressman Bobby Rush and former Secretary of State Jesse White are backing her candidacy for the open primary.
Stratton and two sitting members of Congress are vying for the nomination after Sen. Dick Durbin said he'll retire after this term.
Two elder statesmen in the Democratic Party in Illinois are backing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for the U.S. Senate primary.
Former Congressman Bobby Rush, who represented much of the South Side of Chicago for 30 years, and former Secretary of State Jesse White, whose career spanned nearly 50 years, announced their endorsement for Stratton on Wednesday.
"These are two public servants that I have looked up to throughout my career, who opened doors for so many of us. I'm grateful for the trail they blazed and their trust in me as I take my fight for working families to Washington," said Stratton in a statement.
The backstory
Stratton, who has served as Gov. JB Pritzker's second-in-command since 2019, is vying for the Democratic nomination in a crowded field of high-profile candidates.
White made history as the first Black Secretary of State for Illinois and served for six terms in office, the most ever.
"Juliana Stratton embodies Illinois' spirit of service, grounded leadership, and a deep commitment to justice. From raising the minimum wage to protecting women's rights and tackling gun violence, she's delivered real results that put people first," White said in a statement.
Rush was the co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party before serving in Congress where he was key in passing the Emmet Till Antilynching Act of 2022. He also notably defeated then-State Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic primary race in 2000.
Stratton has already received endorsements from Pritzker and Tammy Duckworth, the other sitting U.S. senator from Illinois.
It's an open seat after longtime Sen. Dick Durbin announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election in 2026.
Other Democratic candidates include U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, of Schaumburg, and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, of Matteson.
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