U.S. Senate, Illinois · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Illinois U.S. Senate race?
Don Tracy has the strongest record in the Illinois U.S. Senate race. Don Tracy scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Juliana Stratton at 60, as of October 9, 2026. Don Tracy's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Juliana Stratton's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Whitfield Harrington Jr. (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
American Center Party
Whitfield Harrington Jr.
On the ballot as Whitfield Harrington Jr
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Juliana Stratton
60 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 50
Republican
Strongest record
Don Tracy
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Juliana Stratton
- On the record2026-03
Said during the 2026 primary, and again after winning the nomination in March 2026, that she would not support Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic leader.
Sources: St. Louis Public Radio via Yahoo News, Feb. 2026, Fox News, March 2026
- On the record2026-10
Agreed to one general election debate with Don Tracy, on WTTW in late October 2026; Tracy's campaign says she did not accept other invitations.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, The News-Gazette via Yahoo News, Sept. 21, 2026
- On the record2026-05
The Auditor General's compliance examination of her office for fiscal 2024 to 2025 found compliance in all material respects and reported five noncompliance findings, none a material weakness.
Source: Illinois Auditor General, Lt. Governor compliance examination, FY2025
- Credit2022-07-22
Elected chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association for 2022 to 2023 by a bipartisan vote, the first Black woman to hold the post.
Source: WSIU, July 22, 2022
Don Tracy
- On the record2026-10
Accepted several general election debate invitations; one joint appearance with Juliana Stratton, on WTTW in late October 2026, is scheduled.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, The News-Gazette via Yahoo News, Sept. 21, 2026
- On the record2025-01
A 2019 Executive Inspector General report found he engaged in prohibited political activity as Gaming Board chair, with no fine; in January 2025 the Executive Ethics Commission ruled it was not proved.
Sources: Northern Public Radio (AP), Sept. 19, 2019, Illinois Times, Feb. 2025, Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026
- On the record2024-07
Resigned as Illinois Republican Party chair in 2024 after three years, days after party leaders removed vice chair Mark Shaw.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine or other official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Juliana Stratton. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no ethics or inspector general finding naming her found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Don Tracy. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine. A 2019 inspector general finding against him was ruled not proved by the Executive Ethics Commission in 2025.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, Illinois Times, Feb. 2025
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. Said in the 2026 primary, and again after winning the nomination, that she would not support Chuck Schumer, her party's Senate leader, as Democratic leader.
Sources: St. Louis Public Radio via Yahoo News, Feb. 2026, Fox News, March 2026
Don Tracy. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. Took part in Democratic primary debates. For the general election she agreed to one debate with Don Tracy, on WTTW in late October.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Don Tracy. Accepted several general election debate invitations; one joint appearance with Juliana Stratton, on WTTW in late October, is scheduled.
Source: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. Lieutenant governor since 2019 and a state representative before that, with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Don Tracy. Chaired the Illinois Gaming Board and the Illinois Republican Party, with no censure, reprimand or upheld conduct finding found.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. Took the oath as state representative and as lieutenant governor. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
Sources: WSIU, July 22, 2022, Illinois Auditor General, Lt. Governor compliance examination, FY2025
Don Tracy. Served as appointed chair of the Illinois Gaming Board from 2015 to 2019. No upheld finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026, Illinois Times, Feb. 2025
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. Pastor of Prayer City of Chicago Church; worked in banking, insurance and financial services and ran his own insurance practice. Has not held public office.
Juliana Stratton. Lieutenant governor of Illinois since 2019 after one term in the Illinois House; earlier executive director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Juliana Stratton, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Don Tracy. Chaired the Illinois Gaming Board, a state regulatory agency, from 2015 to 2019 and the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024; a corporate lawyer for decades.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026, Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. Published campaign themes on affordability, manufacturing, homeownership and health care costs in general terms.
Juliana Stratton. Publishes issue pages naming specific federal legislative priorities, with linked policy blueprints on affordability and the middle class.
Source: Campaign site, Priorities
Don Tracy. Publishes positions on cost of living, immigration enforcement and regional representation, mostly in general terms.
Sources: Campaign site, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
Juliana Stratton. Answered the Capitol News Illinois candidate questionnaire, took part in primary debates and publishes plain-language issue pages.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Feb. 17, 2026, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 1, 2026, Campaign site, Priorities
Don Tracy. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey and the Capitol News Illinois questionnaire, and publishes issue pages.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Don Tracy, Capitol News Illinois, Feb. 17, 2026, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. Says he lives in Schaumburg and moved to Chicago in 2013. FEC by-state totals show $700 of $22,595 in itemized individual contributions from Illinois.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Whitfield Harrington Jr., FEC contribution totals by state
Juliana Stratton. Grew up on Chicago's South Side and lives in Chicago. FEC by-state totals show about 67 percent of itemized individual contributions from Illinois ($2.82 million of $4.20 million).
Sources: USA Today, Sept. 18, 2026, Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Don Tracy. Born in Urbana, raised in Mount Sterling and raised his family in Springfield. FEC by-state totals show about 75 percent of itemized individual contributions from Illinois ($279,912 of $374,365).
Sources: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2026, Campaign site, About, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Juliana Stratton. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Don Tracy. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. No public record found.
Don Tracy. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. No public record found.
Don Tracy. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. No public record found.
Don Tracy. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. Elected chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association for 2022 to 2023 by a bipartisan vote of her peers.
Source: WSIU, July 22, 2022
Don Tracy. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Whitfield Harrington Jr.. No public record found.
Juliana Stratton. The Auditor General's compliance examinations of the lieutenant governor's office she heads found it complied with state requirements in all material respects for fiscal 2022 to 2025.
Sources: Illinois Auditor General, Lt. Governor compliance examination, FY2025, Illinois Auditor General, Lt. Governor compliance examination, FY2023
Don Tracy. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Illinois U.S. Senate race?
Don Tracy has the strongest record in the Illinois U.S. Senate race. Don Tracy scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Juliana Stratton at 60, as of October 9, 2026. Don Tracy's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Juliana Stratton's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Whitfield Harrington Jr. (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Illinois U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Whitfield Harrington Jr. (American Center Party), Juliana Stratton (Democratic), Don Tracy (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Whitfield Harrington Jr. a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Whitfield Harrington Jr. has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Juliana Stratton a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Juliana Stratton scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Don Tracy a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Don Tracy scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Illinois race scored, and the Illinois 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.