Illinois' US Senate candidates on key issues

Candidates share their views on affordability, immigration, the filibuster, social media, and more

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Candidates in the Democratic primary for Illinois' U.S. Senate seat shared their positions on major issues facing the state and country, including measures to address rising costs for healthcare, housing and other essentials, their views on immigration enforcement and reform, the Senate filibuster rule, regulating social media, and other important topics.

Why it matters

The 2026 U.S. Senate race in Illinois will determine who succeeds longtime Senator Dick Durbin, making it a pivotal election for the state and the balance of power in the Senate. Voters will need to understand the candidates' stances on key issues to make an informed choice.

The details

The candidates shared a range of policy proposals, with some common themes emerging. Many supported measures like Medicare for All, raising the minimum wage, and reforming immigration enforcement to be more humane. There were also differences, such as on the Senate filibuster, with some calling for its elimination and others seeking to preserve it with reforms. The candidates also addressed issues like regulating social media and its impact on children, as well as the influence of corporate money in politics.

  • The Illinois Democratic primary election will be held in 2026.

The players

Robin Kelly

U.S. Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate

Juliana Stratton

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois and candidate for U.S. Senate

Steve Botsford

Candidate for U.S. Senate

Jonathan Dean

Candidate for U.S. Senate

Adam Delgado

Candidate for U.S. Senate

Bryan Maxwell

Candidate for U.S. Senate

Christopher Swan

Candidate for U.S. Senate

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I am running on a platform of People Over Profits because Illinois families have never had to do more with less, and instead of focusing on solutions that will make life easier and more affordable for Americans, Donald Trump and his MAGA GOP allies in Washington are playing dictator and threatening to invade American cities.”

— Robin Kelly, U.S. Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate (fox32chicago.com)

“ICE must be abolished. It is out of control and beyond reform. New leadership or a smaller budget can't change the fact that ICE exists to terrorize communities and execute Trump's authoritarian agenda.”

— Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois and candidate for U.S. Senate (fox32chicago.com)

“The filibuster should be eliminated. The Senate already has built in protections to protect the Democratic Minority, such as each state being allotted the same amount of Senators. The filibuster prevents the Senate from doing almost anything meaningful.”

— Jonathan Dean, Candidate for U.S. Senate (fox32chicago.com)

What’s next

The Illinois Democratic primary election will be held in 2026, and the winner will advance to the general election to determine who will succeed longtime Senator Dick Durbin.

The takeaway

The candidates in the Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate have staked out a range of positions on key issues like healthcare, housing affordability, immigration, the Senate filibuster, and social media regulation. Voters will need to carefully evaluate each candidate's platform to determine who best represents their values and priorities.