Democratic US Senate candidates make final Election Day push in tight race

Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton and Robin Kelly all expressed optimism as they made a series of Election Day campaign stops in the tight US Senate race.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:22pm

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One of the most important races that Illinois voters will decide on Tuesday is the one for U.S. Senate. The three leading Democratic candidates - Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton, and Robin Kelly - are making a final push for support in a race that's going down to the wire. The candidates were out on the campaign trail, including making stops at Manny's Deli, as they try to energize voters on Election Day.

Why it matters

The Illinois U.S. Senate race is seen as a key battleground that could help determine the balance of power in the Senate. With the race so close, the final push by the candidates to get out the vote on Election Day could be the deciding factor.

The details

The three candidates have taken different approaches in the final stretch, with Krishnamoorthi spending significantly more on his campaign than Stratton and Kelly combined. Stratton has touted internal polls showing her in the lead, while Kelly has dismissed concerns that she could be a "spoiler" candidate splitting the Black vote. Gov. JB Pritzker has openly backed Stratton, his lieutenant governor, while the candidates have all expressed optimism about their chances on Election Day.

  • Voters in Illinois will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 to decide the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
  • The candidates were making a series of Election Day campaign stops, including the time-honored tradition of lunch-hour handshakes and sandwiches at Manny's Deli.

The players

Raja Krishnamoorthi

A Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois who was once the clear frontrunner in the race but now finds himself in a tight battle.

Juliana Stratton

The Democratic lieutenant governor of Illinois who is also a candidate for U.S. Senate, and has the backing of Gov. JB Pritzker.

Robin Kelly

A Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois who has dismissed the notion that she could be a "spoiler" candidate splitting the Black vote.

JB Pritzker

The Democratic governor of Illinois who has openly supported Juliana Stratton's U.S. Senate campaign.

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What they’re saying

“It means a lot in this moment in particular.”

— Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

“Well, I think it's BS. And also, if I wasn't in the race, it doesn't mean people would go to Juliana, that there's no guarantee about that. And people need to get over the fact that two Black women are running. That is going to happen more and more. It happened in this city: Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle.”

— Robin Kelly, Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate

“I feel good about it. I think it was always going to be a close race. Now we just got to get everyone to vote. And so that's what I'm doing today.”

— Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate

“There's nothing heavy-handed about being in support of the person that you think is the best person for the job.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois

What’s next

Voters in Illinois will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 to decide the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. The results of this tight race could have major implications for control of the Senate.

The takeaway

The Illinois U.S. Senate Democratic primary has become a closely watched and hard-fought contest, with the three leading candidates making a final push to energize voters on Election Day. The outcome of this race could play a pivotal role in determining the balance of power in the Senate.