Republican nominee chosen to problem for Durbin's Illinois Senate seat

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Illinois Republicans on Tuesday chosen Don Tracy as their nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat created by Sen. Dick Durbin ’s retirement, sending them right into a common election race in a state Democrats have lengthy dominated on the federal stage.

Former Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy entered the race as one of many best-known Republicans within the discipline and rapidly emerged as an early fundraising chief.

His marketing campaign targeted on decreasing residing prices via market competitors, higher client selection and negotiated prescription drug costs.

Tracy is in search of the seat being vacated by Durbin, the Senate’s longtime No. 2 Democrat, who introduced he wouldn't search reelection in 2026, ending a Senate tenure that started along with his election in 1996 and setting off a scramble in each events for certainly one of Illinois’ highest-profile workplaces.

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Illinois GOP chairman Don Tracy was broadly seen because the highest-profile Republican within the race. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune Information Service/Getty Pictures)

The Republican major discipline additionally included lawyer Jeannie Evans, businessman Casey Chlebek, R. Cary Capparelli, Pamela Lengthy and Jimmy Lee Tillman.

Polls in Illinois closed at 7 p.m. Central on Tuesday.

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On the Democratic aspect, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are competing to succeed Durbin.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has thrown his sizable warfare chest behind Stratton in a major that's seen as a take a look at of his political clout in his dwelling state as he probably gears up for a 2028 presidential run. The governor has seen his nationwide profile skyrocket over the previous yr as he is turn out to be a prime Democrat main the resistance to President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.

In the meantime, Krishnamoorthi is the clear fundraising frontrunner within the race and has spent large bucks to run adverts. And an excellent PAC funded by crypto titans has shelled out practically $10 million to again him.

Tracy now advances to the final election, the place he'll attempt to compete in a state that has trended decisively Democratic in federal contests. Certainly, whoever wins the Democratic nomination might be thought of the clear front-runner within the common election in a state the place no GOP contender has gained statewide in a dozen years.