2026 Illinois Senatorial race: debates and news coverage


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Don Tracy: Leave it to the states, but no tax dollars for abortions.

Budget & Economy     Juliana Stratton: Create tax incentives for building affordable housing.     Don Tracy: Reduce government spending through increased efficiency.

Civil Rights     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Opposed ending LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline.     Juliana Stratton: Foster financial freedom and well-being for all women.     Juliana Stratton: Defending LGBTQ+ rights is one of the most urgent issues.     Juliana Stratton: Will continue to stand up and fight for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans.     Robin Kelly: The issue with our country is not its diversity.     Don Tracy: Same-sex marriage is law, but don't punish people of faith.     Don Tracy: Government's role should be to enforce equal opportunity.

Crime     Juliana Stratton: Shift justice system from punitive to restorative practices.     Juliana Stratton: A strictly punitive criminal justice system is not working.     Don Tracy: Far-left lets violent criminals back onto the streets.     Don Tracy: Supported Trump's pardon of Jan. 6 insurrectionists.

Drugs     Juliana Stratton: Bought edibles on first day of legal sales in Illinois.     Juliana Stratton: Chairs board reinvesting state revenues from marijuana sales.

Education     Juliana Stratton: Education cuts will impact lowest income communities.     Don Tracy: We owe students and families results and school choice.

Energy & Oil     Juliana Stratton: Ensure access to benefits of our growing clean energy sector.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: All-of-the-above policy to lower energy costs.     Don Tracy: Pursue a policy utilizing all available energy sources.

Environment     Juliana Stratton: Trump's EPA cutting regulations on PFAS a slap in the face.

Families & Children     Juliana Stratton: Balanced state budget making it easier for families.

Foreign Policy     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Bombing Iran may have accelerated their going nuclear.     Juliana Stratton: Supports continued Russia sanctions over Ukraine.     Don Tracy: Avoid endless foreign entanglements that distract us.

Free Trade     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Tariffs are a hidden tax on families and small businesses.     Juliana Stratton: Trump's Tax on Working Families will harm hardworking people.     Robin Kelly: Against tariffs; trade should be fair and equitable.     Juliana Stratton: Tariffs undermine our standing with trading partners.     Don Tracy: U.S. has been subsidizing the world for way too long.

Government Reform     Don Tracy: Lower business costs by cutting excess regulation.     Don Tracy: Require valid photo ID in order to vote.     Don Tracy: Supports term limits for members of Congress.

Gun Control     Juliana Stratton: We must enact common sense gun laws & stricter policies.     Robin Kelly: Hold gun dealers accountable for sales to straw purchasers.     Juliana Stratton: Backs assault weapons ban modeled on Illinois law.

Health Care     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Medicaid is too important a program to cut in the budget.     Juliana Stratton: Trump, Republicans stripping away health care from millions.     Robin Kelly: Vaccines are safe, effective, and the best medicine .     Robin Kelly: Trump's policies will lead to deaths of LGBTQ people.     Juliana Stratton: Medicaid cuts will hurt economy & vulnerable Illinoisans.     Juliana Stratton: I believe that healthcare is a right and not a privilege.     Don Tracy: End taxpayer-funded free health care for non-citizens.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Common-sense competition in health care.

Homeland Security     Raja Krishnamoorthi: One focus must be redoubling investments in our submarines.     Juliana Stratton: Opposed threat to cut over 400 jobs at Rock Island Arsenal.     Robin Kelly: Require War Powers Resolution to avoid stealing Greenland.

Immigration     Juliana Stratton: Not going to tolerate people being snatched off the streets.     Juliana Stratton: For comprehensive immigration reform, against ICE funding.     Robin Kelly: People have had enough of unAmerican ICE enforcement.     Don Tracy: Law enforcement works well except in sanctuary cities.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: End open-border policies; enforce existing laws.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Pair secure borders with real pathway to citizenship.

Jobs     Juliana Stratton: Proud Illinois is one of the most pro-union states.     Juliana Stratton: We need to fight for a $25 minimum, living wage.     Don Tracy: Raising minimum wage hurts teens & developmentally disabled.

Principles & Values     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Read from the Bhagavad-Gita at bipartisan interfaith service.     Juliana Stratton: Juneteenth means always honor that legacy; more to be done.     Juliana Stratton: Progress comes when ordinary people choose faith over fear.     Don Tracy: Wants everyone to experience their own American dream.     Don Tracy: I will represent all of Illinois, not just Chicago.     Juliana Stratton: There is no place for political violence in our country.

Social Security     Juliana Stratton: Standing up for Social Security is in our own best interest.     Don Tracy: Duty to keep Social Security, Medicare solvent.

Tax Reform     Juliana Stratton: Supported amendment to make graduated state income tax.     Juliana Stratton: Raise taxes on those earning over $1 million annually.

Technology     Robin Kelly: Keep U.S. the A.I. leader; safeguards against discrimination.     Don Tracy: Take a careful, common sense approach to A.I.     Juliana Stratton: Ensure our workers have a seat at the table on AI.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Democratize A.I., with guardrails under human control.

War & Peace     Robin Kelly: Trump's decision to bomb Iran will not lead to peace.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Protect Ukraine; NATO remains a vital U.S. interest.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Unwavering defense of Ukraine; US must lead within NATO.     Robin Kelly: Support Ukraine against losing land or freedoms to Russia.     Don Tracy: Long-term military action must involve Congress.     Juliana Stratton: We must reassert Congress's control over war power.

Welfare & Poverty     Raja Krishnamoorthi: Top issue is the Biden high cost of living.     Raja Krishnamoorthi: 24-point Plan to Make Life More Affordable.     Robin Kelly: People Over Profits: face the affordability crisis.     Don Tracy: Too many able-bodied Americans living off of welfare.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Don Tracy Republican Challenger Illinois Juliana Stratton Democratic Challenger Illinois Raja Krishnamoorthi Democratic Challenger Illinois Robin Kelly Democratic Challenger Illinois