Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the state’s Democratic primary for Senate on Tuesday night, overcoming a surge of spending from crypto industry groups with the help of the financial and political backing of Gov. JB Pritzker.
Stratton defeated Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who had a huge financial advantage for most of the race, and Rep. Robin Kelly, to claim the nomination. The seat was open because of the pending retirement of Sen. Dick Durbin, a longtime member of Senate Democratic leadership.
Krishnamoorthi, a prolific fundraiser, entered the race with a $19 million war chest and began airing ads last summer, eventually building a substantial lead. Stratton, meanwhile, struggled with fundraising, bringing in just over $4 million over the length of the campaign.
But the support of Pritzker, a billionaire and likely 2028 presidential contender, proved crucial to powering a Stratton comeback. He put more than $5 million into a super PAC supporting her, helping to close the financial gap.
Fairshake, a super PAC set up and funded by the crypto industry, jumped in toward the end of the race and spent $10 million attacking Stratton, citing regulations on the industry she and Pritzker supported. Crypto’s money, however, was not enough to stop the momentum Stratton had built.
