Stratton and Tracy Clash in Final Illinois Senate Debate

Democratic Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Republican former GOP Chair Don Tracy held their only televised debate on Tuesday for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Dick Durbin. The candidates clashed over the cost of living, with Stratton proposing a federal minimum wage increase to $25 per hour and tax hikes on individuals earning over $1 million. Tracy characterized her as a "democratic socialist" and argued that such a wage increase would be a "death sentence to small businesses."

On immigration, Stratton called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, describing the agency as a tool for terrorizing communities. Tracy rejected the proposal, asserting that abolishing the agency would effectively create an "open borders" policy and criticizing sanctuary city policies in Chicago.

Much of the discussion centered on President Donald Trump. Stratton vowed to serve as a check on the president, blaming his tariffs and conflict with Iran for rising costs. While Tracy largely defended Trump's trade and military positions, he broke with the president regarding the waiver of sanctions on Russia and asserted he would be an independent voice in the Senate. The candidates also disagreed on the judiciary, with Stratton supporting Supreme Court term limits or court expansion while Tracy defended the current system. Third-party candidate Whitfield Harrington was excluded from the event.