Trending Now - Pritzker and Bailey Gear up for 2026 Battle After Primaries
WHO:
Darren Bailey, Republican challenger for Governor of Illinois.
Ted Dabrowski, James Mendick, and Rick Heidner, Bailey's rivals in the Republican primary.
Don Tracy, Republican candidate for Senate.
Juliana Stratton, Illinois Lieutenant Governor and Democratic nominee for US Senate, referred to as "Sprinter" by Illinois state troopers.
JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, referred to as "Believer" by Illinois state troopers.
Rep. Yvette Clarke, Congressional Black Caucus chair, criticized Pritzker for backing Stratton over Robin Kelly.
Juliana Stratton, Illinois Lieutenant Governor and Democratic nominee for US Senate
Raja Krishnamoorthi, US Representative and candidate in the Senate primary
Don Tracy, Republican candidate for Senate
Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Darren Bailey, Republican challenger for Governor
JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois
Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor and Democratic nominee for US Senate
Raja Krishnamoorthi, Representative and candidate in the Senate primary
Robin Kelly, Representative and candidate in the Senate primary
Darren Bailey, Republican challenger for Governor
Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Don Tracy, Republican candidate for Senate
Rep. Yvette Clarke, Congressional Black Caucus chair
South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren
WHAT:
Bailey won the Republican gubernatorial primary with just under 54% of the vote.
Unofficial totals showed Bailey defeating Dabrowski (29%), Mendick (10%), and Heidner (8%).
Toni Preckwinkle won her primary with about 68% of the vote, with 84% of votes counted.
Juliana Stratton will face Don Tracy in the general election for Senate.
Pritzker stated, “A lot of people have suggested that this election tonight was personal to me... And I’m here to tell you all: They’re right, it was.”
Stratton stated, “Courage inspired me to run. Courage powered this campaign and courage will bring this fight straight to Donald Trump’s front door.”
Krishnamoorthi conceded to Stratton, saying, “Obviously this is not the result we sought, but unlike Donald Trump I’m not going to question the outcome.”
Pritzker referred to Trump as “the carnival barker in chief” and “the commander in thief.”
Juliana Stratton won the Democratic primary for Senate with 39.7% of the vote, defeating Raja Krishnamoorthi, who received 33.4%.
Stratton stated, “We did it. Tonight we showed what’s possible when you listen to the people and give the people what they want.”
Krishnamoorthi raised more than $30 million for his Senate run.
Toni Preckwinkle won her primary with about 68% of the vote.
Voter turnout for the primary was reported at over 1.14 million votes, expected to surpass the 2004 primary turnout.
Juliana Stratton won the Democratic nomination for Senate with 39.7% of the vote.
Raja Krishnamoorthi received 33.4% of the vote in the Senate primary.
Pritzker spent over $10 million to support Stratton's campaign.
Voter turnout for the primary was about 25%.
Pritzker will face Darren Bailey in the gubernatorial election on November 3rd.
Toni Preckwinkle won her primary with about 68% of the vote.
Pritzker sent $5 million to a pro-Stratton super PAC in December 2025.
Krishnamoorthi had a $20 million head start in campaign spending.
WHERE:
Illinois, specifically Chicago and surrounding areas.
Polling location at the corner of 24th Street and South Millard, Chicago.
Manny’s Deli, Chicago.
WHEN:
Primary Election Day was on March 17th, 2026.
The general election is scheduled for November 3rd, 2026.
Primary Election Day was on March 17th, 2026, with the Associated Press calling the Democratic primary for Stratton at approximately 9:45 p.m. on that day.
Primary Election Day was on March 17th, 2026.
The general election is scheduled for November 3rd, 2026.
Primary Election Day was on March 17th, 2026.
The general election is scheduled for November 3rd, 2026.
Pritzker and Stratton campaigned on a Tuesday morning in March 2026.
WHY:
Bailey's campaign was characterized as unusually quiet and noncontroversial compared to his previous run in 2022.
Pritzker referred to Trump as “the carnival barker in chief” and “the commander in thief” during his remarks after the primary.
Pritzker's support for Stratton was seen as a demonstration of loyalty and a potential strategy for his own political future ahead of a 2028 presidential campaign.
Stratton's campaign was bolstered by Pritzker's financial support and a shift in sentiment on immigration issues.
Pritzker supported Stratton to demonstrate loyalty and to potentially bolster his own political future ahead of a 2028 presidential campaign.
Pritzker aimed to counteract doubts about Stratton's campaign viability and to strengthen his political influence.
HOW:
Pritzker spent over $10 million to support Stratton's campaign, including a $5 million donation to a pro-Stratton super PAC in December 2025.
Pritzker's donations to Illinois Future Pac funded pro-Stratton ads during the campaign, which included a late ad featuring clips of people saying “Fk Trump.”
Pritzker's donations to Illinois Future Pac funded pro-Stratton ads during the campaign.
Pritzker campaigned actively for Stratton, engaging with voters and promoting her candidacy.
Pritzker's campaign strategy included significant financial contributions to support Stratton's candidacy through a super PAC.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 23:09 UTC)
Darren Bailey has won the Republican gubernatorial primary in Illinois with just under 54% of the vote, defeating Ted Dabrowski, James Mendick, and Rick Heidner. In the Democratic primary, Toni Preckwinkle secured about 68% of the vote, and Juliana Stratton will now face Don Tracy in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026. Bailey's campaign was notably quieter than his previous run in 2022, while Governor Pritzker criticized Trump in his remarks following the primary, highlighting the significant financial support he provided to Stratton's campaign.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 15:22 UTC)
In a significant development from the Illinois Democratic primary held last Monday, Juliana Stratton emerged victorious, with Governor JB Pritzker expressing his personal investment in the election, stating, "A lot of people have suggested that this election tonight was personal to me... And I’m here to tell you all: They’re right, it was." Stratton, who has been dubbed "Sprinter" by state troopers, emphasized her campaign's focus on courage, declaring it would bring the fight to Trump, while Pritzker criticized the former president, labeling him as “the carnival barker in chief.”
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 11:16 UTC)
In a significant development from the Illinois primary held last Monday, Juliana Stratton emerged victorious in the Democratic Senate primary, securing 39.7% of the vote against Raja Krishnamoorthi, who garnered 33.4%. Stratton celebrated her win, stating, “We did it. Tonight we showed what’s possible when you listen to the people and give the people what they want,” while Toni Preckwinkle also triumphed in her primary with about 68% of the vote. Voter turnout exceeded 1.14 million, surpassing the turnout from the 2004 primary, and the general election is set for November 3, 2026.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 07:21 UTC)
In the recent Illinois primary held on March 17, Juliana Stratton secured the Democratic nomination for Senate with nearly 40 percent of the vote, while Raja Krishnamoorthi followed with just over 33 percent. Governor JB Pritzker, who invested over $10 million to support Stratton's campaign, will now face Republican challenger Darren Bailey in the gubernatorial election set for November 3. Toni Preckwinkle also had a strong showing, winning her primary with about 68 percent of the vote, as voter turnout reached around 25 percent in the Chicago area.