Don Tracy is a Republican candidate for the United States Senate in Illinois, running to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Dick Durbin. Tracy won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary and will face Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Born in Urbana and raised in Mt. Sterling in Western Illinois, Tracy is Senior Counsel at Brown, Hay & Stephens — the oldest law firm in Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln practiced law for four years. He has spent his career representing families and small businesses, and started working in the warehouse of his family's business at age 10.
Tracy and his wife Wanda raised their four children in Central Illinois and are the proud grandparents of eight grandchildren. His family's story is rooted in the same work ethic and community values he now seeks to bring to Washington.
Tracy has devoted decades to public and civic service across Illinois, including as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, Secretary of the Illinois Bar Foundation, President of the Sangamon County Bar Association, President of the Abraham Lincoln Association, and President of the Oak Ridge Cemetery Board. He has served on boards and committees across Springfield's civic and charitable community.
In the United States Senate, Tracy will fight to lower the cost-of-living for working families, champion common sense solutions over extreme agendas, and represent all of Illinois — not just Chicago.
| Don Tracy (R) | Juliana Stratton (D) |
|---|---|
| Lower energy costs through reasonable all-of-the-above energy policy | Supports policies that close clean power plants, raising utility bills |
| Enforce immigration law; support ICE and border security | Supports abolishing ICE |
| Lower healthcare costs through price transparency and competition | Supports expanding Medicare to all Americans (Medicare for All) |
| Oppose unfunded mandates that raise property taxes and business costs | Backed candidates who passed countless unfunded mandates |
| Minimum wage set at competitive market rates; protect small business | Supports $25/hour federal minimum wage |
| Self-funded through grassroots; no Pritzker PAC backing | Backed by $14.9M+ in Pritzker PAC spending |
| Western Illinois roots; represents all 102 counties | South Side Chicago native; tied to Pritzker / Chicago machine |
| Reduce government spending; hire on merit; cut waste and fraud | Career of expanding government; backed by government employee unions |
"The American Dream is like a fantasy when you're just struggling to survive. Illinois working families need someone who will work for them in Washington."
— Don Tracy"Someone has to champion common sense. I grew up in Western Illinois, where there are now more deer than people. I know what everyday Illinoisans are facing."
— Don Tracy"My Democratic opponents are all career politicians who have driven up the cost-of-living for all of us. I will work for everyday Illinoisans, not special interests or extreme agendas."
— Don TracyCommunications Director
Don Tracy for U.S. Senate
Email: [email protected]
Phone: TBD
For urgent media inquiries, contact the campaign press office directly.
Campaign Website: dontracyforil.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DonTracyForIL
Twitter / X: @DonTracyForIL