Juliana Stratton

Juliana R. Stratton (née Wiggins; born September 8, 1965) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Illinois since 2019. A progressive member of the Democratic Party, she was elected in 2018 and 2022 on a ticket with Governor JB Pritzker. Stratton is the Democratic nominee in the 2026 US Senate election in Illinois.

Stratton previously served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. She is the fourth woman and first African-American woman to serve as lieutenant governor of Illinois. In April 2025, Stratton announced her candidacy for the United States Senate seat held by Dick Durbin in the 2026 election. She won the Democratic nomination in March 2026, defeating U.S. representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, and seven other candidates.

Early life and education Juliana Wiggins was born in Chicago on September 8, 1965. She was raised in the Pill Hill neighborhood on the city's South Side. Her father, Henry Wiggins, was a radiologist and her mother, Velma Wiggins, was a teacher who worked in Chicago Public Schools and the City Colleges of Chicago. She attended Kenwood Academy, and earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1987. She returned to Chicago after graduating to work as a video producer for the city government. From 2015 to 2017, she was the Director for the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Stratton received an endorsement from President Barack Obama, as well as support from several unions due to her support for "child care, labor, and home care".

In the primary election March 2016, she defeated Dunkin decisively, with 68% of the vote.

By August 2017, she had led 25 bills, with nine appearing before Governor Bruce Rauner, and served on several committees. She cited early childhood education and women's reproductive rights as two of her priorities,

Since taking office, Stratton has spearheaded the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative and chairs the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, The Governor's Rural Affairs Council, the Military and Economic Development Council, and the Illinois River Coordinating Council.

In July 2021, Pritzker and Stratton announced that they would both be running for re-election in 2022. On November 8, 2022, Pritzker and Stratton won re-election, defeating Republican challengers Darren Bailey and Stephanie Trussell. They began their second term on January 9, 2023.

2026 U.S. Senate candidacy

Democratic primary In April 2025, Stratton announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate after incumbent Senator Dick Durbin announced he would not seek re-election. She was endorsed by Pritzker and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. Pritzker contributed $5 million dollars to boost her Senate race.

Stratton was noted in national press as one of several Black women running for U.S. Senate in 2026, including Robin Kelly of Illinois, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Pamela Stevenson of Kentucky, Marquita Bradshaw of Tennessee, and Catherine Fleming Bruce of South Carolina. Statton, Bradshaw and state representative from Florida Angie Nixon went on to win the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate.

Stratton won the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026 with 40.4% of the vote, defeating a crowded primary field including U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Kelly, and will face Republican Don Tracy in the general election. If she wins this Senate seat, she will become the sixth black woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate, and would also make Illinois one of the few states to have two women to serve as senators.

Political positions

Iran War She opposes U.S. involvement in a war with Iran and criticizes Donald Trump for pursuing military action without a clear plan or justification. She argues that increased military spending is misplaced and that government resources should instead be directed toward lowering everyday costs and improving access to essential services like health care.

Healthcare Stratton supports a universal system such as “Medicare for All” and believes that health care is a fundamental right rather than a privilege. She emphasizes expanding access, particularly in rural areas where hospitals may close, lowering prescription drug costs, reducing medical debt, and addressing disparities in maternal health outcomes. She points to policies implemented in Illinois as evidence that expanding access and affordability is achievable.

Minimum wage Stratton supports raising the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour. She argues that current wages are too low for workers to meet basic needs and that people should not have to work multiple jobs to survive. She believes higher wages would help working families achieve greater financial stability while also benefiting local economies.

Immigration She takes a strongly reform-oriented stance. She supports abolishing ICE, increasing oversight and accountability in immigration enforcement, and creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers. She also supports legislation such as the American DREAM and Promise Act.

Technology She supports regulating artificial intelligence to protect workers and prevent discrimination. She advocates for job training and education programs to help workers adapt to technological changes and ensure that the benefits of AI are broadly shared.

Personal life Stratton is married and is the mother of four daughters. She lives in Bronzeville. She first married William Stratton, with whom she had three children; they divorced in 2016. She married Bryan Echols, who has one child. She cites her hobby of running marathons and triathlons as giving her the discipline needed for the rigors of campaigning. and the city's chapter of Jack and Jill of America. Stratton was among the first customers to purchase cannabis when Illinois began recreational sale of the drug on January 1, 2020.