Juliana Stratton

Juliana Stratton is a mother of four daughters who enjoys training for marathons and triathlons, reading and dancing.¹ She and her husband, Bryan, live in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.¹ She also cared for her mother, Velma, during her mother's Alzheimer's illness, an experience she discusses when explaining her healthcare priorities.²

Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, Stratton graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and DePaul's law school.¹ Her work before statewide office included mediation, arbitration and restorative justice, along with serving as a parent representative and chair of Kenwood Academy's Local School Council.¹ She represented Illinois's 5th House District before becoming lieutenant governor.¹

As lieutenant governor, she leads the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative, established by Governor JB Pritzker's 2019 executive order.³ Its responsibilities include coordinating state agencies on rehabilitation and helping people leaving prison gain access to jobs, housing and education.³ She also promotes Girls Lead mentoring and the We Thrive financial literacy initiative for women.²

Her Senate campaign advocates Medicare for All and a $25 federal minimum wage.⁴ She also emphasizes childcare, stronger public schools and expanded economic opportunities for working families.⁴ She faces Republican Don Tracy on November 3 for the open seat Senator Dick Durbin is leaving, giving voters a choice about Illinois's next senator and the chamber's partisan balance.⁵