Juliana Stratton

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Juliana Stratton
BornJuliana Wiggins
8 9, 1965
BirthplaceChicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, lawyer
Known forFirst African-American woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
Spouse(s)Bryan Echols
Children4

Juliana Stratton (née Wiggins; born September 8, 1965) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois since January 14, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she was elected in 2018 on a ticket with Governor JB Pritzker and re-elected in 2022.[1] Before assuming the lieutenant governorship, Stratton served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 5th District from 2017 to 2019. She is the first African-American woman to serve as lieutenant governor of Illinois. In her role as lieutenant governor, Stratton also served as the 63rd Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association from 2022 to 2023. As of 2026, Stratton is a candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois, running in a competitive contest against several prominent Illinois Democrats.[2]

Early Life

Juliana Wiggins was born on September 8, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois.[3] She grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Stratton's early life in Chicago shaped her connection to the city's communities and her later interest in public service and law. Details about her parents and childhood circumstances have been referenced in various profiles, including her official campaign biography, which notes her deep roots in Chicago.[4]

Stratton has spoken publicly about her experiences growing up in Chicago, including the challenges and opportunities she encountered. Her background on the South Side informed her later legislative priorities, particularly around criminal justice, community safety, and equity. She has identified herself as a survivor of domestic violence, a personal experience that would later influence her policy advocacy on behalf of survivors and victims of violence.[3]

Career

Early Legal and Professional Career

Before entering politics, Stratton built a career in law. She worked as an attorney and held positions in the public and nonprofit sectors. Stratton served as a criminal justice policy analyst and later as the director of the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In these roles, she focused on criminal justice reform, community safety, and policy analysis.[4] She also worked as a mediator and conflict resolution specialist, experience that she drew upon in her later political career.[3]

Illinois House of Representatives (2017–2019)

Stratton entered electoral politics in 2016 when she challenged incumbent state representative Kenneth Dunkin in the Democratic primary for the Illinois House 5th District seat. The primary contest drew significant attention in Illinois politics. Dunkin had broken with the Democratic caucus and House Speaker Michael Madigan on key votes, including a vote to sustain Governor Bruce Rauner's veto of legislation that would have required state employees to pay union fees. This made him a target of organized labor and allied Democrats.[5]

Stratton defeated Dunkin in the March 2016 Democratic primary, a result that was closely watched as a proxy battle between Madigan and Rauner.[6][7] She went on to win the general election and took office in the Illinois House of Representatives on January 11, 2017, representing the 5th District, which encompasses parts of Chicago's South Side, including Hyde Park, Bronzeville, and neighboring communities.[8]

During her tenure in the Illinois House, Stratton served on several committees and focused on issues including criminal justice reform, education, and gun violence prevention. She was a member of the Democratic caucus and aligned with progressive positions on a range of policy issues. Her time in the state legislature, though brief — spanning a single full term — provided her with legislative experience and raised her profile within the Illinois Democratic Party.[3]

Selection as Lieutenant Governor Candidate (2017–2018)

In August 2017, JB Pritzker, a businessman and Democratic candidate for governor of Illinois, selected Stratton as his running mate for the 2018 gubernatorial election.[9] The selection was announced as Pritzker sought to build a diverse ticket that reflected Illinois' demographics and appealed to the Democratic base, particularly African-American voters and progressive constituencies in Chicago.

Stratton spoke publicly about the selection in an interview with the Chicago Defender, discussing her background, her policy priorities, and her vision for the role of lieutenant governor. She emphasized her experience in criminal justice policy, her roots in Chicago's South Side, and her commitment to addressing issues of equity and opportunity.[3] In a September 2018 appearance at the City Club of Chicago, Stratton and Pritzker discussed their platform and plans for the state.[10]

The Pritzker-Stratton ticket won the November 2018 general election, defeating the Republican incumbent ticket of Governor Bruce Rauner and Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti. The victory made Stratton the first African-American woman to be elected lieutenant governor of Illinois.[11][12]

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (2019–present)

Stratton was inaugurated as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois on January 14, 2019, alongside Governor JB Pritzker. As lieutenant governor, she holds several statutory responsibilities, including serving as president of the Illinois Senate and chairing various state commissions and task forces.

During her tenure, Stratton has been involved in several of the Pritzker administration's major policy initiatives. One notable early moment came on January 1, 2020, when Illinois' law legalizing recreational marijuana took effect. Stratton purchased marijuana on the first day of legal sales in the state, a symbolic act that drew media coverage and underscored the administration's support for the legalization initiative and its emphasis on equity in the cannabis industry.[13]

In July 2021, Governor Pritzker and Stratton announced that they would seek re-election in 2022.[14] The Pritzker-Stratton ticket won re-election in the November 2022 general election.[1] Pritzker was sworn in for his second term in January 2023, with Stratton continuing as lieutenant governor.[15]

During the 2022–2023 period, Stratton also served as the 63rd Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association, a role that placed her in a leadership position among lieutenant governors across the United States.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2025, Stratton entered the race for the United States Senate seat from Illinois, running in the Democratic primary scheduled for March 17, 2026. The seat became open following the retirement announcement of the incumbent. The Democratic primary field includes several notable candidates, including U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly.[2]

Stratton's Senate campaign has received significant support from Governor JB Pritzker, who in early February 2026 contributed $5 million to boost her candidacy.[2] The infusion of funds from Pritzker, one of the wealthiest politicians in the United States, underscored the close political relationship between the governor and his lieutenant governor.

The Democratic primary has been characterized by increasingly competitive dynamics. By February 2026, the contest between Stratton and Krishnamoorthi had intensified, with both candidates and allied groups airing television advertisements. A super PAC supporting Stratton and Krishnamoorthi's own campaign launched negative advertisements against each other, escalating the tone of the race.[16][17]

In late February 2026, Stratton's campaign released a television advertisement that drew national attention for its use of explicit language directed at President Donald Trump. The ad featured Illinois residents using expletives to express opposition to Trump and his policies. The advertisement was covered by national media outlets, including NBC News and The Hill, and was characterized as part of a broader Democratic strategy in which opposition to Trump featured prominently in primary messaging.[18][19] The ad prompted a response from rival Krishnamoorthi, who launched his first negative television advertisement targeting Stratton in the days that followed.[20]

The three leading Democratic candidates — Stratton, Krishnamoorthi, and Kelly — participated in a debate in February 2026, where they discussed issues including political action committee (PAC) funding and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy.[21] Coverage in Jewish Insider noted differences among the candidates on Israel policy, with Stratton described as running to Krishnamoorthi's left on the issue.[22]

Personal Life

Stratton is married to Bryan Echols. She has four children.[4] She resides in Chicago, Illinois. Stratton has spoken publicly about being a survivor of domestic violence, an experience she has cited as a motivation for her work in criminal justice policy and advocacy for survivors of violence.[3]

Recognition

Stratton's election in 2018 as lieutenant governor was noted as a historic milestone, as she became the first African-American woman to hold the office of lieutenant governor in the state of Illinois.[11] Her selection as JB Pritzker's running mate and subsequent election were covered by national outlets, including Ebony, which included the Pritzker-Stratton victory in its coverage of the 2018 midterm elections.[11]

During the 2022–2023 period, Stratton served as the Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association, a position that placed her in a national leadership role among state officials serving in similar capacities across the country. The chairmanship rotates among lieutenant governors and reflects a degree of national recognition within the organization.

Stratton's 2026 Senate campaign and the significant financial backing from Governor Pritzker have further raised her national profile. National media coverage of her campaign, particularly the attention drawn by her anti-Trump advertisement in February 2026, brought her name to audiences beyond Illinois.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Election Results".Chicago Tribune.https://www.chicagotribune.com/election-results/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Governor JB Pritzker drops $5M to boost Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton as Senate race heats up with Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi".ABC7 Chicago.https://abc7chicago.com/post/governor-jb-pritzker-drops-5m-boost-lt-gov-juliana-stratton-senate-race-heats-robin-kelly-raja-krishnamoorthi/18530500/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Juliana Stratton, Pritzker's Running Mate, Speaks Out".Chicago Defender.2017-08-31.https://web.archive.org/web/20180916022626/https://chicagodefender.com/2017/08/31/juliana-stratton-pritzkers-running-mate-speaks-out/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Meet Juliana".JB Pritzker Campaign.https://www.jbpritzker.com/meetjuliana/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Illinois House Dunkin-Stratton-Madigan".Chicago Tribune.2016-03-15.https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-house-dunkin-stratton-madigan-gonzales-met-0316-20160315-story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Stratton beats Dunkin in Democratic primary for 5th District".ABC7 Chicago.2016-03-15.https://abc7chicago.com/politics/stratton-beats-dunkin-in-democratic-primary-for-5th-district/1248111/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Ken Dunkin trailing Juliana Stratton in very early returns".DNAinfo.2016-03-15.https://web.archive.org/web/20161108135435/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160315/hyde-park/ken-dunkin-trailing-julia-stratton-very-early-returns.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "House Journal, 100th General Assembly".Illinois General Assembly.https://ilga.gov/House/journals/100/2019/HJ100152R.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Pritzker to pick Rep. Stratton".Capitol Fax.2017-08-09.https://web.archive.org/web/20170810063726/https://capitolfax.com/2017/08/09/pritzker-to-pick-rep-stratton/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "City Club of Chicago: J.B. Pritzker, Juliana Stratton".WGN Radio.2018-09-14.https://wgnradio.com/2018/09/14/city-club-of-chicago-j-b-pritzker-juliana-stratton/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "2018 Midterm Election Coverage".Ebony.2018-11.https://www.ebony.com/news-views/2018-midterm-election-coverage.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Pritzker-Stratton win Illinois governor's race".Breeze-Courier.https://breezecourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubsectionID=1&ArticleID=182590.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Illinois Lieutenant Governor Buys Marijuana On State's First Day Of Legal Sales".Marijuana Moment.2020-01-01.https://www.marijuanamoment.net/illinois-lieutenant-governor-buys-marijuana-on-states-first-day-of-legal-sales/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton will run for re-election in 2022".HOI ABC.2021-07-19.https://hoiabc.com/2021/07/19/governor-jb-pritzker-and-lt-governor-juliana-stratton-will-run-for-re-election-in-2022/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term".The Pantagraph.https://pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/photos-pritzker-sworn-in-for-second-term/collection_c1d48ce8-905b-11ed-b587-fbcbd366c34f.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Ad wars boiling over in U.S. Senate race as Stratton, Krishnamoorthi feud intensifies".Daily Herald.https://www.dailyherald.com/20260223/nation-and-world-politics/ad-wars-boiling-over-in-u-s-senate-race-as-stratton-krishnamoorthi-feud-intensifies/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Attack ads begin in Illinois Senate primary".Punchbowl News.https://punchbowl.news/article/house/illinois-senate-krishnamoorthi/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Illinois Democrat tries to bleep her way through a tough Senate primary with a new expletive-laden anti-Trump ad".NBC News.2026-02-20.https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/illinois-democrat-juliana-stratton-senate-primary-trump-ad-rcna259761.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Illinois Senate candidate launches campaign ad featuring people saying 'F— Trump'".The Hill.2026-02-20.https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5746907-juliana-stratton-trump-ad/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "As Stratton airs ad with anti-Trump expletive, Krishnamoorthi launches first negative TV ad attacking her".Chicago Sun-Times.https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/21/us-senate-democratic-primary-stratton-krishnamoorthi-negative-tv-ads.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Illinois US Senate Democratic front-runners debate PAC funding, ICE".The Daily Illini.2026-02-21.https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/world-news/state-news/2026/02/21/illinois-democratic-debate-pac-ice/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Raja Krishnamoorthi emerging as the strongest ally of Jewish voters in Illinois Senate race".Jewish Insider.https://jewishinsider.com/2026/02/raja-krishnamoorthi-illinois-senate-race-jewish-voters-israel-policy/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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