Don Tracy wins GOP primary for US Senate seat

Don Tracy, the former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, has won the GOP nomination for US Senate.

The retirement of Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin triggered a competitive campaign, with 10 Democrats and 6 Republicans in the race. Furious fundraising and sharp elbows marked the contest, which has tested the influence of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. He backed Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton over Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly in that primary.

Tracy was the state party chairman from 2021 to 2024.  Illinois last had a Republican in the Senate a decade ago, when Mark Kirk was defeated by Democrat Tammy Duckworth.

Illinois voters decided primaries Tuesday for six open US House and Senate seats in contests that became a testing ground for issues shaping the Democratic Party’s future. From questions about the cryptocurrency and AI industries to immigration enforcement to fracturing US support for Israel.