Just two months before Illinois’ Democratic Senate primary, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s campaign saw an opening that would prove decisive. While her two main rivals, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, voiced nuanced opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Stratton took a sharper stance: she called for abolishing ICE entirely.
Quentin Fulks, who ran the primary super PAC backing Stratton, quickly capitalized. “We beat them to the punch on that issue,” Fulks told NBC News in a report, noting that Illinois Future PAC aired TV ads framing Stratton as the only major candidate willing to dismantle the agency. Research showed ICE was deeply unpopular with Democrats, particularly after months of aggressive enforcement in Chicago and its suburbs in fall 2025.
“For Juliana and the issues she was championing, that was by far the most potent issue,” Fulks said. The strategy paid off: Stratton surged from trailing Krishnamoorthi by 21 points in January to clinching 40% of the vote, edging him by seven points on March 17.
Illinois Future PAC, fueled by at least $5 million from Gov. JB Pritzker, ultimately spent $14.8 million on ads. While less than Krishnamoorthi’s fundraising, the spending arrived at a critical moment, hitting undecided voters who made up nearly half of the Democratic electorate at the start of the year. Stratton’s messaging also highlighted her partnership with Pritzker, whose approval rating among state Democrats hovered at 82%, adding credibility to her platform.
Fulks, a veteran of high-profile campaigns including Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential bid and Pritzker’s 2018 gubernatorial run, reflected on broader lessons. He emphasized the importance of timing, personality, and versatile campaigning, noting voters respond both to policy toughness—like standing up to former President Donald Trump—and to relatability.
Stratton’s ability to combine aggressive advocacy on immigration, support for a $25 minimum wage, and alignment with a popular governor created a narrative that resonated when it mattered most. For Fulks, the Illinois race underscored that connecting with voters across multiple platforms, even in unconventional settings, will be crucial for future Democratic campaigns.
“People want someone fighting for them, standing up to Trump, and who they feel they can just hang out with,” he said.
