We’re less than nine months from when candidates can begin circulating petitions for the 2026 election, so we’re rapidly approaching the time when major figures will need to decide whether to run or not. Because of that, a lot of people are polling.
The state’s two big dogs, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Gov. JB Pritzker, are still not saying what they plan to do, although Durbin has said he’ll make his plans known after the start of the new year.
Pritzker has been polling, although his campaign wouldn’t comment. A friend who was polled said the questions varied from migrant and immigration policy, to a possible constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights, to crime response and whether he should stand up to President-elect Donald Trump if he tries to violate the rights of Illinois residents or whether he should find a way to work with the Trump administration to benefit Illinois.
There were the usual right direction vs. wrong direction questions and questions rating the governor’s performance on things like fiscal management and taxes, and where they believed Pritzker stood on the political ideological spectrum.
Pritzker’s poll tested the statewide popularity of people like Mayor Brandon Johnson and U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. The governor also tested Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s popularity.
Stratton is also polling. A source with knowledge of the poll and the thinking behind it said Stratton is “keeping her options open” as a decision by Pritzker looms. However, the person stressed Stratton has “no plans of not keeping her day job.”
Stratton has been actively fundraising since the summer of 2023 and has also become more visible, appearing with the governor at many of his governmental and campaign stops and doing several of her own events.
Stratton’s poll tested Durbin’s popularity, which is standard in these sorts of things, but that’s an office she could seek. Also, if Pritzker decides not to run again, the decision will likely create a down-ticket cascade as people attempt to move up the ladder. Like Pritzker, Stratton tested the popularity of several other elected officials.
Stratton’s poll tested various background messages with potential voters, which is also common.
For instance, a question tested how her relationship to Pritzker plays with voters: “Juliana Stratton has worked with JB Pritzker since Day One to get big things done for Illinois. JB calls her his partner in governing. Together, they turned the Illinois economy around and along with accomplishments like raising the minimum wage, making historic investments in infrastructure, and giving $1.8 billion in tax relief to working families in Illinois.”
Voters were then asked to rate her favorability between one and 10.
Another test question notes that Stratton “is the first Black lieutenant governor and first Black woman constitutional officer in Illinois ever,” and after talking about her life on the city’s South Side, closes with, “As a descendant of enslaved people, she understands the systemic barriers facing marginalized communities. She works every day across Illinois to rebuild neglected communities.”
The poll talks about her time as the “primary caregiver” to her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease and lived with Stratton for three years before dying. “She says it was both the honor of her life as well as incredibly difficult. Stratton was also raising three daughters at the same time, sandwiched between two generations and caring for everyone. Stratton managed it all and knows how hard Illinois families have it.”
The poll touts her experience as a mediation attorney. “That means her whole job was to get opposing sides to compromise, see things from the other’s point of view, and get both sides to agree to a solution. And Stratton had a very high percent success rate. Who better to lead us when everyone is so divided? Stratton has the skills and the know how to help bring both sides together to get things done.”
After testing other candidates’ popularity, Stratton’s poll also asked whether her support of various issues made respondents more or less likely to approve of her, including raising the minimum wage; enacting a large infrastructure plan; criminal justice reform; balancing the budget, improving pension funding and achieving nine credit upgrades; helping pass a bill to “enshrine reproductive rights into state law”; leading the Council on Rural Affairs and the Council for Women and Girls; and “stood up to the NRA” by helping pass an assault weapons ban.
That should give you an idea of the messaging to expect if Stratton decides to run for a different office.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 8:10 am:
I have had too much time off from politics
I read the headline and thought they were testing for lead in the water of the Stratton building
- Wilson - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 9:08 am:
Wonder if she tested any of her potential negatives? Her unofficial stewardship of the Prison Review Board could cause some issues.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 10:36 am:
She will be tied to Pritzker so as long as Pritzker remains popular, she could run a pretty safe incumbent campaign.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 11:04 am:
Pritzker gains nothing by leaving the question of whether or not he will pursue a third term open. Pritzker’s administration has already been damaged by the attitude that quite a few people within his administration have taken that he is a passing fad.
Dick Durbin turned 80 last year. At this point continuing to fill his senate seat is depriving our state and country of a leader that represents any of the next generations.
Example: Barack Obama was was sworn into the State Senate the same year Durbin became a Seantor. President Obama rose to US Senator and President of the United States and served two full terms of President in the first 20 years of Senator Durbin’s career in the Senate.
If Senator Durbin insists on remaining in office, it will be at the detriment to the future of the Democratic Party and our country.
The Senator’s had 42 years in federal office at this point. Does he want his legacy to be what he did during those 42 years or that he decided to run for re-election in his 80s?
- Stacey E. - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 11:31 am:
Ha ha, candy makes me laugh. Durbin is a lifer who will not voluntarily leave his position on the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees. A Harris presidency has not happened so nix the idea of JB making Commerce Secretary. JB likes playing governor as much as Durbin likes earmarking appropriation dollars and helping determine who served on the federal Judiciary and approving presidential nominees to various important jobs. Stratton may consider another office as lieutenant governor doesn’t have a lot to do; countywide in Cook, State Representative, State Senate or Congress.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 11:34 am:
Absent Pat Quinn The Il Lt GOV position is an irrelevant job in terms of seeking higher offices – but there is always hope – look at Brock Purdy
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 11:35 am:
Everytime I see the Lt. Governor’s name I think it is about an office building in Springfield. Happens every time without fail and then I feel bad for being so stupid.
I wonder if she can somehow use that to her advantage in a campaign ad.
- Gretchen - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 11:41 am:
After Joe Biden, age is most definitely on the table as a fair issue in a Democratic Primary.
LG Stratton might be a little too far to the left to have a real shot at winning a statewide race, even in a Dem Primary. It will be better to judge her chances after Trump’s first 100 days and see how unified or divided the Dem party is on a lot of progressive social issues Trump is likely to take a hammer to shortly.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 12:03 pm:
===Absent Pat Quinn===
George Ryan would like a word.
- JoeMaddon - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 12:16 pm:
**I wonder if she can somehow use that to her advantage in a campaign ad.**
The only people that know about the Stratton building are people that work in/around the Capitol. Voters have no idea what the Stratton building is.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 12:44 pm:
==After Joe Biden, age is most definitely on the table as a fair issue in a Democratic Primary.==
Could not concur with this more. I’m a 3D dem and I will NEVER vote for Durbin (or anyone 70+) again, whether my vote matters or not.
And just for the record, I’m not a spring chicken myself.
- Truthiness - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 1:03 pm:
I read the headline and thought the Stratton building was testing its water supply… whoops
- Give Us Barrabbas - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 1:27 pm:
Meanwhile, Roland Burris sits by the phone and sharpens his marbl chisel.
I like Durbin and have voted for him but it’s time to go to the bench and pick a next generation candidate to carry the torch. It’s unfortunate that the seniority system tends to make successful candidates stay in longer to get to the committee chairs they want most, that we need most. Durbin is in a powerful position and his replacement will not be. But the Obama example confirms the right new candidate can go far.
- Old IL Dude - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 1:36 pm:
The Lt Gov of IL is basically a dead end, nothing burger job. The State could get rid of it and the only folks who would notice are those employed by the Lt Gov’s office. IL SOS is probably the most powerful job outside of the Gov’s, just sayin’.
- Old IL Dude - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 1:39 pm:
To add on to this, I looked up the list of past Lt Gov’s and did not realize that George Ryan’s Lt Gov, Corrine Wood, passed away in 2021.
- Shytown - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 1:42 pm:
Pritzker is a passing fad? I laughed out loud at that one.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 2:17 pm:
I am interested in the primary for Durbin’s seat if he doesn’t go. That would be a barnburner.
Same in IL 9 if Jan doesn’t go.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jan 6, 25 @ 4:12 pm:
===but it’s time to go to the bench and pick a next generation candidate to carry the torch. ===
If the Senator hangs on for one more term he can hand the Senate seat off to a member of Gen Z.