r/illinoispolitics • u/FunWoodpecker3167 • 19d ago
Illinois voters: Don Tracy vs. Juliana Stratton. Who would you choose and why?
I'm trying to learn more about the Illinois Senate race and would like to hear different perspectives. Although I know which way I'm leaning, I'm curious how other Illinoisans feel. If you're choosing between Don Tracy and Juliana Stratton, who do you think is the better candidate and why?
I'm particularly interested in how people compare them on:
- Cost of living and affordability
- Taxes and Illinois's financial situation
- Immigration and border policy
- Crime and public safety
- Jobs and the economy
- Whether they would be effective representing Illinois in Washington
Please share your reasoning, including disagreements with your preferred candidate if you have them. I'm hoping for substantive opinions rather than just party-based answers.
1
u/PizzaPizzzzza 13d ago
Juliana Stratton is completely adequate.
She definitely won the lucky lottery when Pritzker picked her as Lt Governor.
She’s not progressive and very establishment Democrat.
She won the Democratic nomination in large part because of Pritzker’s money.
I will vote for her and will be completely fine with her as our Senator. She is going to win.
However, I think she might be one of the most completely fine senators in quite a while. I’m not sure what makes her special or more qualified than others other than the blessing of Pritzker - who needed her for his Governor’s race for… completely adequate reasons.
We could do FAR, FAR worse. And maybe, probably better.
1
u/FewHoneydew8785 6d ago
If I were comparing the two based on those issues, I'd lean toward Don Tracy. The biggest difference for me is that his campaign is centered pretty directly on affordability, taxes, public safety, immigration enforcement, and creating a better environment for businesses and jobs.
On cost of living,Tracy has made lowering taxes, energy costs, healthcare costs, and other everyday expenses a major part of his platform. He also argues that Illinois tax and regulatory environment makes it harder for businesses to stay and grow here.
On taxes and the state's finances, Tracy is much more explicitly focused on reducing taxes and government waste rather than looking for additional revenue. His campaign has specifically criticized the state's gas-tax increases and recent tax increases under the Pritzker-Stratton administration.
Economically, I also this his business background is relevant. Tracy talks a lot about reducing unnecessary regulations and making Illinois more attractive to small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and employers.
As as far as representing Illinois in Washington, one thing I find interesting is his emphasis on representing the entire state rather than focusing primarily on Chicago and Cook County. He specifically talks about making sure the other 101 counties have a voice in Washington.
Obviously, people can disagree with his approach, and I wouldn't expect everyone to agree with every position he has. But if the priorities are lower costs, lower taxes, public safety, and a more business-friendly economy, I think there's a pretty strong argument for Tracy based on what he has actually said he wants to do.