Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is first to run for Dick Durbin's Senate seat

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who came into office alongside Gov. JB Pritzker in 2018, announced on Thursday she will seek Durbin's spot in the Senate.

CHICAGO — And the race is officially on.

One day after longtime Sen. Dick Durbin announced he would retire and not seek reelection, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, launched her bid for his seat.

She is the first contender to enter what Democrats here are expecting to be a jam-packed field for a senatorial seat that hasn't been vacant in nearly 30 years.

Stratton has served at JB Pritzker's side since the billionaire businessman launched his bid for governor in 2017. In 2018, she became the first Black woman to hold the position of lieutenant governor in the state.

Stratton for months signaled her interest in seeking Durbin's seat, launching the Level Up PAC in January, specifically to support a future bid for the post.