(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Only two days after U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced he will not run for re-election in 2026, and only one day after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (pictured, right) announced she will run, Gov. JB Pritzker (pictured, left) Friday threw his support to his second-in-command.

“She is the right person for this job, and I’m going to help her throughout the campaign in any way I can,” the governor said after a ribbon-cutting in Chicago. The multi-billionaire Pritzker is unlikely to be intimidated by the campaign war chest – a reported $20 million – of another potential contender, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Schaumburg).

Pritzker continued his testimony for Stratton: “This is the person who is the best able to serve with integrity, with honor, somebody who brings with her a tremendous amount of experience helping to run the state of Illinois, Juliana Stratton is the right person for the job.”

Stratton was the first to declare her candidacy. Besides Krishnamoorthi, others interested in the race are reported to be other members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation and statewide officeholders.

The primary is March 17. Durbin’s retirement takes effect in January 2027.