Tammy Duckworth endorses Juliana Stratton for U.S. Senate

(WAND) - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is throwing her support behind Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton who announced Thursday morning she is running for United States Senate.

Stratton has been serving as the 48th lieutenant governor of Illinois since 2019.

She previously served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019.

Stratton posted a video statement to YouTube and said, "For too long, the middle class has been centered on the campaign trail but sidelined when it comes to real governance. I've spent the last six years serving as Lieutenant Governor of the great state of Illinois, and I've seen firsthand the progress that's possible when we treat the needs of the middle class as the focal point, not just the talking point."

She went on to criticize President Donald Trump's leadership and Elon Musk for their "relentless attack on Americans," and praise the work of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Gov. Pritzker has also endorsed Stratton.

In a statement, Duckworth said, “Juliana has not only proven to be an experienced and effective Lieutenant Governor—she’s demonstrated time and again that she truly understands and cares for working people. Their struggles are her struggles. Their wins are her wins. Her many years spent in public service, along with her experience as a mom to four daughters and a caregiver to her own mother, have given her the tenacity, grit and perspective to be a true advocate on behalf of working families. I’d be honored to have her by my side in the Senate as we work to deliver real results for Illinoisans, and I’m proud to endorse her campaign for the United States Senate.”

Stratton said, “Tammy is a true leader for Illinois who doesn’t back down from a challenge. She exemplifies the kind of leadership working families deserve and spends every day looking for new opportunities to help communities across our states flourish. I’m so honored to have her support and I will work tirelessly to bring her spirit of resilience to this campaign.”