Don Tracy, a Republican attorney from Springfield, is running for U.S. Senate in Illinois in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Federal decisions on spending, regulation and tax policy directly affect Lake Forest and Lake Bluff residents.
Tracy faces Democrat Juliana Stratton and American Center candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr. in the race. The Lake County GOP has endorsed Tracy, according to BallotReady.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Springfield, Illinois
- Birthplace: Urbana, Illinois; raised in Mount Sterling, Illinois
- Education: Bachelor's degree in general business administration, Arizona State University (1972); juris doctor, University of Memphis (1976)
- Profession: Attorney; partner at Brown Hay & Stephens (1995–present), according to BallotReady profile data
Experience and public service
Tracy chaired the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024, according to his Wikipedia entry. He chaired the Illinois Gaming Board from 2015 to 2019. He ran for lieutenant governor in 2010.
Before joining Brown Hay & Stephens, Tracy was a partner at Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen from 1990 to 1995 and owned Don Tracy PC from 1982 to 1990, according to BallotReady.
Tracy has held several civic roles. He served as president of the Sangamon County Bar Association, president of the Abraham Lincoln Association and secretary of the Illinois Bar Foundation, according to the Winnebago County GOP.
On the issues
The following positions are Tracy's own statements, drawn from his responses on BallotReady and his campaign website.
Economy and regulation
Tracy said he wants to "lower the cost-of-doing-business by cutting excess regulation," according to his campaign website. He said he would support American manufacturers and farmers by ensuring "a fair, level playing field when they compete in the global marketplace."
Energy and cost of living
Tracy said he would push for lower energy and gas costs by pursuing an energy policy that uses all available energy sources, according to his campaign's cost-of-living page. He said his approach would protect energy independence "while continuing to transition to a clean energy future." He framed the issue as affordability, saying he would "push common sense solutions that make life more affordable for working families."
Tracy also said he would work to improve the economy by "streamlining regulation and supporting small businesses, manufacturers, and farmers throughout Illinois."
Endorsements
Tracy's campaign claims endorsements from several Republican officials and organizations, according to Ballotpedia and BallotReady. They include the Lake County GOP, the Hanover Township Republican Organization, the Wheeling Township Republican Organization, the Madison County GOP and Illinois Family Action.
Individual endorsers include Leslie Munger, former Illinois comptroller and deputy governor; Dan Caulkins, former state representative; Roger Claar, former mayor of Bolingbrook; and Karen Hasara, former mayor of Springfield. Other endorsers include Richard Porter, former Illinois Republican National Committee committeeman, and Jeanne Ives, state central committeeman for the 3rd Congressional District.
Candidate issue responses were collected by BallotReady and drawn from Tracy's campaign website. The Lake Forest Journal did not interview the candidate for this profile.
