From Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate:
Don Tracy Wins Republican Nomination for U.S. Senate, Contrasts Himself with the Democrat Nominee
SPRINGFIELD, IL — Republican voters across Illinois have nominated Don Tracy as their candidate for the United States Senate, setting up a November general election matchup against Democrat Juliana Stratton for Illinois’ open Senate seat.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Tracy thanked his family, campaign team, and the thousands of Illinois voters who supported his grassroots campaign.
“I am deeply honored to accept the Republican nomination for United States Senate,” Tracy said. “There are many great stories in politics about the underdog coming out on top… and this I think is already one of them, with the best yet to come.
Tracy’s victory comes after a primary campaign focused on the affordability challenges facing Illinois families, including rising housing costs, high energy prices, inflation, and government policies that have made Illinois one of the most expensive states in the country.
“The general election begins tonight,” Tracy said. “I know these have been tough times for many of you. The sky-high cost-of-living in Illinois has made the American Dream seem out of reach for many everyday Illinoisans…. I’ve spent my career working for families and small businesses. I’m ready to take that fight to the US Senate, where my top priority will be to lower the cost-of-living.
“I will push for common sense solutions that make life more affordable for working families.
“I will work for everyday Illinoisans, not special interests or extreme agendas.”
Tracy contrasted his background with the record of Juliana Stratton, who is the most progressive candidate in the history of Illinois, evidenced by how she has allied with some of the most extreme politicians in the Democrat Party.
“She’s raised our taxes more than 49 times while spending nearly $3 billion on non-citizens.
“In fact, Stratton’s economic plan has been called more extreme than even Bernie Sanders’ plan. And she wants government-run health care that would eliminate private insurance.
“With a price tag of over $30 trillion, we’ll all be paying higher prices if Juliana Stratton is elected.”
The Tracy campaign has launched a website and video detailing how extreme Juliana Stratton is: ExtremeStratton.com.
Tracy said the campaign ahead will focus on restoring balance in Illinois politics and giving voters a real choice in the upcoming election, saying it was the beginning of “our campaign to make Illinois a two party state again.”
“We’ll work hard every single day to win this open US Senate seat for working families. With your help, we’ll deliver that underdog victory in November that will shock the nation and make Illinois a better, more balanced state.”
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Full victory speech transcript:
Thank you! Thank you so much for being here tonight. It’s been an incredible, whirlwind seven months!
First and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Wanda, for her help, love and support, and especially for recruiting so many of your pickleball player friends to help with our campaign! Thank you.Thank you.
I’m also very grateful that my daughter Liz and her wonderful children are able to be here with us tonight. Being a husband, father and grandfather has always been the most important job I’ve ever had, and I’m very happy that I get to share this moment with family.
I also want to thank my 11 siblings, their spouses (especially Senator Jil Tracy) and our extended family for all of their advice, support and tough love throughout my life and this campaign.
To my campaign team, volunteers, and donors: thank you for your tireless work and belief in this effort. To my many friends who’ve stood by me, thank you. To the voters who supported me, thank you. And to the very impressive Republicans who also ran this year, Cary Cappallari, Casey Chlebek, Jeannie Evans, Pamela Denise Long, and Jimmy Lee Tillman, thank you for bringing your passion and ideas to the race.
Republicans, I am very honored to accept your nomination for the United States Senate!
I intend to run hard, fight hard, and focus on the issues that matter most to everyday Illinoisans. And we plan on winning in November.
There are many great stories in politics about the underdog coming out on top… and this I think is already one of them, with the best yet to come.
Like Winston Churchill said during WWII after defeating Hitlers Army in North Africa, this is not the end, and it is not even the beginning of the end. It is however the end of the beginning of our campaign to make Illinois a two party state again. The general election starts tonight!
I know these have been tough times for many of you. The sky-high cost-of-living in Illinois has made the American Dream seem out of reach for many everyday Illinoisans. Utility prices are at record highs, housing costs are pushing seniors out of their homes and discouraging young people from starting their families, gas and groceries are way too high, and health care inflation is rising at an unsustainable pace. The American Dream is just a fantasy when you’re struggling to survive.
Yet, Democrats seem more interested in advancing their party’s Democrat Socialist agenda than helping working families. They’re more consumed with advocating resistance to common sense governance than in working to find common ground to make our nation more secure, make government work better, enhance neighborhood safety, and increase economic growth and well being for all.
In the race ahead of us, you are likely to hear my opponent, Juliana Stratton, call us extremists, because Democrats don’t have any other playbook.
So let’s be very clear about who Juliana Stratton is. She is the most extreme far left U.S. Senate candidate this state has ever seen. Her closest allies are: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, former Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, and the Chicago Teachers Union. Stratton would definitely not represent Illinois values in Washington DC.
No wonder she’s raised our taxes more than 49 times while spending nearly $3 billion on non-citizens.
In fact, Stratton’s economic plan has been called more extreme than even Bernie Sanders’ plan.
And she wants government-run health care that would eliminate private insurance.
With a price tag of over $30 trillion, we’ll all be paying higher prices if Juliana Stratton is elected.
Juliana Stratton is just too extreme for Illinois.
Career politicians with extreme agendas have done enough damage to our country. We need a strong leader who will champion common sense solutions over extreme agendas.
Illinois working families need someone who will work for them in Washington, not special interests. I’ve spent my career working for families and small businesses. I’m ready to take that fight to the US Senate, where my top priority will be to lower the cost-of-living.
I will push for common sense solutions that make life more affordable for working families. This includes working to decrease wasteful government spending, lower energy and gas costs, reduce health care inflation, oppose excess taxation, and fight inflation. I will also work to improve the economy and support workers, small businesses, manufacturers, and farmers throughout Illinois.
I will work for everyday Illinoisans, not special interests or extreme agendas. Unlike my career politician opponent, I understand the struggles of working families. I started working in the warehouse of our family business when I was 10 years old. Our warehouse then was a 2 car garage.
I’ve run a small business and had to sacrifice to make payroll. I’ve raised a family and know how hard it can be to cover all the expenses of a growing family.
I’ve been blessed to have lived the American Dream. I’m living it right now. In this country, where you start doesn’t determine where you finish. That’s how a kid who grew up working in a warehouse can stand before you tonight as our party’s nominee for United States Senate. I want everyone—including my grandchildren—to have the opportunity to achieve and experience their own version of the American Dream.
Thank you again for entrusting me with this important nomination. We’ll work hard every single day to win this open US Senate seat for working families. With your help, we’ll deliver that underdog victory in November that will shock the nation and make Illinois a better, more balanced state.
God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.
