If Juliana Stratton is elected, three Black women could serve concurrently in the U.S. Senate for the first time.

While the Illinois Senate seat is likely to stay in Democratic hands given the state's leftward tilt, Durbin is the fourth Senate Democrat to announce he would not be running for re-election in 2026. New contenders now stand a chance at an open seat in 2026 in Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Michigan.