GOP’s Tracy gives his Senate campaign a big cash boost

In the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Republican Don Tracy’s campaign outraised Democrat Julia Stratton’s between July and September, federal records show — but nearly all of Team Tracy’s cash came from the candidate himself.

Tracy, a Springfield attorney whose family owns Dot Foods, lent his campaign committee $1.5 million just a week before the quarter’s end, according to his latest Federal Election Commission finance report. That’s on top of the $2 million the former state Republican Party chair lent the campaign in August 2025.

If his latest loan is taken out of the equation, Tracy’s fundraising last quarter was dwarfed by Stratton’s.

Stratton, a Chicagoan in her second term as lieutenant governor, started July with about $1.1 million in her senatorial war chest and added nearly $1.2 million during the quarter, records show. That included $39,000 from her Juliana Victory Fund and $151,500 from labor unions, corporate organizations and other special interest groups.

Team Stratton reported receiving nearly $424,000 from individuals during the quarter, too.

After nearly $645,000 in spending, the Stratton campaign finished the quarter with $1.6 million in the bank and no debts.

Tracy’s campaign started July with more than $1.5 million in the bank, and it added nearly $1.7 million over the next three months, records show. In addition to the loan from Tracy, the campaign reported nearly $169,000 from individual donors and about $11,000 from political action committees representing GOP candidates or groups, records show.

After more than $2 million in spending, Tracy ended the quarter with more than $1.1 million saved for the campaign’s final weeks.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Early voting is underway.

rlissau@dailyherald.com