# Senate Debate Highlights: Stratton vs. Tracy

> Democratic Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy clash over minimum wage, tariffs, immigration, and Trump during sole Senate debate.
- Title: Senate Debate Highlights: Stratton vs. Tracy | Shortify
- Summary: Democratic Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy clash over minimum wage, tariffs, immigration, and Trump during sole Senate debate. Stratton and Tracy…
- Keywords: juliana stratton, don tracy, illinois senate, minimum wage, tariffs, immigration, operation midway blitz, alzheimer's disease, president donald trump, news, local, Senate
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/10/20/where-you-can-watch-the-only-senate-debate-between-juliana-stratton-and-don-tracy
- Published: 2026-10-21T00:15:06.225+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: juliana stratton, don tracy, illinois senate, minimum wage, tariffs, immigration, operation midway blitz, alzheimer's disease, president donald trump, news, local
## Senate Debate Overview
Democratic candidate Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy held the only Senate debate on Tuesday night in Chicago.
## Minimum Wage Positions
Stratton proposed a $25 federal minimum wage as a livable wage, while Tracy called it a death sentence for small businesses.
## Tariff Disagreement
Stratton cited illegal tariffs by Trump, saying refunds would go to corporations, not Illinois residents.
## Immigration Stance
Stratton supports abolishing ICE and Dreamer pathways, while Tracy criticized Operation Midway Blitz as chaotic.
## Trump Factor
Tracy claimed Stratton would impeach Trump, while Stratton said she’d welcome a Trump endorsement.
## Alzheimer's Connection
Both candidates lost family members to Alzheimer's, with Stratton caring for her mother until her death in 2016.
## Key Policy Differences
Stratton emphasized fighting Trump's policies, while Tracy focused on trade and immigration enforcement.
## Illinois Minimum Wage History
Illinois raised its minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 an hour over four years with business collaboration.
## Operation Midway Blitz
Tracy compared Chicago's immigration enforcement to Memphis, where local cooperation reduced violence.
## Trump Impeachment Threat
Tracy warned Stratton would 'do everything she can to impeach' Trump in her first two years in office.
## Alzheimer's Impact
Stratton ran for the Illinois House in 2016 after her mother's death from Alzheimer's.
## Tariff Legal Challenge
Stratton noted the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs illegal, requiring refunds for Illinois residents.
## Immigration Violence
Stratton accused Tracy of supporting Operation Midway Blitz, which she said targets neighbors like tamale vendors.
## Trump Endorsement
Stratton said she'd welcome a Trump endorsement, while Tracy denied ever saying she'd do so.
## Key takeaway

Stratton and Tracy, Illinois Senate candidates, differ sharply on minimum wage, tariffs, immigration, and Trump's role in their policies.