Don Tracy

Don Tracy was born in Urbana, Illinois, and raised in Mt. Sterling, one of 12 children. He attended Western Illinois University, earned a bachelor's degree in general business administration from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis. He has practiced law for several decades, previously owning a Springfield law firm with an office in Mt. Sterling, and is senior counsel at Brown, Hay and Stephens in Springfield. He has served for more than 40 years as general outside counsel to his family's business, Dot Foods of Mt. Sterling. He ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2010, served as chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, and chaired the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 until 2024. He announced his U.S. Senate campaign in August 2025 for the seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin and won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary over five other candidates, including Jeannie Evans and Casey Chlebek. He faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on November 3.