Don Tracy — Candidate Profile

Party: Republican

Running in: Illinois Senate Race

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Don Tracy

RepublicanIllinois Senate Race
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Summary

Don Tracy is an American lawyer, Republican politician, and business owner. Tracy served as acting and confirmed chair of the Illinois Gaming Board (2015–2019), an appointee of then-Governor Bruce Rauner, and as chair of the Illinois Republican Party (2021–2024). Tracy was born in 1949 or 1950, and is the son of the late founder of Dot Foods, Mount Sterling, Illinois, and is the eldest of 12 children in the family. He attended Arizona State University, and the University of Memphis Law School. Tracy is a part of the family ownership group of the privately held, major food-redistribution company, Dot Foods, where he has also served as general outside counsel.

Background

Tracy is a senior counsel at Brown, Hay & Stephens, one of Illinois's oldest law firms, where Abraham Lincoln once practiced. He is part of the family ownership of Dot Foods, a major food-redistribution company. He is the oldest of 12 children and has spent over 50 years as an attorney. He previously ran for lieutenant governor in 2010 and led the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024. He was born in Urbana and raised in rural western Illinois, Mount Sterling.

Sources

  1. Ballotpedia - Don Tracy profile
  2. Chicago Sun-Times - Don Tracy candidate questionnaire
  3. WTTW - Don Tracy 2026 primary profile
  4. Wikipedia - Don Tracy
  5. NPR Illinois - Stratton wins primary against Tracy
  6. CBS Chicago - Senate candidate profile Don Tracy
  7. Axios Chicago - Fact-checking claims from Senate candidates
  8. MyStateline - Illinois Senate battle Stratton vs Tracy