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.
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.
Reduce inflation and government spending to lower costs
The sky-high cost-of-living in Illinois has made the American Dream seem out of reach for many everyday Illinoisans. Utility prices, housing costs, gas and groceries are way too high, and health care costs keep rising at an unsustainable pace. Illinois working families need someone who will work for them in Washington.
Voting History: Not applicable - attorney and business owner, not elected official
Border security and law enforcement with humane implementation
I believe immigration policy should be grounded in realism, fairness, and accountability, and the best interests of the nation, not political agendas or extreme ideologies. Illinois families deserve a system that is orderly, secure, and humane, and as U.S. Senator, I will fight for reforms that reflect common sense.
Voting History: Not applicable - attorney and business owner, not elected official
Market-based solutions with transparency and competition
Rising health care costs are squeezing working families across Illinois, forcing too many people to choose between paying medical bills, buying groceries, or keeping the lights on. The Senate must address this problem with common sense, rather than the same top-down, government-centric approaches that have driven costs even higher. Affordability starts with empowering patients, not politicians. We should increase price transparency so families know what care actually costs before they receive it.
Voting History: Not applicable - attorney and business owner, not elected official
Focus on rural and downstate representation
Born in Urbana and raised in Mount Sterling in western Illinois, Tracy built his campaign pitch around geography. Senator Dick Durbin's retirement after nearly 30 years means Illinois is losing its only statewide officeholder not from Chicago or Cook County. Tracy has argued that the state's other 101 counties have no statewide representation and that all his Democratic opponents are from Cook County.
Voting History: Not applicable - attorney and business owner, not elected official
Not applicable - Tracy has been an attorney and business owner, not an elected official to Congress or statewide office. His background is in law practice, gaming board service, and Republican party leadership.
Tracy's official messaging emphasizes practical solutions, fiscal conservatism, and opposition to what he frames as 'extreme agendas.' He positions himself as a non-career politician with real-world business experience.
Tracy will not stand up to Trump
Stratton said on the Fox 32 show that "I would define [Tracy] as someone who's not going to stand up to Donald Trump, someone who's not going to fight for the best interest of the people of Illinois."
Tracy is overly broad in characterizing her positions
Tracy is calling her soft on welfare reform and immigration. Tracy's campaign decried that claim as "overly broad … Don Tracy is running to represent the people of the State of Illinois, and their interests are his priority over a political agenda … Tracy won't be a rubber stamp for anyone."