The Illinois Senate race is the only one this cycle in which two Black women elected officials are running against each other. If neither Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton or Rep. Robin Kelly win, it could set a new record for the number of Black women serving in the Senate at once. The unique three-way race raises questions about whether Black women are less "electable," according to Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. Stratton's initiatives to improve maternal health outcomes and foster girls’ political participation are examples of how representation leads to direct change for women in the state. The winner of the Democratic primary is likely to win the Senate seat.