Juliana Stratton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juliana Stratton
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Stratton in 2023
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| 48th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2019 |
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| Governor | J. B. Pritzker |
| Preceded by | Evelyn Sanguinetti |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 5th district |
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| In office January 11, 2017 – January 2, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Kenneth Dunkin |
| Succeeded by | Lamont Robinson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Juliana Wiggins
September 8, 1965 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | |
Juliana Stratton (born September 8, 1965) is an American lawyer and politician. She is currently the 48th lieutenant governor of Illinois, a role she has held since 2019. Before this, she was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. She is the first African-American woman to become Illinois' lieutenant governor. She is also the fourth woman to hold this important position in the state.
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Early Life and Education
Juliana Stratton grew up in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was a schoolteacher, and her father was a doctor. She attended Kenwood Academy for high school.
After high school, Stratton went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Later, she studied law at DePaul University, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree.
Career Before Politics
Before entering politics, Juliana Stratton worked to help people solve problems without going to court. She had her own company that focused on finding peaceful solutions. She also worked as a mediator, helping people agree, and as an arbitrator, making decisions in disputes.
Stratton also held important roles in public safety. She was a director at the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also led the Cook County Justice Advisory Council. Her work always focused on making communities safer and stronger. She also helped start Chicago's Children's Advocacy Center.
Serving in the Illinois House
In 2016, Juliana Stratton decided to run for a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. She wanted to represent the fifth district. During her campaign, she received support from many people, including former President Barack Obama. She also had strong backing from unions. They supported her because she cared about child care, workers' rights, and home care services.
In March 2016, she won the primary election with 68% of the votes. This election was one of the most expensive in Illinois history. It showed how much support she had.
By August 2017, she had helped create 25 new laws. Nine of these laws were signed by Governor Bruce Rauner. She also served on several important committees.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor
On August 9, 2017, Juliana Stratton was chosen to be J. B. Pritzker's running mate. They ran together in the 2018 election for governor and lieutenant governor of Illinois. Stratton said her main goals were improving early childhood education and protecting women's rights. She also wanted to make the justice system fairer for everyone.
On November 7, 2018, Stratton and Pritzker won the election. They defeated the previous governor and lieutenant governor. After winning, Stratton left her position in the Illinois House of Representatives. A new representative, Lamont Robinson, took her place.
Since becoming Lieutenant Governor, Stratton has led several important projects. She started the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative. She also leads councils focused on women and girls, rural areas, military and economic development, and the Illinois River.
In July 2021, Pritzker and Stratton announced they would run for re-election in 2022. They won again on November 8, 2022. They started their second term on January 9, 2023.
Personal Life
Juliana Stratton is married and has four daughters. She lives in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. She enjoys running marathons and triathlons. She says that the discipline she learned from these sports helps her in her political work. She is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago chapter of Jack and Jill of America.
See also
