Juliana Stratton

In August 2025, Stratton's campaign said she would have opposed Senate resolutions led by Senator Bernie Sanders that sought to block certain arms sales to Israel. The campaign said Stratton believes Israel has a right to defend itself as one of the United States' closest allies, while also arguing that the Israeli government needed to do more to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and criticizing its conduct of the war. At a February 2026 Democratic Senate debate, Stratton again described Israel as a democratic U.S. ally with a right to safety and security. She also called for humanitarian aid to Gaza, a two-state solution, but called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to leave office.

In June 2025, Stratton said Iran is a terrorist state and sponsor of terrorism worldwide and that Iranian nuclear weapons would threaten the United States and global peace. She said it is in America's interest to ensure Iran is never allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. During the 2026 U.S.-Iran war, Stratton continued to say the United States should not accept a nuclear Iran but argued that military action required congressional authorization. She said she would not authorize or vote for supplemental funding for a war she viewed as unjustified and lacking a plan.

Stratton condemned Hamas's October 7 attack and later described Iran as a terrorist state and sponsor of terrorism worldwide. These statements establish opposition to Hamas and Iranian state-sponsored terrorism, although no detailed counterterrorism platform was identified.

On October 7, 2023, Stratton condemned Hamas's attacks on Israel and expressed support for people whose family members and loved ones had been killed, injured, or kidnapped. At an October 2025 Democratic Senate candidate forum held on the two-year anniversary of the attack, Stratton was the only candidate to mention the anniversary. She said she remained horrified by the devastation since the attack and called for a lasting ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the return of Israeli hostages.

In June 2025, Stratton said combating antisemitism requires educating people about Jewish history and hate symbols and calling out antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes. She said antisemitism and bigotry should be opposed in all forms.

During the 2026 Democratic primary, Stratton criticized an opponent for supporting a House resolution that condemned the Boulder attack but also praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Her campaign said she would always stand against antisemitism and would have supported a separate bipartisan resolution condemning antisemitism without praising ICE.

As lieutenant governor, Stratton participated in the 2024 launch of Illinois's Help Stop Hate program, a statewide service connecting victims and witnesses of hate acts with reporting options and community resources. The program is not specific to Jewish institutions, but its launch came amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents in Illinois and provides assistance that can include trauma support and resources for additional safety measures.

Following the June 2025 attack on a rally advocating for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, Stratton called for rejecting antisemitism, extremism, and violence. She has also stated more broadly that political violence is never the answer and that political differences should be resolved without violence.

On October 10, 2023, Stratton attended a Jewish United Fund-organized Israel solidarity rally at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe following Hamas's October 7 attack. In November 2023, Stratton spoke at a JUF-hosted vigil at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El for hostages held by Hamas. JUF reported that she had recently visited Israel with the organization.