In 1992, I became the first Black woman ever to be elected to the United States Senate. I had broken through a barrier that had been in place for over two centuries, keeping Black women out of our nation’s highest legislative body. At the time, I knew I was making history, but I also knew I was just one piece of a larger legacy that started long before me and would continue long after.

When I won that seat, I wasn’t there alone. I was standing on the shoulders of those who came before me – the Black women who sacrificed everything to advocate for their communities, many of whom never held a title or an office, many of whom we’ll never read about in the history books. 

Without the foundations they laid, without the righteous fights they fought, I know the journey to Washington would have been all but impossible for me. I also knew that once I got to the Senate, I had a responsibility to swing the door wide open for generations after me.

My story was made possible because there were those who were willing to fight to make it a reality. It was also made possible because it was intertwined with the story of Illinois. While our state has never been perfect, it has always led with a spirit of resilience and a bold commitment to progress. It has always been a home to those who dared to dream and fought to turn their dreams into reality.

Illinoisans have always pushed for a better life for their families and for future generations. Our state has a rich history of building movements, organizing, and taking action to defend the values we hold dear. Here in Illinois, we’ve always valued leaders who put people first and work to deliver real solutions that make our lives better. That tradition has been true for decades, and it holds true to this day.

That’s why today, I’m proud to be endorsing Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton for the United States Senate. 

Lieutenant Governor Stratton is a fierce and compassionate leader who will stop at nothing to deliver for Illinoisans all across our state. She has led a life of public service, inspired by her parents – a public school teacher and a navy veteran. She understands our communities because she has lived their struggles and celebrated their victories. 

As a partner to Governor JB Pritzker, she has helped deliver transformational progress – raising the minimum wage, protecting women’s rights, balancing our budget, and taking on the gun violence crisis. She embodies the values of Illinois to her core, and she has spent every day of her time as Lieutenant Governor working to improve the lives of her neighbors. 

But there is still more work to be done. As we face countless attacks from the Trump administration, we need leaders who will bring new voices, new energy, and new perspectives to Washington – leaders who are willing to fight on behalf of every constituent.

Not only does Lieutenant Governor Stratton have the track record of progress needed to succeed in Washington, she’s also proven that she’s prepared to represent every Illinoisan – no matter who they vote for or where they fall on the political spectrum. As Lieutenant Governor, she’s traveled to every corner of the state, speaking to Illinoisans of all stripes about the challenges they face and their hopes for the future. 

Illinoisans deserve a leader who will work day and night to deliver real progress. A leader who won’t back down from a challenge. A leader who will fight to protect them from the worst attacks of the Trump administration. 

That leader is Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. 

I know that her candidacy will inspire generations of Illinoisans, and as our next United States Senator from Illinois, she will show what’s possible when you center the needs of working people at the forefront of everything you do.

So from the first Black woman to represent Illinois in the United States Senate, I look forward to passing the torch to the next. 

When future generations look back, they’ll remember us, not because we were the first – but because we made sure we wouldn’t be the last. 

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Carol Moseley Braun was the first Black woman elected to the United States Senate. She is the former Ambassador of the United States to New Zealand.