While Gov. JB Pritzker traversed the state Thursday, announcing his campaign for a third term in office, one person who had stood by his side since 2018 was noticeably absent from the trail throughout the day — Lieutenant Governor,Julianna Stratton.

That’s because Stratton, a former state representative from Chicago’s south side Bronzeville neighborhood, was in Evanston Thursday, in the midst of her own campaign for the U.S. Senate to succeed longtime Sen. Dick Durbin, who announced earlier this year he won’t seek a sixth term in office.

Stratton spoke with Evanston Now over the phone ahead of a private fundraiser with House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel and Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, sharing details about her campaign for U.S. Senate, her vision for Illinois and her vision on the Democratic party.

The party as a whole is facing a litany of questions, from who should be viewed as the party’s leader to how to talk to voters, how to frame issues and almost universally, how to fight against the Trump administration.

Stratton shared a bit of her view in the brief call as she headed to the fundraiser, saying, “I think that the old playbook is no longer working,” and “I think we have to follow the lead of young people.”

“People don’t want people who are just going to sort of go along to get along,” Stratton said. “I think this is a time that we need new voices and new energy and new leaders in Washington.”

Stratton faces a tough primary campaign against two members of Congress, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Lynwood.

Stratton has made the Trump administration a key focus of her campaign and spoke about working to build safeguards against the administration, saying it’s one of the “main reasons” she chose to run.

“[Voters] want someone who’s going to fight,” Stratton said. “We have to hold Trump accountable at every turn … wherever I travel, in every corner of the state, [people are saying] that they’re genuinely scared about the chaos that’s coming out of Washington.”

While she declined to endorse a candidate for Illinois’ crowded 9th Congressional District Democratic primary, she praised the campaign’s “deep bench.”

“That’s great for democracy,” Stratton said. “I think our democracy is healthier when more people step up to run.”