Evanston elected officials hosted a campaign meet and greet Saturday afternoon for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, 10 days out from a high-stakes Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin.

Joined by Rep. Jan Schakowsky and House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, both of Evanston, Stratton delivered her pitch to a crowd of about two dozen packed into Free Flow Kitchen on Simpson St.

Alds. Krissie Harris (2nd), Shawn Iles (3rd), Parielle Davis (7th) and Juan Geracaris (9th) were also there for Stratton’s visit, which came less than a week after Schakowsky announced she would back Stratton’s Senate bid.

Speaking with Evanston Now, Stratton said she felt Schakowsky’s endorsement was a sign that the Evanston congresswoman “sees me as the one that will continue that [progressive] fight.”

Stratton’s top opponents include Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Schaumburg) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Lynwood).

Stratton, who’s also backed by Gov. JB Pritzker, has pitched herself as the progressive option in the race, taking a hardline against President Donald Trump, often calling him a “wannabe dictator.”

Also present at the meet and greet were Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, Evanston City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza, the ETHS District 202 board president and vice presidents, Pat Savage-Williams and Monique Parsons, and Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste.

Krishnamoorthi has led in polling since the race began last spring, but polls have appeared to tighten in recent weeks. This week, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors’ Association released a poll that showed Stratton leading.

Krishnamoorthi’s campaign released an internal poll this week that shows he still leads the race by 10%.

This week, a super PAC backing Krishnamoorthi released an ad boosting Kelly, in what Politico described as a power move to try and pull momentum away from Stratton.

Stratton has been supported by a super PAC largely funded by Pritzker that has helped put ads on TV over the past two months. She released her own campaign ad last month, saying, “F— Trump, vote Juliana,” which gained widespread attention.

Krishnamoorthi visited Evanston in January for a press conference during a scare that threatened to cut federal funding for day care programs. Kelly and Krishnamoorthi were both in Evanston in late January for the Democratic Party of Evanston’s endorsement session.

The DPOE failed to reach a 2/3 majority needed to endorse a candidate in the Senate race.

Early voting began last Monday at Robert Crown Community Center ahead of the March 17 primary election.