March 18 (UPI) -- Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton claimed victory late Tuesday in a close race to be the Democratic Senate nominee in November, as voters headed to the polls to cast ballots in primary elections. Dozens of local and federal contests were held throughout the state on a busy election Tuesday that included 17 U.S. House races but only one for the Senate -- a seat being left vacant by the retiring Dick Durbin , the six-term senator and the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate. Stratton