Illinois has 18 congressional districts, and each one features a contested race this year. Several include third-party candidates.
Congressional districts are determined by overall state population. Illinois, due to shrinking population, could lose a seat in the U.S. House, possibly two, following the completion of the U.S. Census.
To learn more about the candidates running for Congress, read their Tribune questionnaires here:
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Why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.
I have worked at every level of government from the state to federal levels and have been successful in representing my constituents. Since being sworn into Congress in 2013 – I have continued my tireless advocacy for gun violence prevention. Gun violence continues to be an issue that plagues our communities, especially on the South side of Chicago. I have also fought to end health disparities in communities of color. I have brought a national spotlight to the issue of maternal mortality in the black community through my work with my fellow members of the House and Senate. I have a proven track record of successes and a record of working in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues to ensure that we legislate not just for our constituents but for all Americans. I have also worked through outreach to inform my constituents, municipalities, and businesses programs, grants and other opportunities available to them to help them succeed. Our housing programs, grant workshops, small business events. My office has worked hard in the community to save thousands of dollars for my constituents.
What are your highest priorities for Illinois and the nation?
My highest priorities for Illinois and the Nation are to ensure that health disparities that exist in the American health care system are ended. Whether that be by ensuring equitable treatment regardless of race and ethnicity, or by ensuring that the poorest Americans have access to healthcare without going into debt or bankruptcy.
Second, I would like to finally pass strong gun violence legislation that would end straw purchases and illegal gun trafficking across state lines. Additionally, ensuring that gun violence can be studied as a public health issue by the CDC to assist in finding ways to prevent more American’s from dying as a result of gun violence.
Assuming your victory, choose a single issue you would prioritize in the coming term – name it and describe what you want to accomplish.
I will prioritize decreasing health disparities in general but given the situation we find ourselves in a situation where COVID has really exposed health disparities, I am planning to ensure that all Americans have access to health care through either telehealth or in traditional facilities. Additionally, reducing the number of minorities who suffer and die from COVID-19 by enhanced data reporting and healthcare access. Finally, I would continue to work on legislation that would ensure a safe and trustworthy vaccine that will be available to everyone regardless of income or ethnicity.
In 150 words or fewer, make a pitch for the presidential candidate you support.
I support Joe Biden because I believe first and foremost, he can help bring this country back together. Right now, this country is divided and is hurting. I also feel he is the right person to deal with COVID and healthcare in general. He has a plan – I know because I sat on his health policy task force. He will also find innovative solutions to tackle issues such as gun violence, the environment and immigration. I also feel VP Biden will mend relationships internationally. He already has a good reputation internationally. The U.S. will be regarded as a leader again under his leadership. Finally, Joe Biden will pick judges that are more in line with my values and those of the majority of Americans.
Are you prepared to take up real reform to Social Security and Medicare to ensure their future solvency? What specific reforms would you be willing to support?
I am very concerned about the future solvency of the Social Security and Medicare programs – I know we must work on solutions to shore up these programs for future generations. In the short term we must reverse the payroll tax holiday – those taxes pay directly for the Social Security and Medicare programs.The simplest solution with the biggest impact would be to raise taxes on the highest income earners for example those earners who have become billionaires during the pandemic must be required to pay their fair share.
Also, investing broadband and expanding telehealth is good for Medicare. Telehealth visits are less costly than in-person visits and will improve outcomes which creates a healthier and less costly elder population.
What do you view as the government’s obligation, if any, to help American workers secure health insurance? Do you support the creation or continuation of a program, such as Medicare for All or Obamacare? Do you have a different idea? If you support a government-related insurance plan, how would you pay for it?
Yes, I believe the government should help American workers secure health insurance. I am a supporter of continuing and expanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many workers are not offered adequate health insurance or health insurance at all by their employers. It must be a priority for all Americans to have health insurance in order to close the gaping health disparities that have existed in the healthcare system for centuries. I would also like to see a public option added to offerings individuals can chose to enroll in.
Identify 3 national security threats to the United States. Choose one and explain your approach to dealing with that threat.
a) Foreign interference by Russia and China in our elections.
b) Nuclear Proliferation
c) Cyber Security
Foreign interference in our free and democratic elections is the biggest threat to our national security. Americans have always prided themselves on being a beacon of democracy for the rest of the world, but we cannot remain that example for others if we cannot keep our elections safe from interference by foreign governments. The implications of disrupted elections have long lasting and potentially irreversible repercussions that will put our lives and the lives of our fellow citizens in danger. We must ensure that our various intelligence agencies have the tools they need to keep our country safe. We need to call out the interference and make sure companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter, Snapchat and others work with us on these issues.
COVID-19 has destroyed jobs. The economy needs to be rebuilt. What policy steps should Congress take (beyond stimulus money or bailouts) in the next year to create as many jobs and as much prosperity as possible?
The federal government should invest in job creation and employee retraining programs through public private partnerships with community colleges, vocational programs, and job training centers for apprenticeships and IT job training. We must also create opportunities for these programs and others to provide childcare for parents who are working or are trying to re-enter the workforce but have had schools close due to COVID-19. Finally, we must focus on passing infrastructure legislation to rebuild the aging infrastructure across America that we have relied on and will continue to rely on once we’ve gotten past the slump created by COVID-19. These infrastructure projects include roads, railways, bridges, and expanded broadband especially in rural communities as well as infrastructure around health care and education.
When have you shown independence from your party on an issue of major import?
During the 115th congress, I opposed, the then numbered, H.R.5788 STOP Act of 2018 because it broadly expanded penalties for drug offenses, concentrated power within the Department of Justice, punished people who lack criminal intent, and over criminalized certain behavior. Additionally, there was a last-minute amendment that changed the bill’s language and would have harmed the post office and benefited private shippers – I was one of only 52 members of Congress who opposed this bill.
If you are an incumbent, tell us the most significant accomplishment of your current term. If you are a newcomer, tell us how you as a rookie would keep from being a backbencher.
This congress my most significant accomplishments are: having my bill requiring data collection reporting COVID data including race and ethnicity information by the CDC included in the CARES legislation. As an avid champion for maternal health and reducing maternal mortality – I have also had my bill mandating Medicaid extension past 60 days for new mothers in the ACA expansion bill currently slated for a vote by the House of Representatives. Finally, I have also been working hard to address the health disparities in the African American community caused by systemic inequalities which have been made clear to us by the COVID-19 global pandemic – I have hosted numerous round tables with experts from across the healthcare spectrum to find ways to bring attentionand address these disparities that exist in our healthcare system.
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Why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.
I am not an entrenched politician. I am a regular person who stepped up to solve our district’s, and our nation’s, challenges that have been ignored for decades. While my opponent tries to take away your Constitutional Rights, I protect and defend your constitutional rights. While my opponent is still looking for solutions (“committed to finding solutions”), I have over 30 bills and solutions on my website. While my opponent supports de-funding our police, I support police / community initiatives to improve safety in our communities. While my opponent has voted in favor of late-term and post-birth abortion more than 5 times, I will protect life, while protecting the women facing unplanned pregnancies. While my opponent calls religion “voodoo” (baiduhai, 4/14/13), I protect and defend religious liberty.
My Freedom Health Bill provides you with more choices, better care, and greatly reduced costs, while putting cold hard cash in your pocket each month (avg. $900 per month). My opponent supports healthcare that will destroy Medicare for our seniors, while my Freedom Health Bill will ensure it will be around for 100 more years. While my opponent wants to bring jobs that only pay $35K per year, I have plans and initiatives to bring jobs that pay upwards of $50K per year. While my opponent wants you to merely survive, I want you to thrive and prosper!
What are your highest priorities for Illinois and the nation?
Reforming our education system so every child succeeds, allowing for more flexibility for the modern family, and making sure there are NO cracks for our children to slip through. I support school choice and even curriculum choice within our public schools. See this link for details.
Reforming healthcare to reduce the financial burden, while ensuring there are NO cracks in our healthcare system, saving Medicare for our beloved seniors, and giving every American the freedom to go to ANY provider they want, while driving down the costs of healthcare. See this link for more details.
Bringing high paying, entry-level jobs back into the 2nd district, investment in mentorships (for youth, for entrepreneurs, for young couples), and expanding vocational training throughout the district.
Reforming criminal justice so the people coming out of prison will be better than they were when they entered prison, with a strong emphasis on rehabilitation. See this link for details.
Assuming your victory, choose a single issue you would prioritize in the coming term – name it and describe what you want to accomplish.
I already have bills drafted and ready to be introduced into Congress on Day One. My priority will be to spend my time in Washington garnering the support of my colleagues to get these bills through the committees, passed in the House, through the Senate, and signed into law.
I will focus primarily on the four issues in the previous question (education, healthcare, jobs, and criminal justice reform) and the bills to support those plans. Although I will be fighting for all the bills I introduce, those four issues are my top priority. I cannot pick a “single” issue because there are too many critical issues in the 2nd district. These four are critically vital to the survival of the great people of the second district.
In 150 words or fewer, make a pitch for the presidential candidate you support.
Record level funding for HBCUs and permanently funded HBCUs; lowest unemployment numbers (pre-COVID) in 50 years (Black, Hispanic, Women, Youth); “Right to Try” for terminally ill patients to try experimental treatments; VA Choice and VA Accountability; U.S. Embassy moved to Jerusalem after numerous presidents failed; USMCA; Opportunity Zones, which unleash the funds to invest in economically disadvantaged communities; The First Step Act, led to the release of many people from excessive sentences, especially minorities; Tax Cuts for the poor and middle classes; eliminated ACA individual mandate (it punished people for not being able to afford healthcare); and so much more lead me to support President Donald J. Trump. You may not like his rhetoric, but his policies and actions have earned my support. Biden and Harris have both been in politics for decades and have supported policies that led to the mass incarceration of minorities which I do NOT support.
Are you prepared to take up real reform to Social Security and Medicare to ensure their future solvency? What specific reforms would you be willing to support?
My Freedom Health Bill will save Medicare for at least 100 more years. Plus, it will lower the cost of the premium being deducted from Social Security checks, until no premiums are deducted. This will make Medicare free to our seniors, allowing them to keep more of their Social Security checks. It will also have Medicare operating with a surplus, which we can use to keep Social Security solvent. It also saves over $200 billion per year from Medicare, while improving benefits and care for our low-income individuals and families. This can also be used to keep Social Security solvent.
What do you view as the government’s obligation, if any, to help American workers secure health insurance? Do you support the creation or continuation of a program, such as Medicare for All or Obamacare? Do you have a different idea? If you support a government-related insurance plan, how would you pay for it?
My Freedom Health Bill, solves all of the major problems we see in the health care industry. It lowers costs for everyone. Businesses would save 20% on their health care costs for their employees. The American worker would have an average $900 back in their pocket each month. It saves taxpayers over $200 billion per year. It separates health care from employment so you can make employment decisions independent of health care. It eliminates the discrimination of Medicaid recipients, while providing far better care. It saves Medicare for the next 100 years. It is streamlined so you do not have to keep changing health care plans. You can choose any provider, not from a pre-determined list of providers. Pre-existing conditions are covered and are no longer a life sentence. It drives down the cost of health care for everyone. You can use your health care dollars for anyone – adult children of all ages, parents, grandparents, friends, and even strangers.
My Freedom Health Bill takes the headache out of health care and simplifies it so everyone can understand their health care options.
Identify 3 national security threats to the United States. Choose one and explain your approach to dealing with that threat.
We have many national security threats. Three that I see as critical are our crumbling infrastructure, cybersecurity, and education. We need our infrastructure healthy and strong so when the need arises, resources can be mobilized and transported. Cybersecurity is critical because with sub-par cybersecurity, we as a nation and as individuals are left vulnerable from cyber- attacks from the other side of the world.
Education may seem like an odd one, but this year we have seen the explosion of domestic terrorist and anarchy in our streets. Rioting and looting have become the norm. This stems from the indoctrination of our youth to hate America. Our public education system is so bad that 2/3 of our high school students are not meeting the minimum expectations in English. Instead of preparing our children for a successful future career or success in college, we are just teaching them to hate and to destroy what others have built. We cannot improve America by tearing it down. My Educating For Success bill will bring that self-esteem and pride back by removing the reward/punishment scheme of the current education system. Instead it is focused on advancement once a student has mastered the material from the previous section and they advance at their own individual pace, in each subject. It also teaches our children how to think for themselves and use logic and reasoning skills to formulate answers and solutions. When we build our children up, they will become the builders of tomorrow.
COVID-19 has destroyed jobs. The economy needs to be rebuilt. What policy steps should Congress take (beyond stimulus money or bailouts) in the next year to create as many jobs and as much prosperity as possible?
We need to bring more manufacturing jobs back, especially into the 2nd Congressional District, which has been decimated in the past 30 years. With the passage of the Industrial Production of Hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill, the door is open for products made from hemp. Hemp can be made into 50,000 different products. Our farmers in the southern part of the district are excited about growing hemp because it is inexpensive to grow. We can utilize our existing, previously abandoned factories throughout the district to bring hemp manufacturers to the district and get our people back to work in high-paying, entry-level jobs.
I also plan to invest in mentorship programs for entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, so they be successful.
There are a lot of legitimate work-at-home companies for people who are unable to work outside the home. I have even worked for some of them.
My Educating For Success bill also provides for career and vocational training of our youth to prepare them for a career immediately after high school.
I will also be in constant contact with my counterparts in the Illinois General Assembly to ensure they are reducing tax rates so businesses will stop fleeing Illinois, especially Cook County, and start returning to Illinois.
When have you shown independence from your party on an issue of major import?
When it comes to immigrants who are here illegally, there is a split in my party. Some want to deport everyone here illegally. Some want to grant amnesty. I think both are extremist positions that will not solve the problem. We need immigration reform to streamline the process. There are many people who have been deported over a dozen times, which proves it is just wasting money because they keep coming back.
My Solving Immigration Together bill provides a pathway to citizenship. It allows for asylum and refugee statuses. It also provides a blueprint of what needs to be done to “right the wrong” done to American citizens (both natural born and naturalized) and our immigrants who are here legally. However, each part of this pathway is designed to prepare the individual to not just become a citizen, but to prepare them for success once they become citizens. I want them to fully understand their rights and responsibilities as a citizen, so no one can take advantage of them or violate their constitutional rights.
I am working on a caveat to add to my bill to seek justice for those who were extorted by coyotes and/or trafficked. We need to protect people who are being victimized.
If you are an incumbent, tell us the most significant accomplishment of your current term. If you are a newcomer, tell us how you as a rookie would keep from being a backbencher.
I am a very outspoken woman. I have already been getting media attention and I will continue to put myself out there to make sure we are heard. When I say “we”, I mean the people of the second district because I will be their voice, their megaphone, in Washington. We want our nation’s problems solved. We are tired of the partisan bickering. It is time for someone with solutions to bring them to Washington and know how to push the right buttons to get heard and get those solutions through their respective committees and passed through both chambers and signed by the president. I will not be silenced, sidelined, or benched when it comes to fighting for the future of the second district and fighting for the incredible people of this nation!
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