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. Republican Craig Cameron did not submit a survey.
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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 a lifetime record and commitment to progressive and grass-roots politics and policy. I have fought for, advocated for, and consistently voted for: peace; voting, privacy, democratic rights and curtailing the influence of money in elections; full social, economic and political equality for African Americans, Latinx Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans; full social, economic and political gender equality; disability rights; public education, health care and retirement with dignity as a right; labor rights including the right to organize and bargain collectively; ensuring the rights of the undocumented including a path to citizenship; protection of the environment and a sustainable economic and environmental infrastructure; criminal justice and prison reform, the abolition of the death penalty and second chance and voting rights for ex-offenders; fair, equitable and progressive taxes; a rational policy of gun control and the banning of weapons of war for civilian ownership.
What are your highest priorities for Illinois and the nation?
Addressing the complex of crises confronting our nation: pandemic and simultaneous attacks on our health care system and science itself; depression era economic hardship facing much of the nation; multi-prong attacks on our democracy from the highest office in the land; corruption at the highest level of our government; extreme exacerbation of economic, social, technological inequality over the past three years. All of this overlaid and intertwined with systemic racism and chauvinism which continues to resist all attempts at justice and the ever growing threats posed by global climate change.
Assuming your victory, choose a single issue you would prioritize in the coming term – name it and describe what you want to accomplish.
Addressing systemic racism and ensuring that we seek solutions which are woven into the addressing our economic and climatic challenges.
In 150 words or fewer, make a pitch for the presidential candidate you support.
The Biden and Harris vision seeks solutions which unify our nation, which ensure that no one is left behind, which recognize that the individual and the family thrives when our society as a whole is thriving and that society as a whole thrives when no one is left behind and each individual, each family is thriving.
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?
Yes. I am a proud original cosponsor of HR 860, the Social Security 2100 Act, which will improve and protect Social Security as far into the future as we can see. The bill modifies how both wages and benefits are taxed and how benefits are calculated in a progressive manner.
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?
I support efforts to strengthen and expand Obamacare and to move to Medicare for All, everybody in, nobody out. Medicare for All would be paid for by a progressive tax which result in a cost to the overwhelming share of our population paying less for health care than they currently spend on premiums, co-pays and other out of pocket costs.
Identify 3 national security threats to the United States. Choose one and explain your approach to dealing with that threat.
Global climate change, foreign interference in our elections, the rise in authoritarianism. Addressing global climate change will require a significant restructuring or our economy, especially the energy sector and sectors heavily interrelated to the energy sector — in other words, a Green New Deal.
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?
Recovery from the COVID-19 recession will require replacing jobs which are likely not to return with jobs offering a livable wage by investing in a sustained and sustainable restructuring our economy with investment a broad array of infrastructure.
When have you shown independence from your party on an issue of major import?
Medicare for All.
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 have been able to work across the isle with my ranking member on a number of issues of common concern writing and passing legislation while maintaining my vision of where and how some of the most glaring injustices in our nation should be addressed in a progressive manner.
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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.
Voters should vote for me because our district has endured years of not having a clear legislative agenda, missed Congressional votes, mismanagement of public funds, as well as inefficient and ineffective forms of communication that has negatively impacted constituent services. Our current member of Congress has been in office for 24 years. That is 12 full terms of not meeting and exceeding the needs of constituents in our district. My vision for the district is to first set a clear agenda that is focused on legislation that is driven by the voices of our constituents. As that agenda is set, I will set up an infrastructure within our offices that will provide a first class experience for all. Enhancing how the Congressional office communicates through modernization, increasing our case worker presence, properly managing every penny of our annual budget of $1.4 million dollars, and hosting quarterly meetings with the Congressman to give constituents the opportunity to interact directly with their member of Congress.
What are your highest priorities for Illinois and the nation?
I have a few priorities that I think are of high importance for Illinois and the nation. However, if I were to focus on one for both populations it would be education. Across the district we see a major discrepancy between schools in low income communities versus schools in affluent communities. As we know, an exceptional education plays a significant role in determining these key factors that lead to a prosperous life: generational wealth, holistic health, and safer communities. Black and Brown students make up the majority of the population of students who are receiving an unacceptable level of education within my district. Whereas, a healthy number of White students are receiving an exceptional education within my district. According to Politico, there is a $26 billion difference in funding between schools with non-white students versus white students nationwide. We must level this imbalance out. ALL students deserve to receive an exceptional education and receive the best opportunities to lead a productive and prosperous life.
Assuming your victory, choose a single issue you would prioritize in the coming term – name it and describe what you want to accomplish.
A single issue I would prioritize in the coming term if elected as Congressman of the Illinois 7th Congressional District would be police reform. I would strongly support and work to get the Justice and Policing Act of 2020 {H.R. 7120} passed into law. This bill addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. Misuse of power by some police officers has created a divide among various communities, mainly communities populated by Black and Brown individuals. It is my duty to ensure that ALL individuals who have encounters with law enforcement have proper and appropriate experiences with them. In addition, police officers have too much on their plate. They are juggling an array of responsibilities, many of which can be reallocated to experienced professionals. I am a firm believer that juggling too many responsibilities becomes hard to manage and the chances of operating at an efficient and effective level decreases tremendously.
In 150 words or fewer, make a pitch for the presidential candidate you support.
My quick pitch for the presidential candidacy would be for the candidate that is looking to bring the country together during this time of crisis by listening to the scientist in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the candidate who will listen and implement real social justice reform as we attack the inequities within the fabric of our country. Finally, a candidate that will work in a bipartisanship that will serve in the best interest of this country. Out of the candidates running, I believe that Joe Biden meets this criteria.
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 willing to take up true reform to Social Security and Medicare for future solvency. Unfortunately, with the partisan gridlock in play this issue has taken a downturn over the last 30 or so years. In regards to reforms, we will need to look at our financial status and make balanced budgets our focus. In other words, if we had a balanced budget amendment, it would force us to make tough decisions on what’s imperative in the moment. Making tough decisions never gets easier. However, by us borrowing against the future, we set future generations behind.
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?
I believe the government’s obligation is to make health insurance available to all citizens. I will strengthen the Affordable Care Act, without personal mandate, to ensure healthcare access for all. This provides our constituents the opportunity to not have to choose between a medical procedure and feeding their families. In addition, I will assist in leveling out the costs of prescription drugs and common surgical procedures. A person should not have to take on significant levels of debt in order to be healthy and sustain their life in this country. Finally, I will continue to support and promote the covering of individuals with preexisting health conditions by insurance companies.
Identify 3 national security threats to the United States. Choose one and explain your approach to dealing with that threat.
Three national security threats: North Korea, China, Russia Russia wants to see Western democracy destroyed. We see this in various forms of attacks mainly through social media propaganda campaigns. We deal with this threat by listening to our Intelligence Agencies who are providing us with proper intel and put in place proper sanctions to mitigate and eliminate these threats to national security.
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 policy steps I believe Congress should take, excluding stimulus monies or bailouts, is seen in streamlining the process through the Small Business Administration. Streamlining this process will get funding in the hands of small business owners. This will enable small business owners to get the necessary capital they need to hire, expand and sustain their businesses in our communities. The bureaucratic red tape has hurt small businesses causing many to close their doors forever. We must do better in this area and that comes from supporting these small businesses in all areas.
When have you shown independence from your party on an issue of major import?
The sheer fact that I am running as an Independent speaks volumes. I am running a grassroots campaign and from the day I began this journey have vowed to not take any money from Political Action Committees or Major Corporations. I can proudly say that the vow I took still stands strong to this day and will remain that way.
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.
As a newcomer, I will come into this role with new and fresh energy that this district is in dire need of. Setting a clear agenda on legislation that is driven by the voices of our constituents will be the focus. In addition, setting up an infrastructure within our offices will provide constituents with a consistent first-class experience with every encounter. Enhancing communications through modernization, increasing our case worker presence, and appropriately managing our annual budget of $1.4 million dollars will provide constituents a true view of how public offices should operate. Finally, I will be a visible presence in my district by hosting quarterly meetings with the Congressman to give constituents the opportunity to interact directly with me as their member of Congress.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
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