About the Candidate
Name: Marie Newman
DOB: April 13, 1964
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Political Experience: Candidate for Congress, 2018. Former spokeswoman, Illinois Moms Demand Action
Website: marienewmanforcongress.com
Twitter: @Marie4Congress
Candidate Statement
Hello, my name is Marie Newman. I am the Democratic nominee running for congress in Illinois’ Third District.
I am a mom, a small business owner, a former national non-profit leader and a community advocate. I am running for Congress to be a voice for the hardworking families of the Third District.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us some very harsh lessons.
It has highlighted the lack of affordability in our daily lives -- soaring healthcare costs, growing unemployment, a challenged and fractured educational system, and a lack of affordable housing -- all of this underpinned by an economy that only works for a few, not everyone.
So as we rebuild, what we need is leadership rooted in equity and accountability.
Growing up in a union household on Chicago’s Southwest Side, I learned everyone should be treated equally and that hard work should be rewarded.
I worked three jobs to put myself through college, I’ve lived without healthcare, and I’ve known the struggle of deciding which bills to pay now and which to kick down the road.
I have been fortunate enough to work my way out of this struggle, but not everybody has the same luck that I did.
And it shouldn’t come down to luck. Everyone should have access to the support systems and the opportunities that I had access to.
I am running for Congress to help rebuild an economy that works for all of us, and to partner with every single working family in our district.
Together, we can make life much more affordable by making it easier to join a union and find good-paying jobs.
By fighting for a livable wage for every American.
By building more affordable pathways to vocational school and public colleges.
And by fighting for universal healthcare because we all know healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
These aren’t new ideas, but to achieve them, Illinois Third District needs new leadership.
I will fight for everyone in my community and will bring new representation to the voices in our community who have long been ignored.
Thank you, and I hope to earn your vote on November 3rd.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I am a mom, a small business owner, a former national non-profit leader and a community advocate and I am running for Congress to be a voice for the hardworking families of the Third District who have been ignored for far too long.
What is your vision for this office?
I am a coalition builder. From my experience working with clients in the healthcare industry as a marketing executive, to my success building a national non-profit to address bullying in schools, I have learned that to truly affect positive change, you need to be able to listen to and to understand those you're working with or advocating for. I am running for Congress to uplift the voices and concerns of my neighbors in the Third Congressional District. My vision is truly representational leadership, where the concerns of everyone in my district are understood and addressed. I look forward to playing a collaborative role in Washington, working with community groups, constituents, and local and state elected officials to map the best course forward for my community.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
Like many communities in America, many here in the Third District are struggling to keep bills paid, to keep food on the table, and to pay rent and mortgages. We need immediate and continued COVID-19 relief for the hard working families in our community who have been hit hard by this pandemic. I am advocating for, and will work tirelessly with my colleagues for, relief legislation that extends federal unemployment assistance, eviction and foreclosure protections, additional SBA loans and critically needed relief for states and municipalities. After we've been able to secure our community the relief it needs, my main focus will be on building an economy that works for everyone in my District. We can get this done by re-thinking how we legislate in Washington -- fighting for people, not corporate interests.
