About the Candidate
Name: Ted Gradel
Candidate Statement
My name is Ted Gradel, and I am asking for your vote on March 17th.
If you look at my life you’ll see a history of taking on tough challenges and finding a way to be successful through hard work and perseverance.
I was adopted at birth into a loving, hardworking family. I’m the son of a small business owner, a paving contractor.
In college I was the starting Field Goal Kicker as a walk-on at Notre Dame. Starting from modest beginnings, I’ve built a successful 30-year career in the financial markets.
Most Importantly, I am a husband of nearly 30 years and a father to 3 wonderful daughters.
Now, I’m planning to enter public service. I’m not doing this as a career politician desperate for another promotion. I’m running because I believe in the ideals of the United States of America! They’re worth fighting for!
I’m running for Congress because:
• I believe in YOU more than I believe in the political elites
• I believe you should keep more of your hard-earned dollars
• I believe in that amazing document we have called the Constitution.
• I believe it’s time for term limits for members of Congress.
• And I believe we all deserve better results than those the career politicians in Springfield and DC have delivered.
We are at a crossroads in our nation’s history. We are being asked to choose between government by the political elites...or government of the people/by the people/and for the people.
A vote for me is a vote for freedom, Constitutional rights, and conservative values. It’s a vote for holding government accountable.
It’s a vote for continuing the policies of President Trump, and defeating the radical policies of Lauren Underwood, who doesn’t represent the values of our community.
I am Political Outsider, Ted Gradel. I kicked footballs in college, I’m ready to go kick some tails in Congress.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
If you look at my life you will see a history of taking on tough challenges and finding a way to be successful through hard work and perseverance. Now after a 30-year career in the private sector, I am planning to enter public service. I’m not doing this as a career politician desperate for another promotion, but I am choosing to because I believe in the ideals of the United States of America! They are worth fighting for! I’m running for Congress because I believe in the individual more than I believe in the political elites. I believe you should keep more of your hard-earned dollars. I believe in that amazing document we have called the Constitution. I believe it’s time for term limits for members of the House and Senate. And I believe we all deserve better results than those the career politicians in Springfield and DC have delivered.
What is your vision for this office?
I'll be a check on Pelosi and AOC's socialist agenda while promoting the principles of freedom and opportunity. I will be a champion for more economic freedom, lower taxes, and reining in the out of control spending that has produced a 23 trillion dollar debt.
Illinois is losing population every day. Federal, state and local leaders need to work together to stop the mass exodus from our state. That requires leadership and the ability to bring people together. I bring years of private and public sector experience to the table and will be able to provide the leadership this district is sorely lacking.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
Illinois taxes are outrageous. We are already facing the highest tax burden in the nation, skyrocketing property taxes, and gas taxes have doubled. Now JB Pritzker is pushing a progressive tax that could double taxes on the Middle Class and high achievers. I’ll fight for lower taxes and to make President Trump’s tax cuts permanent.
Mike Madigan controls every lever of government. He’s funding my opponents for Congress. It’s time to break-up the machine. Washington, DC doesn’t need any more Chicago politicians. Let’s pass term limits to get rid of career politicians in both parties. I’ve never run for office before. Our founders envisioned citizen legislators. Not Springfield and Washington politicians serving forever and collecting a pension.
