Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
For over twenty years, I was trusted by the people of Northern Illinois to look out for them during the worst kinds of weather. But for the last 3.5 years, I’ve been working to protect them from a different storm—the one raging in Washington. My neighbors deserve not only a protector, but a strong advocate for their needs, and I look forward to continuing to deliver on that promise.
I spent my twenty years as a TV Meteorologist earning their trust, and I didn’t do it by getting the weather right every day. I did it by being reliable and honest when it mattered most.
And since I got to Washington, I’ve continued to build that trust by working with our communities to truly understand their needs and use the resources of the federal government to help address their most pressing issues. I’m proud to have secured tens of millions of taxpayer dollars and given it back to the people of the district, including bipartisan funding for substance abuse treatment, health care, local law enforcement, and education.
I am running for re-election to continue this work on behalf of the people I serve, not to satisfy a political party or ideology.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
No matter where I go in our district, from Rockford to Bloomington-Normal, I hear the same thing: the cost of living is out of control.
Families are hurting because of Donald Trump’s unwise and unsanctioned war in Iran and his reckless tariffs policies, both of which continue to drive prices across the board to record highs. Families are being forced to make impossible choices at the kitchen table: do we pay the mortgage or the electric bill? Do we buy enough food for the whole week or refill our life-saving prescriptions? Do we put gas in the car this week?
That’s why I’m leading the charge on five key bills, my Put Money in Your Pocket Plan, designed to tackle every part of this crisis–from the pharmacy to the family farm to the fuel pump. There is no “one size fits all” legislative solution to this crisis, but continuing to support Donald Trump’s out-of-touch plans and policies is simply unacceptable.
What is one unique challenge your district faces and how do you plan to address it?
One unique challenge facing Illinois’ 17th Congressional District is that many of our rural communities have gone under-represented and under-supported for far too long, particularly when it comes to critical infrastructure like clean water and flood prevention and mitigation.
It’s why I was proud to introduce the bipartisan Strengthening Access to Flood-resilient Environments for Rural Communities Act or the SAFE Rural Act in Washington. This bill would help give our rural communities dedicated flood resilience resources so they’re prepared for the next storm–and every storm after.
Our neighbors also deserve the confidence of knowing that every time they turn on the tap their water is clean and safe to drink. That’s why I’ve secured over $18 million in federal dollars for water infrastructure projects in my district, and I’m fighting for another $6.5+ million in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
Central and Northwestern Illinois is home to hardworking hometowns, and I’m committed to ensuring they have the same opportunity to protect their families and infrastructure before the next storm hits as anyone else.
What do you think federal immigration reform should look like?
Let me say plainly: Donald Trump’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as a sort of “brute squad” and turning them against our immigrant communities and American citizens alike is abhorrent, and we should not be afraid to say that as such. The actions of this administration stand in clear contrast to my values as an American and my ethics as a lawmaker, and I refuse to stand idly by while more families suffer.
The current system of immigration in this country is broken in many ways, but instead of using that as an excuse to stoke fear, we must come together and right the wrongs; it’s why I’m a proud supporter of both the Dignity Act and the American Dream and Promise Act.
I’m willing to work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
How should Congress address the rising costs of health care?
Every American has the right to high-quality, affordable health care, but sadly, for many families, that right remains out of reach. And that’s even before you factor in the over 10 million Americans at risk of losing their health coverage because of Donald Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill.
When Congress returns next year, one of my top priorities is to take immediate action to reverse these cuts, which have increased costs for and put strain on families across the board.
But even beyond that, I’m not afraid to call out the predatory practices of Big Pharma and hold them accountable for ripping off the American people. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Stop Games Act, which closes loopholes that block generic drugs from reaching the market, and I will continue to explore every possible option to bring down the cost of prescription drugs.
Nobody should ever have to choose between putting food on the table and filling a potentially life-saving prescription, and I’m going to fight like hell to make that a reality for every family.
What approach would you take on tax policy and what is your top priority?
The American people are sick and tired of watching the rich get richer while they struggle to afford the necessities of everyday life. And from the first moments of his second term–at an Inauguration surrounded by billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, it was clear Donald Trump and his cronies in Congress have no interest in doing anything about it.
Instead of a tax policy that provides loopholes for billionaires and large corporations to avoid paying their fair share, we need a complete overhaul that puts Main Street ahead of Wall Street. We need policies that uplift our hardworking families and gives them a shot at the American Dream.
That’s why I voted against the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill that gave massive tax breaks to the rich at the expense of the programs and services families depend on for survival, and I will continue to fight to undo the damage of this infamous legislation when I return to Washington in January 2027.
Is the House currently using its oversight powers in the way it should be? What areas of government need more or less oversight?
No, the Republican majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are acting as a rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s chaos and cruelty rather than exerting their Constitutionally-granted responsibility as a co-equal branch of government. We need government officials who, regardless of party affiliation, aren’t afraid to call out and stand up to a President who is not acting in the best interests of the American people.
Time and again, Donald Trump has pushed the envelope of presidential power, including recently with his ongoing trade wars with some of our closest allies, driving up prices for Americans across the board. If Congress were acting as a co-equal branch of government, there would be hearings with administration officials and continued action by Congress to rein in these unconstitutional actions. Instead, Republicans in both chambers say “yes, sir” to whatever Donald Trump demands, and the American people are left to pay the price.
What is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country and what role should the House play in dealing with it?
Donald Trump has dragged the United States into yet another costly and dangerous forever war in the Middle East. He went to war with Iran with zero military strategy, no plan to handle the costs of the effort, and without the consent of Congress. The House should be actively calling for Trump’s justifications for this conflict as well as greater transparency around the true costs of the war–how it’s affecting our military budgets, how everyday American’s costs of living have been affected, and what the long-term ripple effects could be.
As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I continually urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to speak out against this chaos, and I’ve voted numerous times to pass War Powers Resolutions that would put an end to the war in Iran. I will only redouble my efforts if this war continues until I return to Congress in January because the President does not deserve to be free of accountability.
How do you view AI and the role the government should play in its regulation?
Over the past several months, both the incredible power–and incredible danger–of artificial intelligence have been on full display. I do believe A.I. can be a very useful tool in many areas of our lives, including medicine, business, and my beloved meteorology, but without the proper safeguard and regulations, it will be difficult to separate the good from the bad.
I believe Congress must take a proactive role in the regulation of A.I. Without the proper rules and regulations, bad actors and those who intend to use A.I. to harm people could be left with free-rein. We need to do our part to keep the American people safe before it’s too late.
How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?
One of the amazing things about the Democratic Party is that we are a party where everyone is welcome into our family. And like any family, we sometimes have disagreements amongst each other. But now is not the time for disunity. We need to move away from this narrative of disarray that Republicans have crafted for us and start focusing on what we really want to be as leaders and policymakers.
In the short-term, I think the Democratic Party needs to be laser-focused on defeating Donald Trump and putting an end to the harm his administration is causing the American people. From now until Inauguration Day 2029, we have a responsibility to families across the country to put an end to this madness and make life more affordable again.