Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I am running for U.S. Senate to restore the American Dream and make life more affordable for Illinois families. My family moved to this country when I was three months old. When my father lost his income, food stamps and public housing helped my family get back on our feet. We eventually settled in Peoria, Illinois, where my family moved into the middle class. My parents bought a home, sent their children to world-class Peoria District 150 public schools, and gave my brother and me a golden ticket to a brighter future. Grants and loans got me through school and, decades later, I found my way to the halls of Congress. Only in America is that possible. My story is proof of the power of the American Dream – a dream that is slipping away from far too many Illinoisans. It is a story of a legal immigration system that welcomed my family to this country with open arms. A story of food stamps and public housing that got my family back on our feet when we got knocked down. A story of the power of public education that gave me the tools to not just survive, but thrive. I am fighting to protect the American Dream because I have lived it. Regardless of who you are, where you live, the color of your skin, or the number of letters in your name — there are 29 in mine — I’m fighting for a country where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
These days, whether you’re just starting out on your own, settling down, or preparing to retire, life has become simply too expensive. The cost of living has skyrocketed, opportunity has stalled, and it’s affecting every Illinoisan – whether they’re 8 years old or 80. Prices on everything — housing and health care, prescription drugs and groceries, electricity and car payments — are going through the roof.
We must address the economic insecurity that far too many Illinois families are feeling. That’s why I am laser-focused on ensuring that every Illinois family can realize the American Dream, enter the middle class, and find themselves on the pathway to success. In December, I unveiled my Plan to Restore the American Dream and Make Life More Affordable, a 24-point economic agenda that charts a path toward lowering costs, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that every Illinoisan can achieve their American Dream.
My comprehensive plan builds on my record of lowering costs by tackling everything from home ownership and child-care expenses to food prices and the cost of life-saving medication. My plan proposes targeted policies at every stage of life, including a nationwide free lunch program for children, investing in career and technical education and increasing access to post-secondary education, helping folks buy their first home and afford groceries and utilities, catalyzing small business creation and supporting family farms, eliminating federal taxes on Social Security benefits and lowering prescription drug costs for seniors.
What do you think federal immigration reform should look like?
America’s attraction for legal immigrants is our greatest natural advantage. They fuel our economy, drive innovation, and help keep the U.S. competitive on the global stage. That’s why I’ve fought to fix our broken legal immigration system — because building the jobs and industries of tomorrow requires both investing in our domestic workforce and welcoming top talent from around the world.
We must have a secure border while also having a real pathway to citizenship that allows people to come here, work, and support their families. Fixing our broken immigration system will not come out of chaos or cruelty. Donald Trump has weaponized DHS, ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in ways that terrorize communities and tear families apart. That approach is morally indefensible and incompatible with the rule of law. Our legal immigration system has been broken for far too long. I am fighting for solutions, which will only be accomplished through bipartisan cooperation and a commitment to putting progress ahead of politics.
How should the Senate address the rising costs of health care?
I believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Yet, today, millions of hardworking families who did nothing wrong are being priced out of lifesaving care. The Medicaid cuts in the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, along with the expiring ACA tax credits, have left millions of Americans in the lurch.
During this campaign, I have toured safety-net facilities across Illinois where I’ve heard first-hand from hospital staff how Trump’s cruel cuts will force bed closures, staff reductions, and longer waits for families seeking care. It’s unacceptable — and entirely unnecessary. As Senator, I’ll build on the work I’ve led in Congress to reverse Republican cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, reform Medicare prescription drug negotiations to bring down prices, and crack down on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) that drive up drug costs. These are concrete steps that will make health care more accessible and affordable.
What approach would you take on tax policy?
My approach to tax policy starts with fairness and accountability. First, we have to repeal what Donald Trump calls the “Big, Beautiful Bill” — what I call the “Large, Lousy Law.” That law directs nearly half of its benefits to the top 5% of income earners, while working families are left paying the price. I voted against it because it’s fundamentally wrong. On top of that, the Medicaid and SNAP cuts included in that bill — combined with the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits — have left millions of Americans more vulnerable, not more secure.
Second, any tax plan must deliver real property tax relief, especially in states like Illinois, where property taxes are crushing middle-class families. That’s why I’ve advanced the First Home Affordability Act, which provides a refundable tax credit to help first-time buyers overcome the upfront costs of purchasing a home and finally get a fair shot at building wealth.
Third, if we raise additional revenue — particularly through progressive taxation — there must be strict accountability and transparency. People deserve to know exactly where their tax dollars are going and to see tangible results in their communities. Tax policy should work for the many, not the wealthy few.
Should any changes be made to the size of the Supreme Court or the confirmation process?
Faith and trust in the Supreme Court are broken. For too many Americans, the Court no longer feels like an independent guardian of the Constitution, but a politicized institution plagued by partisanship and ethical lapses. When public confidence in the Court erodes, the legitimacy of our democratic system is at risk.
That’s why in Congress I’ve introduced the TERM Act, legislation that implements term limits of 18-years for each Supreme Court Justice, allowing each president to appoint a new justice every two years. This reform would restore faith and legitimacy in the Supreme Court, while also preserving the constitutional protections of judicial independence. By allowing each president, regardless of party, to appoint two justices per presidential term, we can help ensure one president cannot stack our nation’s highest court for generations. It also would help ensure that Senate leaders cannot prevent consideration of presidential nominees for partisan reasons, as occurred with Barack Obama.
As a member of the Senate, I would aggressively vet Supreme Court nominees for their life experience as well as views outside of the mainstream that threaten basic constitutional rights and long-established precedents.
Do you believe the structure of the Senate leads to legislative gridlock? What would you change?
At times, absolutely. I support eliminating the filibuster to pass essential legislation to protect the rights of Americans, including voting and abortion rights. In addition, I would support term limits for members of Congress. Term limits would preserve institutional knowledge while preventing permanent incumbency and ensure fresh perspectives are represented.
At the same time, I have a demonstrated track record of breaking through gridlock to get things done for the American people. My Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act to modernize our skills-based education system and help 13 million students annually obtain a higher-quality, skills-based education passed on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. Similarly, our Dr. Lorna Breen Act to provide mental health services for the first time to healthcare professionals such as those dealing with COVID-19 earned support from individuals on both sides of the aisle. Progress is possible, and I would bring that same pragmatic approach to the U.S. Senate.
What is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country and what role should the Senate play in dealing with it?
The most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country today is a President who is repeatedly bypassing Congress and instead acting unilaterally, ignoring constitutional limits on his use of military power. The Senate has a clear responsibility to reassert its authority, enforce the War Powers Act, and ensure that no President can unilaterally drag the United States into conflicts by ignoring its constitutionally mandated role to advise and consent.
I absolutely do not support President Trump’s unconstitutional and unilateral actions abroad, including his actions in Venezuela. All of this occurred without Congressional notice or approval as required under the Constitution and the War Powers Act. At a time when families are struggling with the rising cost-of-living, Trump is dragging America into overseas military adventures he has no authority to undertake.
The Constitution is clear: Congress controls the purse-strings, and Congress has not approved the U.S. occupying or ‘running’ Venezuela. I have introduced the No Occupation of Venezuela Act (NOVA) to prohibit the use of federal funds to further the occupation or internal administration of Venezuela. Americans don’t want another endless entanglement abroad or their tax dollars going to subsidize foreign oil production, especially while health care and food assistance are on the chopping block here at home.
In the Senate, I will fight to rein in these abuses of power by conducting oversight, holding the administration accountable, and passing legislation like NOVA to ensure that U.S. foreign policy reflects constitutional checks and balances, not the unilateral whims of a President.
How do you view AI and the role the government should play in its regulation?
Like any new technology, AI can help and it can hurt. It can help our workers and businesses become more productive, and our country to be more competitive and prosperous in the years ahead. But it needs guardrails to provide transparency and disclosure so that workers and consumers are protected. We also need to be sure that humans actually control AI. Most of all, AI needs to be democratized. It should be available to every student, worker, and entrepreneur to enhance their opportunities for success. It shouldn’t be the purview of a handful of giant corporations and special interests.
Congress has a responsibility to establish clear federal policy that protects workers, consumers, and national security. Without comprehensive action, regulation defaults to a patchwork, state-by-state approach that leaves Americans vulnerable to algorithmic harms, bias, and unchecked corporate power. Federal policy must ensure that labor standards remain high, unions have a seat at the table, and productivity gains translate into prosperity. AI must enhance the effectiveness of workers, not displace them without recourse.
How will your approach differ from or mirror that of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin?
Senator Durbin has set the gold standard for constituent services in Illinois, and that is a tradition I intend to carry on as Illinois’ next U.S. Senator. I believe helping our constituents navigate the federal government and cut through red tape should always be a top priority. Since entering Congress, I and my staff have closed more than 14,000 constituent services cases and helped bring $71 million back home to our district’s families, veterans, and small businesses.
During his tenure, Senator Durbin has been a true leader in protecting public health, an issue on which we have often worked together. From smoking cessation and reining in the vaping industry to advancing broader public health initiatives, we have fought to protect the health and wellbeing of Americans everywhere, and I intend to continue that work in the Senate.
Of course, we each bring our own perspective and priorities to public office. A top priority of mine is modernizing our post-secondary education and workforce development programs. I intend to build on my bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act to ensure that the 64 percent of Americans without a four-year college degree have the opportunity to receive a world-class skills-based education and pathway to the middle class.
How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?
Donald Trump has triggered a nationwide affordability crisis while stoking division – deploying the National Guard against civilians, sending ICE into our neighborhoods, and governing through fear and division rather than through unity and real solutions. Too often in recent years, Democrats have failed to offer a strong alternative.
In this election, however, Democrats are engaged, motivated, and ready to lead. We are unified in stopping the harm that Trump is causing to our economy and our Constitution. I’m hearing it from Republicans and Independents as well as Democrats across our state: Illinoisans want leaders who will stop Trump’s abuses of power and harmful tariffs and make life more affordable for them and their families.
Moving forward, Democrats must rein in Donald Trump while offering a clear, credible plan to lower costs and expand opportunity. That’s why I have authored a Trump Accountability Plan, and why I’ve released a comprehensive plan to restore the American Dream and help Illinois families get ahead. Democrats succeed when we focus on people’s everyday concerns and put their families and communities ahead of the partisan fights in Washington.