Toni Preckwinkle

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running? 

I’m running for re-election because the progress we’ve made in Cook County is under threat. Policies from the Trump Administration continue to target our communities, putting healthcare access, public safety investments, and economic opportunity at risk. Proposed Medicaid cuts would jeopardize the health of hundreds of thousands of residents, while reductions in violence prevention funding could reverse historic progress in saving lives. 

At a moment of national instability, experienced and steady local leadership matters. I am committed to defending the programs we’ve built, protecting our most vulnerable residents, and ensuring Cook County remains a place where families can live healthy, safe, and economically secure lives. I’m grateful for the support of the Governor of Illinois, who knows that in uncertain times, Cook County needs steady leadership with a proven record of delivering results.

What skills or experience do you have that make you particularly suited to this position?

I have spent my life as a public servant, beginning as Alderman of Chicago’s 4th Ward and now over a decade as Cook County Board President. Earlier in my career, I spent a decade teaching high school history and held leadership roles in public service and advocacy, including in the Department of Economic Development under Mayor Harold Washington, as Executive Director of the Chicago Jobs Council, and as Chair of the Chicago Council Against Handgun Violence.

My experience navigating large, complex budgets, building coalitions across communities, and defending programs under threat gives me the expertise needed to continue delivering results for Cook County residents at this critical moment for our country.

What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?  

Cook County has achieved fiscal stability under my leadership, transforming a $500 million deficit and near-insolvent pensions into balanced budgets, stronger reserves, and over $800 million in reduced debt. Pension funding is at 66%, more than twice that of the City of Chicago. We have earned four credit ratings in the last four years. A strong fiscal foundation is essential to sustain programs and services.

Because of that stability, when federal relief funds became available, we were ready to act boldly. Cook County became the first government in the nation to use ARPA funds to abolish medical debt, erasing nearly $800 million for more than 600,000 residents and inspiring similar efforts nationwide. We also launched a guaranteed income pilot, which has since been made permanent, providing direct, proven support to families who need it most.

What needs fixing and what we have been aggressively addressing is technology. When I first became President, outdated and fragmented systems slowed services and caused real harm. We modernized healthcare systems to improve patient care, digitized court operations that were still reliant on paper and carbon copies, and overhauled property tax systems that had produced late or inaccurate bills for decades.

What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it? 

The most urgent issue is protecting health care access amid federal cuts to ACA subsidies. We are expanding outreach and enrollment assistance at County health centers, hosting Medicaid redetermination events, convening the Cook County Health Medicaid Impact Working Group, and building fiscal resilience with $320 million in reserves and a $65 million grant risk mitigation fund. 

Additionally, we are strengthening partnerships with the University of Illinois College of Medicine and UI Health to expand care, training, and research. These steps will safeguard health care access and protect residents’ well-being.

Is there a major policy initiative or financial issue you will look to tackle in the next year? 

Economic development will be a major focus. In response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cook County has invested $67 million in small businesses, directly serving more than 16,000 businesses and providing assistance to over 67,000. These investments stabilize neighborhoods, create jobs, and build wealth in communities long excluded from opportunity.

We are also centering residents in development decisions through the Transforming Places initiative, in partnership with United Way. This $15 million pilot empowers residents in eight suburban communities to create community visions and implement solutions tailored to local needs.

And we cannot grow our economy without prioritizing transportation, which is essential for connecting residents to jobs, education, and services. That’s why I have actively championed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), ensuring that regional transit systems are more efficient, coordinated, and accessible, making it easier for residents across Cook County to get where they need to go and fully participate in economic opportunity.

If you are elected, what would the end of a successful four-year term look like for you?

A successful term would mean Cook County has defended its residents from harmful federal policies while continuing to make progress on public safety, health care access, and economic opportunity. It would mean expanded health care access, continued reductions in violence through proven prevention strategies, stronger small businesses and thriving communities.

Success would also mean leaving Cook County more financially resilient, more equitable, and better prepared to weather future challenges, without sacrificing the services families depend on.

What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive?

Under my leadership, the President’s Office has transformed how Cook County listens to and serves residents with a focus on engagement, equity, and tangible results. We committed to broad community input when planning how to invest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, gathering thousands of resident responses through surveys, door‑to‑door canvassing, and virtual meetings to ensure funding reflected community priorities.

We’ve also advanced equitable access through language access improvements. Since adopting the Cook County Language Access Policy in 2021, we’ve dramatically increased translated materials and expanded on‑demand interpretation across County services, helping residents navigate government regardless of the language they speak.

Our Policy Roadmaps ensures Cook County decisions reflect community priorities. We gather resident input through engagement sessions and then regularly share updates on progress, funding, and outcomes. This transparency keeps residents informed, holds government accountable, and ensures County programs respond to the real needs of our communities.

Together, these efforts make government more approachable, responsive, and rooted in the experiences of all Cook County residents.