Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I’m running for Congress because working families in IL-08 deserve a representative who understands their daily realities and has the experience to deliver real results. I’m the daughter of immigrants and a public servant who is committed to expanding access to opportunity, defending our rights, and fighting for communities too often overlooked. Our district is diverse, innovative, and full of potential—and we need bold leadership to help us move forward. I’m running to focus on what matters: lowering costs, protecting our freedoms, growing the middle class, and restoring faith that the government can actually work for people. It’s time for the new leadership this moment demands.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
I believe that lowering costs and making life more affordable is the most important issue in my district. This can be done by strengthening our essential national social programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The aim should also be to put more money in the pockets of middle-class families, and to do so, we must fight to repeal the billionaire tax giveaways found in the so-called Big, Beautiful, Bill. We must also work to secure good-paying union jobs and protections by passing the PRO Act and raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $17/hour by passing the Raise the Wages Act of 2025. I will advocate for the reversal of recently instituted tariffs, which have made working families pay more, hurt small businesses, and cause economic upheaval, by supporting the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 (restoring Congress’ constitutional authority to oversee foreign trade). Additionally, childcare and healthcare costs have become unsustainable and as such, we must re-prioritize the passage of legislation focused on implementing universal childcare and healthcare.
What is one unique challenge your district faces and how do you plan to address it?
Like many other places, Illinoisans in my working, middle class district are working harder than ever to pay the bills, keep a roof over their head, and support their kids, but affording a good life just keeps getting harder. We need to grow the middle class by investing in workers, innovation, and small businesses. That means expanding apprenticeships, community college partnerships, and childcare and transportation options that help people access good-paying jobs. Supporting advanced manufacturing, clean-energy industries, and regional economic hubs in Illinois will lower costs, strengthen supply chains, and create long-term growth. Government should be a partner—not an obstacle—to entrepreneurs, working parents, and growing industries.
What do you think federal immigration reform should look like?
I fully support comprehensive immigration reform, that’s both modern and efficient, but I believe this can be done without cruelty and treating human beings with dignity. In Congress, I would advocate for the passage of the DREAM Act, which would provide a pathway for citizenship for undocumented minors, as well as amnesty programs that allow for this path as well.
I also believe that ICE operations have used dehumanizing strategies to terrorize our communities, racially profile our neighbors, and damage community relations with law enforcement. In Dec. 2025, in my Hanover Park Trustee capacity, I spearheaded the passage of an ordinance that prohibited ICE operations on Village-owned property. Additionally, in 2023, I spearheaded the passage of a Welcoming Ordinance in Hanover Park. In Congress, I would support the dismantling of ICE as it currently stands, work to rescind the additional funding granted to ICE via the Big, Beautiful, Bill, vote NO on additional ICE funding, advocate for investigations into ICE agents who have violated the law and join on as a co-sponsor of the three articles of impeachment filed against Sec. Noem. Our nation deserves law and order, not violence and chaos.
How should Congress address the rising costs of health care?
Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. For too long we have seen life expectancies and healthcare access determined more by income and ZIP code than anything – and that is wrong. The ACA has allowed us to make great strides, but I still talk to neighbors every day who struggle, whether due to high prescription drug costs, lack of providers near their homes, or the impact of Trump’s tariffs.
With this in mind, I would proudly sponsor legislation championing Universal healthcare, which allows people to prioritize prevention and early intervention treatments over expensive emergency care. In the wealthiest country in the world, there is no excuse for working-class people to pay more for health insurance than any other major developed country on Earth.
What approach would you take on tax policy and what is your top priority?
My top priority is protecting the future of Social Security. The biggest threat to social security is that it is expected to run out of funding within the next decade. In order to ensure that this program continues to exist, we must first prioritize funding this program. I would fully support eliminating the taxable wage cap, which would close over 50% of the current 75-year funding gap.
I believe that a national wealth tax on realized gains should also be on the table. In many instances, this targets those that typically have over $100 million. Alternatively, we could also consider a specific percent tax on their full income.
I also believe that multinational corporations should pay the same tax rate on profits earned abroad as they do in the United States, which would increase tax revenue. Any new tax breaks must be fully offset with tax revenue in order to avoid increasing the national debt (we saw the opposite happen with the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill last summer).
Is the House currently using its oversight powers in the way it should be? What areas of government need more or less oversight?
This current Congress has surrendered its Article I powers to the administration. This level of partisan loyalty is not healthy for our nation and it destabilizes us, in everything from the economy to our national security. Investigating the actions of ICE must be top priority. Their actions are not only illegal but deadly, and we must ensure that those who are acting unlawfully and those who directed the agency to are brought to justice. Other priorities include investigating the release of the Epstein Files, to ensure full transparency and justice for survivors of Epstein. Trump’s role in Epstein’s actions must be investigated, as well as all of his other overreach as President, including with respect to tariffs and foreign policy.
Judges have repeatedly found the Administration to have violated the law, and I am committed to accountability, justice and law and order. If elected, I will advocate for stronger checks and balances on this Administration and an impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
What is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country and what role should the House play in dealing with it?
The Trump administration has imposed high tariffs on many nations, which I believe has been issued in a chaotic manner and has caused harm to U.S. businesses, working families and has adversely impacted relationships with key trades allies and partners. As such, I would advocate for passage of the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 (restoring Congress’ constitutional authority to oversee foreign trade) and the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act. I believe that America must lead with strength, values, and strategic alliances. We should support democracies, deter adversaries, invest in diplomacy, and maintain a strong national defense. Our leadership is essential for global stability, economic security, and the safety of our communities here at home.
How do you view AI and the role the government should play in its regulation?
AI is now heavily engrained in our everyday lives and I believe that as a society, our reliance on this technology will continue to grow. But I also believe that the emergence of AI threatens the job markets in a number of industries: from our school systems to the film industry, and that the advancement of innovation continues to outpace lawmakers' ability (or political will) to regulate what many experts have warned could be an extremely destabilizing economic force if the consequences of our actions are not carefully examined beforehand.
I will fight to ensure that the tech industry can be competitive and innovative while remaining sustainable, protecting consumer privacy, the environment, and human rights. We must also ensure that all generative media industries play a part in limiting the spread of misinformation online that undermines our collective stock in the truth.
As part of the next generation of leaders, I am ready to help foster a next-generation economy by making emerging innovations accessible, equitable, and regulated.
How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?
Democratic voters know that the party needs more change agents to achieve the kind of reforms that working families are asking for. The Democratic Party needs to do more to address economic issues, a top concern in communities across the country. We are also the only party that is standing up to protect our democracy, at a time when it is clearly fragile. To meet this moment, we need a new generation of bold, authentic, young leaders who stand up and have a clear message.