Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I’m running because families in the 5th District are being squeezed by an affordability crisis, and Congress has not done enough to confront it. Homeownership, quality education, and affordable health care are the pillars of the American Dream, and too many families are locked out of all three. Tariffs, a needless war with Iran, and the loss of ACA subsidies have made it worse.
I’m also running because Congress needs a check on an administration that has overreached on tariffs, war powers, and immigration enforcement. I’ve voted for six War Powers Resolutions, supported efforts to rein in tariff authority, and called for an inspector general investigation into ICE’s abuses in Chicago.
Finally, I believe Congress itself needs a tune-up. I’m pushing for Select Committees on AI and on Congressional Modernization, and I lead a Bipartisan Budget Reform Working Group because our debt threatens our security and economy.
I take pride in finding common ground. I passed ACT for ALS, one of the most bipartisan bills of its term, and the reauthorization is now headed to the president’s desk. I also introduced the bipartisan FAST Housing Act. I want to keep delivering on housing, energy costs, and health care while holding those in power accountable and restoring trust in our institutions.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
The most pressing issue is affordability. Illinois households have paid an average of an extra $2,000 since 2025 because of tariffs, and the war with Iran pushed Chicago gas to $5.29 a gallon and diesel to $6.99. Those costs ripple through farmers, shippers, grocers, and retailers.
I’m tackling it on four fronts.
On trade, I’m a cosponsor of the Congressional Trade Authority Act and the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act, which would restore Congress’s power over tariffs and bring back certainty for businesses.
On housing, which is the largest cost burden for families, I’m working on the Appropriations Subcommittee to remove barriers to building more homes, faster and cheaper. I voted for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and introduced the FAST Housing Act.
On utilities, bills keep rising by double digits. As the Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus, I am working to pass a permitting reform bill that will allow us to bring clean energy to every home, while still protecting nature and endangered species. The permitting legislation being considered will also ensure data centers to pay their fair share and bring their own carbon-free power.
On health care, I voted to extend the ACA subsidies that expired in January, and I will fight to restore them. I also support letting Medicare negotiate more drug prices, capping out-of-pocket costs, and ending surprise medical bills.
Ending the Iran war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz is the best step to reduce fuel prices.
What is one unique challenge your district faces and how do you plan to address it?
Families across the US face mortgage and rent prices that are far too high and still rising. We are roughly 5 million homes short, and without enough homes, prices go up. The shortage is especially acute in the 5th District, where median home values are nearing half a million dollars, out of reach for too many people. We must build more affordable and middle-income housing across Chicago.
I voted for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest housing legislation in a decade. Now we must implement it. From my seat on the Appropriations Committee, I am working to provide HUD the funds and staff to put in place rules that make building easier.
I will also reintroduce my bipartisan FAST Housing Act, which would make Chicago competitive for millions in federal funding to build workforce housing in exchange for removing barriers to build.
I am working on two more bills for the next housing package. One would allow affordable housing to be built on top of US post offices, which are often in highly desirable neighborhoods. The other would create a revolving loan fund Illinois can use to finance affordable and missing middle housing.
This is just a start. States and cities must also step up and clear away the red tape that stops housing from being preserved and built.
What do you think federal immigration reform should look like?
The violence and lawlessness of Operation Midway Blitz made Chicago less safe, terrified residents, and harmed our businesses. Of the 3,800 people booked into a local detention facility, the Tribune reported that more than 2,200 had no criminal convictions or pending charges. I’ve seen children appear in immigration court without their parents. When domestic violence victims skip court for protective orders because they fear ICE more than their abusers, everyone is less safe. Trump’s immigration force is cruel.
That is why I called for an inspector general investigation into ICE abuses in Chicago. I introduced legislation to keep local police from being forced to work with ICE and CBP, and I cosponsored legislation to hold agents accountable for assaults. Next Congress, we will hold hearings and investigations.
But accountability alone is not enough. We have to reform the system from the ground up. Congress must create a clear, objective process for people to access the American Dream. The problem isn’t a lack of ideas. We know what belongs in a comprehensive package, and what’s missing is political will.
First, a pathway to citizenship for people already contributing to our communities. Second, new work visas that match the needs of employers and workers. Third, an asylum system that is predictable and compassionate. Fourth, immigration judges who are accountable to the law and the people rather than the White House. Fifth, border security.
We must hold ICE and CBP accountable, protect our immigrant neighbors, and pass comprehensive reform.
How should Congress address the rising costs of health care?
Step one is to restore what was taken away. Congress should immediately restore the ACA subsidies that expired in January and reverse the Medicaid cuts in the Big Ugly Bill. Nearly 100,000 Illinoisans have already lost their ACA plans this year.
Step two is to expand coverage options. I voted for the Affordable Care Act in 2009, and I cosponsor both Medicare for All and a public health insurance option. A serious analysis of any plan has to weigh the full picture, including premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and the taxes that finance it. By enrolling more people in federal programs, the government can strengthen its role as a price-setter and competitor across the industry.
Step three is to rein in prices directly. The Inflation Reduction Act let Medicare negotiate drug prices, and the first ten drugs were negotiated to prices over 20 percent lower on average. I support expanding that to more drugs and more savings. I also support capping out-of-pocket costs, ending surprise medical bills, and addressing runaway healthcare consolidation.
I voted for the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act in 2023, which included dozens of policies to lower consumer prices. I believe site-neutral payment policies should remain on the table, and we should address overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans.
What approach would you take on tax policy and what is your top priority?
Tax reform must be part of a deficit deal that is Big, Balanced, and Bipartisan. Stabilizing the debt requires roughly $7.9 trillion in savings over ten years, which means both revenue increases and spending reductions, with no sacred cows. The so-called One Big Beautiful Bill added more than $4 trillion to the debt, pushing up mortgage, education, and car loan rates.
My top priority is a fairer, simpler code. Today, workers pay heavy taxes on their salaries while the wealthiest avoid them through investments and inheritances that are never taxed. In 2025, the richest 1% owned over $55 trillion, yet the estate and gift tax raised less than $30 billion. I would tax gains when property is sold, gifted, or inherited at the same rate as income, eliminating the need for a separate tax distinction. I would ensure family farms and businesses are protected, and that the richest among us are paying their fair share.
Corporations must also pay their share. The 2017 tax cuts lowered the corporate rate from 35 to 21 percent, and I would raise it. We should also close loopholes that favor high earners, such as carried interest, which lets hedge fund and private equity managers pay capital gains rates on what is really compensation. I would also lift the Social Security payroll tax cap to ensure resources are available for further generations.
These reforms raise revenue and simplify the code. Paired with spending restraint and my 3 percent deficit-to-GDP target, they give both parties something to build on.
Is the House currently using its oversight powers in the way it should be? What areas of government need more or less oversight?
No. Congress has abdicated its constitutional responsibility to check the executive branch. Too many of my Republican colleagues treat oversight as partisan messaging, or avoid it because the president is from their own party.
Several areas need more oversight. First is ICE and CBP. I’ve called for an inspector general investigation into abuses in Chicago, including excessive force and detentions of people with no criminal records. Next Congress, we will hold hearings and investigations to find out who is responsible and hold them accountable.
Second is the Iran war. I’ve voted for six War Powers Resolutions and cosponsor the No Funds for Iran War Act, because Congress must use its power of the purse to end this war of choice.
Third is tariffs, where Congress should reclaim its constitutional authority over trade.
Fourth is corruption. We must expose how the president’s personal financial dealings, from crypto ventures to government contracts, enrich him while families pay more. Congress should also end stock trading by its own members. I’m a proud cosponsor of legislation that would ban stock trading by members and their immediate family members.
Fifth is the Supreme Court, where I helped introduce the SCERT Act to create an enforceable ethics code and an investigative mechanism for complaints.
Sixth is artificial intelligence, where we need independent inspectors and a Select Committee on AI. I’m also advocating for a Select Committee on Congressional Modernization.
Oversight should be rigorous, fact-based, and bipartisan wherever possible, aimed at accountability and not political theater.
What is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country and what role should the House play in dealing with it?
The most pressing issue is ending the war with Iran. It was a war of choice that every military and Middle East expert warned would fail, and the results bear that out. Iran de facto controls the Strait of Hormuz, the regime is more extreme, America has spent an estimated $43 billion, our military stockpiles are depleted, and the IAEA has been unable to verify Iran’s nuclear stockpile for more than eight months. Gas and diesel prices are hurting families, farmers, and businesses.
The House has a vital role. I’ve voted for six War Powers Resolutions and cosponsor the No Funds for Iran War Act to turn off the funding. I also cosponsor the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act and voted for the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, because the off-ramp must combine sanctions pressure with diplomacy.
That diplomacy should be led by experienced Iran negotiators, not political operatives. In the longer run, greater energy independence through wind, solar, and nuclear will leave us less reliant on the behavior of illiberal regimes abroad.
The House should also push for a standing AI dialogue with China, so safety incidents can be shared quickly and trust built over time. America can compete with China and protect people at the same time.
How do you view AI and the role the government should play in its regulation?
AI could bring enormous benefits, from medical research and drug development to practical fixes like addressing bus bunching. It also carries real risks, and even the CEOs of AI companies acknowledge that humans could lose control of the technology. I disagree with the Trump Administration’s hands-off approach. We are being presented with a false choice between “winning the race with China” and protecting the American people. We can and must do both.
AI is unlike electricity or railroads in that it can kill more people, is advancing rapidly, and is being developed entirely by the private sector. We already regulate every industry that can cause harm, like airplanes and drugs. AI should be no different.
We need immediate action, including:
Stopping recursive self-improvement, so humans control AI, not the other way around.
Requiring a kill switch that humans can use to shut down rogue agents.
Unified rules developed by the Administration, Congress, and industry.
Independent inspectors to rigorously vet models before public release.
A standing dialogue with China to share safety incidents and build trust.
I signed a letter asking Speaker Johnson to keep Congress in session until AI regulations are written. I have also signed onto two bills aimed at requiring a kill switch and the FRONTIER Act, which will require third party auditors. I also support a Select Committee on AI that would address safety, minimize job losses, and make sure Americans have the skills and safety net for this transition.
How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?
My party is energized but at a crossroads. Democrats are united in opposing the Trump Administration’s tariffs, the Iran war, and the cuts to health care. But being against something is not a governing agenda. Voters want to know how we will make their lives more affordable, and we have to answer that clearly.
First, we must lead on affordability. That means building more housing, lowering utility bills through permitting reform and transmission expansion, and restoring the health care benefits that were taken away.
Second, we must embrace fiscal responsibility. Both parties have put priorities on the nation’s credit card. Democrats should lead on a deficit solution that is Big, Balanced, and Bipartisan, and should be willing to put everything on the table.
Third, we must be a party of reform. Congress, the Supreme Court, and our electoral system all need a tune-up. I support nonpartisan redistricting commissions, Supreme Court term limits and ethics rules, and a Select Committee on Congressional Modernization.
Finally, we must show that bipartisanship is a strength and not a weakness. I’ve worked across the aisle on ACT for ALS and housing, and I’m encouraged by the Problem Solvers Caucus. If Democrats win the majority, we should govern for results and rebuild trust with the American people.