Represent All of Illinois, Not Just Chicago

The U.S. Senate seat I am running for is open because Springfield resident Dick Durbin is retiring. When he retires, all statewide elected officials in Illinois will reside in Chicago or Cook County. That means the other 101 counties in Illinois will not have representation. 82% of Illinoisans live outside Chicago—63% live outside Cook County.

That's why voters need to elect me to the U.S. Senate. I will represent all of Illinois, not just Chicago. The three main Democrats running for this seat are all from Chicago or Cook County.

To be clear, I have nothing against Chicago. It is one of the greatest cities in the world. I wish it had better governance, which makes me worry for its future. But it's an important economic driver for our state, and the people of Chicago deserve representation.

But so do the people in the rest of Illinois.

I have deep ties to all of Illinois. I was born in Urbana in Eastern Illinois, raised in Mt. Sterling in Western Illinois, and I raised my own family in Springfield in Central Illinois. I have led statewide organizations. I have represented families, farmers, and small businesses throughout Illinois.

This experience has shown me just how diverse Illinois is. While working families throughout Illinois face similar challenges, like the unaffordable cost-of-living and the need for safer communities, the issues do not look the same in Rockford as they do in Cairo, or in Quincy as they do in Joliet. Our suburban collar counties are not the same as rural downstate.

That's why we need a strong leader as US Senator who can ensure every Illinoisan has a voice in Washington. From industrial towns struggling due to a loss of manufacturing jobs to rural communities who are highly dependent on agriculture, there are challenges faced by millions of everyday Illinoisans that elected leaders from Chicago struggle to understand.

I understand the needs of everyday Illinoisans. I have firsthand knowledge of their communities, the issues confronting them today, and their history.

I've worked on farms and helped farmers in distress. I've sweated in warehouses and supported family manufacturing plants. I've done everything from leading boardrooms in big cities to driving trucks down dark rural highways. For my opponents, the only time they've done any of this is to participate in a political photo op.

Too many of our politicians seem to forget Illinois has 102 counties, and the working families in every county deserve to have their voices heard. It's the everyday Illinoisans who make up this state, and I will be proud to bring their voices to the halls of Congress. I will represent all of Illinois.