Building The Party
The Democratic Party belongs to the people—all of us! Our party and our country need a stronger path forward. We are strongest when the Democratic Party is united and fighting for the people.
People are at the heart of everything I do. I am a community leader, leader of Proviso Township’s Democratic Party, our community’s voice in Springfield, and I am proud to serve as the first African-American Speaker of the House. In these roles and over a two-decade journey, I have brought people together, called people to action, and delivered change that puts people and communities first.
Here is my vision as your representative on the Democratic Party of Illinois State Central Committee:
Create new opportunities for young people to connect with Democrats at every level, so everyone can see themselves reflected in our party.
Diversify outreach strategies using digital media and dual-language communication to communicate the stakes of every election to every voter effectively.
Stop voter suppression efforts at every level by ensuring that MAGA efforts to deny people’s right to vote are dead on arrival in Springfield, and he’ll take that fight for our democratic values to our State Central Committee.
Build up the Blue Wave. As Speaker, I have traveled across Illinois to lift up Democratic candidates in big cities, growing suburbs, and small towns. Success in 2026 and beyond means showing voters in every community the difference Democrats have to offer.
Build and Strengthen the Base
Inspire lifelong Democrats to re-engage, not stay home. In 2024, key parts of the Democratic base felt disconnected from party leaders and overlooked by the agendas of both parties. But in Proviso Township, we led one of the largest Democratic turnouts in Cook County by meeting voters where they were instead of making them come to us, and showing a path forward. On our State Central Committee, we will pursue renewed engagement, diverse coalitions that show everyone they have a seat at the table, and a platform that puts people first—not special interests or insiders.
Push new ideas to inspire new voters. We know every day shouldn’t feel this hard. Bringing new voters to the Democratic Party and getting lifelong Democrats fired up starts with Democrats running on bold ideas to help people and communities thrive.
Deliver for People
Deliver a platform that puts every option on the table for reducing the cost of living, combating the Trump tariffs, and helping working people get ahead.
Making healthcare better and more affordable has been a major focus. As Republicans in Washington cut care for millions of Americans, we are leading the fight to invest in our hospitals and caregivers, and crack down on the gimmicks big insurance uses to deny care.
I am dedicated to putting working families first with policies that protect workers’ rights, ensure equal pay for equal work, raise the minimum wage, and guarantee paid leave for all
Make women’s rights fundamental rights with state protections guaranteeing women’s rights in the doctor’s office, in the workplace, and in our communities.
Stand up for people, not extreme special interests. I took on the NRA and delivered commonsense gun safety, including the nation’s strongest ban on assault weapons. He knows our rights should always come before the big money insiders.
Winning elections door-to-door. We win by getting back to basics and meeting voters where they’re at, not expecting them to come to us. We are dedicated to knocking on doors, making the calls, stuffing the envelopes, and doing the work it takes to win.
Recruiting, training, and supporting Democratic candidates statewide from school boards to the State House to Congress. I have played significant roles in not only supporting Democratic members of the House, but also supporting hundreds of Democratic candidates for local government offices, and played a critical role in the effort to elect a Democratic majority to the State Supreme Court.