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Benjamin Thomas Wolf
Benjamin Thomas Wolf (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 5th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 20, 2018.
Biography
Wolf graduated from Kent State University in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He also holds a master's in national security studies from The American Military University and a Ph.D. from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In the months leading up to the 2018 election, Wolf was a professor in Chicago. He has also worked with the U.S. Department of State. Wolf graduated from the FBI Academy and worked within the National Security Division.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 5
Incumbent Mike Quigley defeated Tom Hanson in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 5 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Quigley (D) | 76.7 | 213,992 |
 | Tom Hanson (R) | 23.3 | 65,134 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 279,131 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 5
Incumbent Mike Quigley defeated Sameena Mustafa, Benjamin Thomas Wolf, and Steve Schwartzberg in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 5 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Quigley | 62.5 | 66,254 |
 | Sameena Mustafa | 24.1 | 25,591 | |
 | Benjamin Thomas Wolf | 9.5 | 10,032 | |
 | Steve Schwartzberg | 4.0 | 4,196 | |
| Total votes: 106,073 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 5
Tom Hanson advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 5 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tom Hanson | 100.0 | 18,837 |
| Total votes: 18,837 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
The table below details the campaign finance reports of candidates in this race who had raised at least $10,000 as of February 14, 2018.
Endorsements
| Democratic primary endorsements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Mustafa[2] | Quigley[3] | Schwartzberg[4] |
| Federal officials | |||
| Tammy Duckworth, U.S. senator | ✔ | ||
| Dick Durbin, U.S. senator | ✔ | ||
| Jan Schakowsky, U.S. representative | ✔ | ||
| State figures | |||
| Susana Mendoza, Illinois state comptroller | ✔ | ||
| Heather Steans, Illinois state senator | ✔ | ||
| Local figures | |||
| Bridget Gainer, Cook County commissioner | ✔ | ||
| John Arena, Chicago city alderman | ✔ | ||
| Ameya Pawar, Chicago city alderman | ✔ | ||
| Michele Smith, Chicago city alderwoman | ✔ | ||
| Organizations | |||
| Americans for Democratic Action | ✔ | ||
| Illinois AFL-CIO | ✔ | ||
| Illinois Association of Firefighters | ✔ | ||
| Illinois Berniecrats | ✔ | ||
| Illinois Citizen Action | ✔ | ||
| Illinois Planned Parenthood | ✔ | ||
| Illinois Sierra Club | ✔ | ||
| Illinois State Council SEIU | ✔ | ||
| Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization | ✔ | ||
| Justice Democrats | ✔ | ||
| Northside Democracy for America | ✔ | ||
| Social Democrats, USA | ✔ | ||
| Media outlets | |||
| Chicago Sun-Times[5] | ✔ | ||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
| “ |
Strong Democrat with Progressive Values [6] |
” |
| —Benjamin Thomas Wolf[7] | ||
Campaign website
Wolf listed the following platforms on his campaign website:
| “ |
The immediate recognition and reassurance that all people are created equal. Everyone, regardless of creed, sex, religion, race or nationality must be provided equality, peace and education along with all basic human entitlements as guaranteed in the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. This includes and underscores the importance of protecting marginalized people and minority populations such as the LGBTQ community.
Healthcare is a human right. Everyone is deserving of basic medical and mental healthcare. This creates an overall healthier and happier society.
Cannabis is medicine for tens of millions of Americans. Legalizing cannabis is the first step in true criminal justice reform. Legalizing cannabis will bring billions of dollars to the State of Illinois.
Education is the building block of human civilization and evolution. We must move towards free college education. We can begin with trade schools and community colleges and eventually make all state universities free tuition free. I fully support student loan forgiveness.
While firearms remain a basic right within American society as well as an influential tool throughout the formation and evolution of our nation, assault weapons are a public safety crisis. Purchasing and owning firearms for home defense or hunting is justifiable and reasonable.
They must be protected, defended and promoted by implementing basic yet fundamental policies such as: guaranteed equal pay, one full year paid family leave, as well as continued access to reproductive health systems and organizations.
The United States has been involved in two long-term conflicts for over 15 years. Only by complete disengagement can we begin to rebuild international respect and credibility.
No longer will the United States tolerate or sponsor the indefinite detention, torture nor mistreatment of any person. This base serves as a symbol of oppression and intolerance and must be decommissioned and returned to the people of Cuba.
Nearly 20 percent of Americans are disabled. Recognition, equality, and treatment are only the beginning needs of this marginalized population. All government buildings including polling stations must become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A formalized and coordinated national agenda to address mental illness must be created and implemented. No longer can we isolate and ostracize those with illnesses. We as a nation must develop and implement effective community-based health treatment methods to assist the millions of individuals suffering or diagnosed with mental health issues.
We must adopt an approach and standpoint that technology assists in the progress of mankind. We should endorse new ideas, exploration, and renewable energy. This includes a focus on the sharing economy and platforms or technologies that help the middle and lower classes use their existing resources to earn a better and more prosperous living. (Think big like Elon Musk)
We must continue to have the most widely encompassing diplomatic corps promoting peaceful American and democratic ideals. Likewise, we must support and maintain the traditions of the strongest and most technologically advanced military in the world.
We must provide full support to public school systems, teachers, and administrations. Public schools are the anchors in our communities and are critically important to the foundation and future of this nation. Schools and employees deserve to be protected, compensated and respected in the highest possible manner. We must also find ways to provide free trade schools, community colleges, and state universities.
The environment and natural settings of planet Earth are paramount for our lifestyle and future. All measures will be taken to maintain and protect the environment and therefore significantly stronger enforcement entities and legislation must be created. Renewable energy must become a mainstream and publicly supported practice so as to reduce oil, gas and fracking damages. I will abolish the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and transfer all employees to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Having been a union employee most of my career, I know first-hand the importance of the proper protection of employees, safe working conditions, fair wages, benefits and collective bargaining rights.
Law enforcement officers must protect themselves and all citizens while securing and building trust within their communities. The philosophy and practice of community policing should be re-examined. If requested, the U.S. Justice Department will provide federally approved procedures for local, state or county agencies, which may include: standard operating procedures, hiring practices, legal training, use of force protocol, internal investigations or other areas of concern.
We must provide both medical and legal assurances that all people are able to determine their own destiny with regard to their bodies. This includes, but is not limited to vaccines, reproductive rights, all birth control methods, medical procedures and end of life care. Likewise, a move toward universal health care is inevitable and necessary.
The United States must always consider Israel to be one of its most important allies. Being culturally, socially and historically connected to Israel, the U.S. must protect and promote the Jewish people. Being the only Jewish nation in the world, Israel is a leader in social, cultural and religious heritage. Having worked in Israel and the Palestinian territories, it is clear that two-state solution is not yet a viable option until there is a more formalized peace process.
Logic and reason must be the drivers to a new and modern tax code. No more loopholes or huge tax breaks for corporations. Also, citizens should have the opportunity to opt out of Defense spending with regard to personal taxes.
All Americans should feel safe and comfortable in their homes and have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their lives as upheld by the United States Supreme Court and explicitly written into our legal system. The intelligence community should no longer have free reign over the information, data or personal records of American citizens. This idea of privacy extends into net neutrality, mobile devices and the constant surveillance or targeting from corporations.
We must introduce new programs focusing on health, wellness, diet and exercise, especially for children. Ronald Reagan's Presidential Fitness Program should be suggested as a model for physical education.[8][6] |
” |
| —Benjamin Thomas Wolf, 2018 | ||
See also
- United States House of Representatives
- Illinois' 5th Congressional District election, 2018
- Illinois' 5th Congressional District
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Benjamin Thomas Wolf 2018 campaign website, "Bio," accessed March 5, 2018
- ↑ Sameena Mustafa, "Endorsements," accessed February 14, 2018
- ↑ Mike Quigley for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed February 14, 2018
- ↑ Steve Schwartzberg for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed February 14, 2018
- ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "ENDORSEMENT: Mike Quigley for Congress in 5th District Democratic primary," February 13, 2018
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on January 14, 2018
- ↑ Wolf for Congress, "Platforms," accessed March 8, 2018
