Dylan Blaha
Dylan Blaha (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 13th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.
Blaha completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Dylan Blaha was born in Palos Heights, Illinois. As of 2026, Blaha was serving in the U.S. Army National Guard, having begun his service in 2012. He graduated from Lemont High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2016 and completed his graduate studies there in 2023. His career experience includes working as a cancer research scientist in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Illinois from 2017 to 2021. Blaha has been affiliated with the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Working Families Party, and Democratic Socialists of America.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois' 13th Congressional District election, 2026
Illinois' 13th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Republican primary)
Illinois' 13th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 13
Incumbent Nikki Budzinski and Jeff Wilson are running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 13 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Nikki Budzinski (D) | |
 | Jeff Wilson (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 13
Incumbent Nikki Budzinski defeated Dylan Blaha in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 13 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nikki Budzinski | 76.0 | 40,497 |
 | Dylan Blaha | 24.0 | 12,783 | |
| Total votes: 53,280 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Emily Lux (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 13
Jeff Wilson defeated Joshua Loyd in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 13 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeff Wilson | 67.3 | 21,485 |
 | Joshua Loyd | 32.7 | 10,437 | |
| Total votes: 31,922 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Blaha received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Blaha's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- Cook County, Ill., Latino Democrats
- Abundant CU (Sway viewpoint group by Jared Fritz)
- Chelsea Laliberte Barnes’ Voter Guide (Sway viewpoint group by Chelsea Laliberte Barnes)
- Chicagoans Against Status Quo (Sway viewpoint group by Joshua Joseph)
- Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption
- Girl, I Guess
- Girl, I Guess: A Progressive Voter Guide to the 2026 Primary Election (Sway viewpoint group by Girl, I Guess)
- Illinois Vs Status Quo (Sway viewpoint group by Joshua Joseph)
- Megan Thuy's Voting Guide for the Cool Kids (Sway viewpoint group by Megan Thuy)
- Nicole Cares That You Vote (Sway viewpoint group by Nicole.Cares.Too.Much)
- Please Vote! (Sway viewpoint group by Ishaan Srivastava)
- Progressive Democrats of America
- Qasim Rashid's Voting Group (Sway viewpoint group by Qasim Rashid)
- The Oath of Office
- Track AIPAC
Campaign themes
2026
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released February 10, 2026 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dylan Blaha completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Blaha's responses.
| Collapse all
- Government should materially improve people’s lives. I am running to use public office as a tool for real economic relief. That means fighting for universal healthcare through Medicare for All, lowering prescription drug costs, building affordable housing, and ensuring every worker earns a living wage indexed to inflation. Too many families in Central and Southern Illinois are working harder each year while falling further behind. My campaign is focused on policies that reduce the cost of living, strengthen disenfranchised communities, and ensure no one is forced to choose between their health, their home, and their paycheck.
- Public service must be grounded in evidence, accountability, and integrity. As a cancer research scientist and Army officer, I am trained to make decisions based on evidence, risk assessment, and accountability. I believe Congress should approach policy the same way - by listening to experts, evaluating outcomes, and being honest with the public. I will fight to get corporate money out of politics, push to reform our democratic institutions, and restore trust in government by putting people over profits and transparency over political theater.
- Working people deserve representation that cares about them, not the wealthy and well connected. I am running as a working-class candidate who understands the realities facing families in Illinois’ 13th District. I have served in uniform, worked in research and education, and organized in my community, rather than climbing the political ladder. My campaign is powered by grassroots donors and volunteers, not corporate PACs. I believe Congress works best when it reflects the people it serves, and I am committed to being an accessible, responsive representative who fights for working people, rural communities, and those too often left out of Washington decision-making.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Blaha's campaign website stated the following:
Anti Authoritarian
Donald Trump, Oligarchs, and the Republican Party continue to use the Project 2025 playbook to rapidly and illegally break this country and the U.S. Constitution, all at the expense of our most vulnerable. They share a fascist vision and seek to rapidly bend the will of Americans to the billionaire class. We cannot let them win.
We need to speak up and fight for our rights now, or we will lose them. If you don't believe me, look at how authoritarian regimes stoke fear, stifle journalism, erode rights around the world. Many democrats believe we can wait until the November 2026 elections to turn things around, but I believe the fight must start now.
As your Representative, I will continue to defend the constitution, as I have done for all of my adult life. I will not bend the knee and vote for authoritarian bills. I will not abandon or villainize vulnerable groups and give in to the far-right's rhetoric. I will not back down in the face of retaliation. I will not capitulate to fascists and authoritarians - I will stand up to them.
Most importantly, I will ensure the voices of all my constituents are heard in Washington. I will do all I can to make you feel represented in Congress.
Anti-Oligarchy
Elon Musk spent over $277 million to elect Donald Trump to his second term. At the inauguration, he received a front row seat, along with Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other tech oligarchs, while the President literally left his supporters to sit out in the cold. It's time to get big money out of politics.
Too many politicians, both Republican and Democrat, take money from big donors, lobbyists and corporate super PACs, who they are more loyal to than the constituents they serve. Representative Nikki Budzinski’s top donors include lobbyists and corporate super PACs. Only 5% of her donations come from small donors. She ran on a platform of getting “dark money” out of politics, but it now looks like she’s fallen victim to the same disease. We must fight to overturn Citizens United and get big money out of the pockets of American politicians.
I will follow the path of Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressive leaders and only accept grassroots donations. I will also never allow money to influence my legislative decisions. This is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
A kleptocracy is a government whose corrupt leaders use their political power to expropriate the wealth of the people and land they govern. Sound familiar?
The President launched crypto "meme" coins days before his inauguration. A meme coin is a cryptocurrency that originated from an internet meme and typically refers to a cryptocurrency with little to no value, authenticity, or utility. While it's difficult to pin down how much money he made from this "pump and dump" scheme, some experts believe he's made well over $100 million thus far.
The President also launched a tariff war against the rest of the world, sending Wall Street and the global markets into chaos. One week after instituting these initial tariffs, he instituted a "90-day pause." It's important to note that the 145% tariffs on China, 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on nearly every other country will cause irreparable harm to the American economy.
Before backing down on his tariff plan at 1:18 pm ET on April 9, the stock market had already begun to skyrocket, leading to concerns of insider trading. In fact, purchase orders specifically started to increase at 1:00 pm ET. Notably, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene purchased stocks before the President's announcement. This is why we must ban congressional stock trading and eliminate insider trading in politics.
Artificial Intelligence Regulation
Artificial intelligence is transformative technology with applications in many areas of our workforce, economy, public service, and society. However, the unfettered development of AI and digital technology in the workplace has the ability to displace or de-skill jobs, affect physical health and safety, and impinge on workers' basic rights and freedoms.
Advancements in artificial intelligence must not come at the cost of humanity. We must ensure fairness, protect human rights, and maintain societal well-being. The United States government must regulate artificial intelligence to mitigate significant risks to public safety and economic security, including bias, privacy infringement, misuse of misinformation, and potential harm to safety and security, while also fostering public trust and supporting responsible innovation.
I support legislation that bans AI systems that undercut US labor and health and safety standards. Additionally, I oppose federal preemption laws blocking states' and cities' authority to safeguard their communities against harmful AI applications. We must establish strong guardrails to protect data privacy of workers and safeguard against the harms of AI, including workplace surveillance and algorithmic management.
Furthermore, I support legislation requiring employers to give notice to workers displaced by AI and provide funding for income supports and retraining programs for affected workers. I will also introduce or back legislation that increases federal investments in workforce development programs, centering unions, and guaranteeing workers can access the training, wraparound support, and career pathways needed for success, including partnerships between labor.
We must also pass copyright and intellectual property protections to safeguard the livelihoods of union professionals who rely more than ever on effective intellectual property rights to earn compensation and benefits. It's incredibly important to ensure future career opportunities in today's digital era.
I will also introduce legislation to explicitly ban dangerous experimentation and harmful AI applications in high-risk fields, such as healthcare and transportation.
Building Affordable Housing
Many American cities face a housing shortage. The cost of renting and buying in Illinois has increased dramatically, due to a variety of factors, like private equity investments.
Housing is a human right. We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also address the root causes of housing market inflation.
I will introduce or back legislation to incentivize local governments to promote affordable housing in their communities by offering additional funds to local governments that advance the public interest. Measures like streamlining permits and timelines to accelerate the building of affordable housing and prohibiting landlords from rejecting a rental application on the basis of the applicant’s source of income will help promote affordable housing initiatives. We must do everything we can as legislators to increase public housing options.
Rent increases have far outpaced wage increases, leaving families struggling to afford groceries, healthcare, clothes, or school supplies. I will support legislation like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez' The Place to Prosper Act, which proposed curbing rent increases for landlords who own 5 or more properties to just 3% of the preceding year’s rent.
Additionally, we must stop unjust evictions, ensure rental access to lower income renters, and increase protections for homeowners. Furthermore, I will back a substantive Low Income Housing Tax Credit and permanent funding of the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Democratic Reform
The current system is broken. Too many politicians (Republican and Democrat) fall victim to a system that promotes greed, rewards stagnation and fails to incentivize change. We must get money out of politics, and that starts with overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United ruling.
Because of Citizens United, virtually unlimited sums of money can flow into American elections. Representative Budzinski raised over $4.3 million during her last campaign - mainly from law firms, lobbyists, and corporate super PACs. She ran on a platform of getting “dark money” out of politics, but it now looks like she’s fallen victim to the same disease.
I will follow the path of Bernie Sanders and other progressive leaders and only accept grassroots donations. Also, I pledge to serve no more than five terms in the House of Representatives, if elected.
The federal judiciary system also possesses many fractures and holes. The Supreme Court is supposed to be one of the checks on executive power, but lately they spend their time making decisions that hurt millions of Americans. We need to depoliticize the Supreme Court. This will prove difficult, but we can require a two-thirds Senate majority to confirm Justices, expand the Court to 15 seats, and implement term limits.
Additionally, I support federal action to mandate nonpartisan redistricting commissions to draw congressional districts fairly and logically. Due to gerrymandering, many Americans believe their vote doesn't count, especially if they live in a deep blue or red district. Elected officials serve their constituents, not the other way around. We must do all we can to make Americans feel like they have a say in our democracy.
The current administration put forward legislation to restrict voting rights in future elections. Additionally, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act over the past two decades. I will co-sponsor the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act to strengthen voting rights. Additionally, I will oppose efforts to erect obstacles to voting, including those based on an individual's race and/or socioeconomic status.
Last, I will support legislation to allow the delegate elected by District of Columbia residents to vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Economic Rights
Housing is a human right.
We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also seek justice for small businesses and workers by rebuilding unions, investing in people instead of corporations, and providing a federal jobs guarantee.
In his 1944 State of the Union address to Congress, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke of a second bill of rights. He spoke of the right to adequate food and clothing, the right to a decent home, the right to a good education, the right to adequate medical care, and the right to protection from economic fears of old age, sickness, accidents, and unemployment.
As FDR went on to say, all these rights spell security. I know many Americans are wishing they had some of that economic security right now.
Congress must pass legislation like The Place to Prosper Act to incentivize local governments to promote affordable housing in their communities, streamline permits and timelines to accelerate the building of affordable housing, and prohibiting landlords from rejecting a rental application on the basis of an applicant's income source.
Rent increases have outpaced wage increases in many communities, leaving families struggling to afford groceries, healthcare, clothes and school supplies. We must pass smart legislation to protect both renters and homeowners.
We must also work to rebuild labor unions across America. The labor movement of the turn of the 20th century fought tirelessly for the workplace protections that helped bring power to the working class through greater economic democracy. Wealth and labor protections were directly responsible for the New Deal, which enabled a Golden Age for the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, far-right and reactionary movements, strengthened by Ronald Reagan and neoliberal establishment Democrats, have undone many labor protections.
We must also invest in communities, rather than corporations. This means creating more equitable opportunities for small businesses and workers. This also means investing in community workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and support programs for small businesses.
Education
The federal government must do all it can to strengthen public education systems. We must also improve access to higher education and make it affordable to all, so students are prepared for jobs.
Our public school systems should never be on the chopping block, even when budgets are tight. Rather than abolishing the Department of Education, the federal government must use the DOE to improve childhood education across the United States. For starters, the federal government must incentivize states and communities to pay their teachers higher wages.
Rising college tuition costs make colleges and trade schools inaccessible for millions of Americans, while millions more are saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. To combat this, Congress must simultaneously work to pass legislation like the College for All Act to establish tuition-free public colleges and trade schools and the Student Debt Cancellation Act to forgive outstanding federal and private student loans.
I know the idea might seem drastic, but many western democracies operate this way. Both these acts will create an easier pathway to economic stability for young people and provide a $1 trillion boost to our economy over a ten-year period.
Environment
The climate crisis is an existential threat, and incrementalism is no longer sufficient. While the Green New Deal set an important framework by linking climate action to jobs and justice, we must now move faster and be more aggressive in transforming our economy and energy systems.
If elected, I will push for an emergency-level response to the climate crisis - one that treats it with the same urgency as war or a national disaster. This includes rapidly transitioning to 100% clean energy by investing at scale in renewable generation, grid modernization, energy storage, and electrification of buildings and transportation. We must phase out fossil fuel subsidies immediately, halt new fossil fuel infrastructure, and set firm timelines to end coal, oil, and gas extraction while ensuring a just transition for workers and communities currently dependent on those industries.
Addressing the climate crisis also requires confronting corporate power. I support holding fossil fuel corporations accountable for decades of climate deception, using regulatory authority and litigation to recover damages and fund climate adaptation. We must also use federal procurement, taxation, and enforcement to force polluters to change behavior rather than relying on voluntary compliance.
Climate policy must center environmental justice. Frontline and marginalized communities, often low-income, Black, Brown, and rural, have borne the brunt of pollution and climate impacts while benefiting least from past investments. Federal climate funding should be targeted first to these communities for clean air, clean water, resilient infrastructure, and disaster preparedness.
Finally, the United States must lead globally. I support binding international climate commitments, climate financing for the Global South, and trade policies that penalize environmental exploitation while rewarding sustainable production.
The science is clear, the technology exists, and the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of bold action. We don’t need more pilot programs- we need decisive leadership and systemic change, now.
Families
We must implement a substantial child tax credit, guarantee paid parental leave, and provide Social Security credits for stay-at-home parents. No person, especially a child, should live in poverty.
I'm a 32-year-old man and I've put off the idea of having a family for many years, due to my own financial concerns. I know what it feels like to wonder whether you can afford to raise a child in today's America.
One of the biggest legislative successes of this century was reducing child poverty by almost 50% with the passage of an expanded child tax credit, which Congress (including several Democrats) then let expire, plunging millions of kids into poverty. As a start, we must bring back the expanded child tax credit.
I will introduce legislation to provide universal paid family and medical leave benefits for all Americans. I also support legislation to set a national paid sick day standard that guarantees at least seven sick days per year (in addition to vacation pay).
I also support legislation to limit the cost of childcare for working parents, address child access issues, and provide a living wage and right to organize for childcare workers.
Additionally, I support federal implementation of programs to provide stay-at-home parents with a monthly stipend, based on household size and cost of living. At a minimum, these parents should receive social security credits to guarantee a financially secure retirement.
Alternatively, I also support the institution of a Universal Basic Income for all Americans, which is an idea floated by both Democrats and Republicans. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence creates an unpredictable future for the job market - many "white collar" workers will likely lose their jobs and be forced to transition into different work sectors. A monthly UBI stipend of at least $1,200 would allow families to weather turbulent economic times.
How do we pay for things like Medicare for All and UBI? Taxing the rich, of course.
Foreign Policy
The world is becoming increasingly authoritarian. According to Staffan I. Lindberg, Director of the V-Dem Institute, “The level of democracy enjoyed by the average world citizen in 2022 is back to 1986 levels. This means that 72 percent of the world's population, 5.7 billion people, live under authoritarian rule.”
Due to the growing threats of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, America must strengthen its relationships with our Allies and Partners around the world. This means eliminating any rhetoric of purchasing Greenland, annexing the Panama Canal, or making Canada the 51st state. This also means supporting Ukraine's right to defend itself, while pushing for a peaceful, lasting end to the war. Simultaneously, the US must increase diplomacy with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea to stop any future conflict long before it starts.
I served on active duty for over five years, including three years stationed in Germany, where I supported Ukraine and NATO. I support a decrease of at least $100 billion in the US Defense budget, while simultaneously continuing to invest in service member training and equipment modernization to ensure military readiness. We will do this by pushing the Department of Defense to eliminate bloated defense contracts and redundancies.
The people of Palestine experienced violent displacement and dispossession of their land, property, and belongings in the Nakba of 1948. They continue to suffer, while most American politicians vote to send offensive and defensive weapons to Israel and enable an ongoing genocide in Gaza. I support an immediate and permanent ceasefire that sets the stage for peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.
The recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state by the United States and the international community is not enough. I believe in a one-state solution within the borders of the former Mandatory Palestine with equal rights for all people. I recommend this democratic state conducts a comprehensive study of what was taken and what was lost and undergoes an extensive reparations process, along with a truth and reconciliation process to move forward peacefully.
Simultaneously, I condemn anti-Palestinian, antisemitic, and anti-Muslim rhetoric. It's incredibly dangerous to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism. It's equally dangerous to call anyone who disapproves of Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza an antisemite. Our elected officials must not equate Jewish people with Israel's far-right government.
As a veteran of the War in Afghanistan and Operation Freedom's Sentinel, I've witnessed the aftermath of how our "forever wars" perpetuate the cycle of terrorism throughout the world. Rather than using military force, the US must leverage "soft power," in the form of humanitarian assistance, whenever possible. However, Trump and Elon Musk's dismantling of critical USAID programs and other foreign assistance threaten America's future use of "soft power."
Gun Reform
Freedom and safety should not be in conflict. The United States has allowed gun violence to become a normalized part of daily life, with devastating consequences for children, families, and communities. Addressing gun violence requires courage, evidence-based policy, and a commitment to protecting life.
I support a comprehensive public health approach to gun reform that reduces harm while respecting responsible gun ownership. As a veteran, I believe in firearm safety and common-sense regulations, rather than fear-based or performative solutions. Proposals like arming teachers or increasing militarization do not make our communities safer and distract from real, effective action.
It is also critical to be clear: people living with mental health conditions are far more likely to be victims of gun violence than perpetrators. Stigmatizing mental illness does nothing to prevent violence and only discourages people from seeking care. Real solutions expand access to mental healthcare, crisis services, and community-based support, without criminalizing or marginalizing those who need help.
Gun reform must start with universal background checks on all gun sales, closing gun show and online loopholes, and banning ghost guns and untraceable firearms. I support mandatory waiting periods, firearm safety training, and safe storage requirements to reduce impulsive violence, suicides, and accidental shootings.
We must also address the root causes of gun violence by investing in housing stability, economic opportunity, and community-based violence interruption programs. Survivors of gun violence deserve long-term support, including trauma-informed care, victim compensation, and community healing resources.
Gun violence is not inevitable. With thoughtful, evidence-driven policy and investments that put people first, we can protect lives, strengthen communities, and ensure that children can grow up without fear of gun violence becoming a defining feature of their lives.
Healthcare
Healthcare is a human right.
I believe in guaranteed healthcare for all people (Medicare for All). I believe in curbing costs for Americans and launching initiatives to improve long-term health.
Americans deserve healthcare that isn't tied to a job. Before the pandemic, over 30 million people in the United States were without health care, with another 75 million classified as underinsured. As more people lose their jobs in this current uncertain time, they lose their healthcare along with it.
Medicare for All will allow Americans to receive quality care that is affordable at the hospital, pharmacy or doctor’s office. It will cover primary, mental, dental, vision, women’s health, and emergency room care, in addition to prescription drugs.
Healthcare costs in America are so high because of insurance companies, billing costs, hospital administration, and drug companies. A national healthcare system with stronger buying power can negotiate lower prices for drugs and medical equipment, while curbing high administrative salaries. Additionally, a national healthcare system unburdens thousands of companies from health insurance payments for their employees.
Medicare for All will likely improve long-term health for Americans, as well. Americans who currently possess health insurance are far more likely to engage in preventative healthcare measures, like annual physicals or visiting a doctor immediately following illness onset.
When you really start to think about it, Medicare for All just makes sense. The United States is the wealthiest nation on the planet and our federal government must do its part to ensure the American people receive access to free or low-cost healthcare.
Immigration
There is honor in immigration. Both sides of my family immigrated to the US a few generations ago. Undocumented individuals fill many of the jobs that keep this country running. It is past time to make undocumented individuals full members of the country they call their home and abolish ICE.
I oppose the Republican narrative of vilifying immigrants and the ongoing mass deportations. I oppose the removal of student visas when students exercise their right to free speech. I oppose the removal of anyone from America, especially to a Salvadorian torture prison, without receiving the right to due process.
The IRS estimates that undocumented people pay over $9 billion in withheld payroll taxes annually. Undocumented people continue to work and support this country, and they also suffer from the same economic insecurities as many U.S. citizens today. I support an immediate pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants while also making legal immigration more accessible and convenient.
Most people coming to the United States are refugees fleeing poverty, persecution, and political turmoil in their home countries. Rather than spending money to persecute refugees and vilify them, I will introduce legislation to build a sustainable development program that provides refugees with the best opportunities to integrate and succeed in our society.
Our nation must recognize our history: immigrants, enslaved peoples, and refugees built this country, but they are treated dishonorably. We all do better when we create a just society that embraces our most vulnerable populations and paves a path to prosperity for all.
LGBTQIA+ Protections
LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights.
No one benefits when we leave our friends, family, and neighbors behind in favor of personal gain or short-term wins. Too many voices in the Democratic establishment want us to abandon queer issues in favor of “electability” right when the Trump administration is making it more dangerous than ever for diverse identities to exist.
We must expand protections for LGBTQIA+ people and end the criminalization of their identities.
From housing to healthcare, our struggle is a shared one. While the cost of living in America skyrockets, young LGBTQIA+ people make up 40% of our homeless youth, even though they are only 7% of the youth population. In the face of a mounting employment crisis, LGBTQIA+ people face unemployment rates up to four times higher than the general population due to discrimination and Trump’s attacks on corporate DEI initiatives. As healthcare premiums spiral out of control, LGBTQIA+ people are twice as likely to be uninsured.
In Congress, I will vote for and introduce legislation to:
- Make schools safe for LGBTQIA+ students by guaranteeing proper accommodations.
- Grant asylum to refugees facing persecution due to their sexuality or gender identity.
- End discrimination in healthcare and medical research.
- Fight to allow transgender people to serve in the military.
- Fix employment disparities for queer people of color facing multiple levels of discrimination.
The Trump administration has no plans to slow down its hateful rhetoric and persecution of queer people. They want us to blame the most vulnerable among us for our shared problems. We cannot fall victim to their fascist propaganda and cannot allow them to divide us. Standing together, united, gives us all the best chance to lead affordable, equal, dignified lives.
Prison Reform
True public safety does not come from mass incarceration - it comes from investing in people and addressing the root causes of harm. For too long, our criminal legal system has punished poverty, criminalized survival, and denied people the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
I support shifting federal policy away from incarceration and toward rehabilitation, reentry, and dignity. That includes supporting legislation like the Just Society: Mercy in Reentry Act to ensure that people are not permanently excluded from the social safety net because of past involvement with the criminal justice system. Everyone deserves access to basic necessities such as healthcare, housing, food assistance, education, disability benefits, and retirement security, especially when successful reentry benefits entire communities.
I support ending the death penalty, abolishing life sentences without the possibility of parole, eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing, and ending solitary confinement. I also support ending cash bail, expanding access to Pell Grants for incarcerated people, and ensuring incarcerated workers are paid at least the federal minimum wage for their labor. These reforms recognize that accountability and humanity are not mutually exclusive.
Prison reform must also include decriminalizing activities that are often the byproducts of poverty and homelessness (such as drug use and sex work) and replacing punishment with healthcare, harm reduction, and supportive services.
Finally, we must reject the idea that policing and incarceration are one-size-fits-all solutions to social problems. Real safety comes from stable housing, accessible healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunity. When people’s basic needs are met, communities are safer, incarceration rates fall, and cycles of harm are broken.
Reparations and Social Justice
The United States was built on systems of racial exploitation (slavery, segregation, redlining, mass incarceration, and discriminatory federal policy) that continue to shape economic and social inequality today. Justice requires more than acknowledgment; it requires repair.
I support a comprehensive federal reparations program that confronts the full legacy of anti-Black racism and delivers material investment to communities that have been systematically harmed. This includes studying and implementing reparations through direct payments, housing and land access, debt relief, healthcare access, and long-term community investment. Reparations are not charity - they are a moral and legal obligation.
In Illinois’ 13th District, social justice means addressing the racial wealth gap, investing in historically disinvested neighborhoods, expanding access to affordable housing and homeownership, strengthening public schools, and ensuring clean air, clean water, and reliable infrastructure for every community. It also means reforming the criminal legal system, ending discriminatory policing practices, and reinvesting public resources into prevention, education, and opportunity.
Nationally, I will support policies that dismantle systemic racism across housing, healthcare, education, labor, and environmental policy. That includes fully funding civil rights enforcement, protecting voting rights, ending discriminatory lending and zoning practices, and ensuring that federal spending prioritizes communities most harmed by past and present injustice.
Reparations and social justice are about building a future rooted in dignity, accountability, and shared prosperity. When we repair the harm done, we strengthen our democracy and create an economy that works for everyone, rather than just the powerful few.
Science is Real
On February 7, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it would change its maximum indirect cost rate for university research grants from 50% in some cases to 15%, as recommended by Project 2025.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds crucial health research to address cancer, diabetes, dementia, and more. NIH funding also boosts the economy, returning >250% of the value invested. Scienceimpacts.org developed a website to depict how funding cuts reduce economic activity and employment nationwide. In total, the SCIMaP estimates that scientific research in America will lose $16 billion and 68,000 jobs.
Many of the lifesaving medicines we have today - including every one of the 210 new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration from 2010–2016 - wouldn’t exist without years of research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Long before these drugs hit the market, NIH-supported scientists were studying how the immune system fights cancer and how certain hormones control blood sugar. Their discoveries laid the groundwork for pharmaceutical companies to develop targeted treatments that now help millions of people.
For example, NIH-funded research on the PD-1 pathway helped scientists understand how cancer cells evade the immune system, leading to drugs like Keytruda that boost the body’s natural defenses. Similarly, studies on GLP-1 hormones, supported by NIH grants, paved the way for drugs like Ozempic, which helps people with diabetes and even aids in weight loss. These breakthroughs show how public investment in medical research can lead to real-world treatments that save lives and improve health.
We must immediately reverse all cuts to scientific advancement in America and continue to invest in lifesaving medical advancements and environmental technologies to avoid losing tens of thousands of American jobs and suffering disastrous impacts to research.
Small Businesses and Family Farmers
Small businesses and family farmers are the backbone of Illinois’ 13th District and communities across the country, but today they’re being squeezed by corporate consolidation, unfair markets, rising costs, and a federal system that too often favors the biggest players.
In IL-13, we must stand up for independent farmers, local shops, and main-street entrepreneurs - not multinational agribusinesses and corporate chains. I will fight to strengthen antitrust laws, break up monopolies, and enforce fair competition so small businesses and farmers can survive and thrive. Family farms should be protected from price manipulation, exploitative contracts, and land consolidation, while receiving real support for climate-resilient and regenerative practices that keep Illinois agriculture productive for generations.
I also support expanding access to affordable credit, grants, and technical assistance for small businesses and beginning farmers, especially in rural communities that have been left behind. That includes investing in broadband, modern infrastructure, and local supply chains so businesses can reach new markets and keep wealth circulating locally.
Nationally, we need federal policies that prioritize small businesses and farmers in procurement, disaster relief, and economic development, rather than rewarding corporations that offshore jobs and undermine local economies. When we invest in people who live, work, and reinvest in their communities, we create stronger local economies, better jobs, and a more resilient food system.
Supporting small businesses and family farmers isn’t just good economics - it’s essential to building a fair, sustainable future.
Social Security
Social Security is not a handout. It is an earned benefit.
Two-thirds of America's senior citizens would live in poverty without Social Security. The benefit does not make them rich - it allows them to afford food and housing in this inflationary economy.
President Trump and Elon Musk have circulated false rumors about Social Security fraud to further the administration's aspirations of eliminating or privatizing government programs. Any cuts to Social Security are unacceptable, and Democratic leaders must continue to speak out on this issue.
In 2025, the Social Security tax limit is $176,100. This means that only the first $176,100 of an employee's or self-employed individual's earnings is subject to Social Security taxes. Any income earned above this amount will not be subject to Social Security tax for the year.
If elected to Congress, I will introduce legislation to remove the limit on Social Security tax - millionaires and billionaires should pay their fair share, too. This will enable the Social Security trust funds to last far past the estimated depletion date of 2035, without the need for privatization or drastic program changes.
Strong Unions
The US economic system must work to the benefit of all, rather than just the wealthy few. Working people are the backbone of the US economy and deserve a fair share of the wealth they help create.
Strengthening worker bargaining power is the key to ensuring a stronger economy that will support families and communities in the future. The four building blocks of worker bargaining power are collective bargaining and strong unions, full employment, strong worker protections, and robust public investment.
As a member of Congress, I will support and advocate for proposals to make big corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes, so we can raise significant revenue and make much needed investments in infrastructure, healthcare, Social Security, education, and well-paying jobs for working people.
I support raising the national minimum wage, along with indexing that wage with inflation. I support allowing more workers to be eligible for overtime pay, based on how low their salary is. We must also require corporations to accurately designate workers as contractors or employees.
I support the independent and bipartisan nature of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). We must strengthen the NLRB and overturn the Taft Hartley Act to increase union collective bargaining power.
Additionally, I will co-sponsor and vote for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in the 120th Congress, so that all working people have the freedom to join together and negotiate with their employers for better wages and working conditions.
Veteran Assistance
As a disabled veteran with post traumatic stress disorder, I recognize the need to support our veterans - especially those who return with visible or invisible wounds. I will fight for our veterans to continue to receive access to exemplary benefits and healthcare.
When I returned home from Afghanistan in May 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic, my Soldiers and I received minimal support. Eventually, I figured out how to file a VA claim for my post traumatic stress disorder and other injuries and taught my Soldiers how to do the same. Now, the Trump administration continues to cut VA jobs, including suicide awareness hotline workers. We deserve better.
We are not "suckers" and "losers." It should not be controversial to say that when our veterans return home they should receive exemplary benefits and healthcare. Congress must undo all of Trump's VA cuts and expand care, when possible.
Additionally, veterans make up roughly 30% of our federal workforce, which means Trump and Musk's cuts have disproportionately affected veterans. These positions must be reinstated now, with any missed pay or benefits paid back in full.
Voting Rights
The right to vote is foundational to our democracy, and it is under sustained attack through voter suppression, partisan gerrymandering, and efforts to undermine public trust in elections. If elected, protecting voting rights and ensuring election integrity will be one of my top priorities.
I strongly support passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and modernize the Voting Rights Act, reinstate federal oversight over jurisdictions with a history of voter suppression, and stop discriminatory voting laws before they take effect. I also support nationwide standards to expand access to the ballot, including automatic voter registration, same-day registration, expanded early voting, no-excuse mail-in voting, and protections against voter intimidation and election interference.
To ensure working people can fully participate in our democracy, I support making Election Day a federal holiday. No one should have to choose between earning a paycheck and exercising their right to vote. In addition, federal funding should be provided to states and local election authorities to ensure adequate staffing, modern voting equipment, secure election infrastructure, and accessible polling locations, especially in rural, low-income, and historically marginalized communities.
Election integrity and voting access go hand in hand. I reject false claims of widespread voter fraud and will oppose laws designed to suppress turnout under the guise of “security.” Real election integrity means transparent processes, secure systems, independent election administration, paper ballot backups, and clear chains of custody—without disenfranchising eligible voters.
Our democracy works best when participation is broad, barriers are low, and the will of the people is respected. I will fight to protect and expand the right to vote so every voice is heard and every vote is counted.
Women's Rights
Women's rights are human rights.
I believe in equal access to workplace safety, equal pay, paid parental leave, and full access to healthcare for women.
Alongside other leaders in America, I want to help create a society in which ALL women are free from structural impediments and able to live and thrive in safe and healthy environments. I support economic rights, reproductive rights, and the end to oppression of all women.
To continue our progress as a society, we must increase economic and labor equity across genders, defend and expand reproductive justice, and eliminate all forms of oppression against women. Working class women are often the hardest hit by unequal pay, unfair labor practices, and lack of laws around parental protections. Women often bear the brunt of family care work; this burden is especially difficult for poor and working class families who can't afford to pay for assistance.
I believe in equal pay for all genders. Pay and hiring discrimination that impacts women - particularly mothers, women of color, indigenous women, and lesbian, queer and trans women - and workers with disabilities is despicable and must end.
Even though Republican politicians continue their attempts to utilize the Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch to crush privacy rights, medical rights, and human rights, I will fight to expand access to abortion services to protect the hard-fought rights of people to choose what to do with their bodies.
Many women are often marginalized by our governments and society - especially women of color and women who are immigrants, incarcerated, LGBTQIA+, or disabled. These same women are more likely to face violence and abuse, both in their personal lives and from capitalist institutions built on economic and racial injustice. We must end all forms of oppression against women.
— Dylan Blaha's campaign website (February 26, 2026)
Campaign finance summary
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Illinois District 13 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 11, 2026
