John Booras

John Booras (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 3rd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Booras completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

John Booras was born in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Booras earned a high school diploma from Reavis High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2003, and a law degree from the Chicago Kent College of Law in 2006. His career experience includes working as an attorney and police officer. As of 2024, Borras was affiliated with the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and MENSA.^[1]

Elections

2024

Illinois' 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Democratic primary)

Illinois' 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 3

Incumbent Delia Ramirez defeated John Booras and Angel Oakley in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 3 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Delia Ramirez (D)	67.3	174,825
	John Booras (R)	32.7	84,987
	Angel Oakley (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	96

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 259,908
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 3

Incumbent Delia Ramirez advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 3 on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Delia Ramirez	100.0	52,644

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 52,644
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 3

John Booras advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 3 on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Booras	100.0	15,468

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,468
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Booras in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

John Booras completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Booras' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I love this country, I love its people, and I believe that we can unite together to become the change that moves our nation forward. The division sowed over the last two decades has created a heavy burden upon this nation, but once we focus on what is ahead instead of what is behind, we will thrive again. I'm the son of immigrant parents who came to the US to live the American Dream. I'm a former police officer and currently practice as a property tax attorney. Before anything, I'm family man - a husband of 17 years and father of 3 wonderful kids: my 11 year old daughter, and 9 and 7 year old sons. They are my impetus for running in the race, as I truly want them to have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams, a freedom that is at risk regularly by excessive government growth an authoritarianism. There is no time to act but right now, and there is no one that can create the changes we need for us. This election posits an opportunity for us to recognize all that unites us instead of that which divides us, and to move forward together from there.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The first key message is ensuring that all Americans feel heard, and that there is no more disenfranchisement. Although we can't always keep everyone happy when it comes to policy creation, we can respect our constituents by having honest and transparent discussions about the workings of government, and why we can or cannot enact certain measures. We will have an open discussion policy for all 3rd District constituents to participate at any time and to educate themselves on the inner workings of all issues at hand.
The second key message is ensuring that Americans are able to truly participate in a forum of views. I firmly believe that 90% of Americans truly want the same thing in the end - a safe nation in which they can freely engage in their vocations and passions, in order to provide a happy life for themselves and their families. Although we may slightly differ on the means to achieve that, by no means are more divided than we are united. My goal is to help unite people so we can grow with as a nation once again.
My third key message is listening to our constituents and approaching the lawmaking process with common sense and honesty. This shouldn't be something that requires any explanation, as common sense and honesty should always be on the forefront of how we approach our government. We have the ability and the knowledge to create better moving forward, and we must begin that now.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Please visit www.boorasforcongress.com to see the full list, but the 3 main areas I'm passionate about are (1) Creating a safety imperative to keep our streets safe, especially in big cities (2) Ensuring a productive end to the current border crisis, while still having compassion and humanity through the situation, and (3) Helping bolster the falling economy that's caused so many Americans to spread their paycheck even thinner than before.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe all elected officials should have transparency, both in how they approach the process of lawmaking and in their personal lives. It's important for our constituents to know that who we are and that we are truly on their side. Too many elected officials have bypassed the very act they were voted in to do - to represent their constituents. Instead they vote based on ideological beliefs or their biggest donor's wishes. Transparency and honesty can create the kind of check on abusive powers that people need in order to ensure they are being represented.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

In order to see the true qualities of an individual, we must look at the signs that point to who they are instead of just what someone tells us. As a father of 3 young children and husband of 17 years, I can understand how visceral parenting is and how necessary it is to have parental and family rights. As a police officer and property tax attorney, I have built my life around serving others. I believe that service to others creates the necessary mindset to unite people under all we have in common vs to divide us in order to perpetuate an ideological agenda. As a first generation American whose parents are both immigrants, I can appreciate the American lifestyle immensely because I have heard the stories of my parents who came from post World War 2 torn Greece and how incredibly blessed they feel to be in this country. I have visited dozens of international areas, including Greece, Israel, Egypt, and others where I have seen the difficulties imposed on citizens by authoritarian socialist governments. Because I have experienced this, I know how to fight against it here at home to ensure that Americans don't have to suffer in this fashion. Most importantly, I believe in us. I believe in this country, I believe in Americans, and I will never give up on that belief until the day I die. I have no desire to gain money or become famous from this position. My only desire is to help create the world in which my children and all others can thrive and rise up to become their best selves instead of feeling disenfranchised and limited in their lives.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The responsibilities are many, but at our core we must be knowledgeable of the law, foreign and domestic policy, and we must know them well enough to be able to create for our constituents. In order to do this, we must be devoted to furthering our nation together and lose the ego that so many politicians today have. When we as individuals do not come from the right place, a place of strength, unity, and positivity then we will inevitably be hindered in all of our responsibilities.

What legacy would you like to leave?

It would be my never ending goal and honor to help usher in a time when Americans saw the truth that unites us instead of focusing on the divisiveness and rancor that many feel overwhelmed by. I look towards our future not only with hope, but with a plan to see that hope through. There is no moment in my life during which I will do anything other than see that plan executed for Americans. We will see America thrive again, and our America will allow all of us to thrive.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was as a Burger King employee when I was in high school. I don't recall exactly how long I kept it, but I believe it was only a couple of months. It's a little more grueling than homework was at the time!

What is your favorite book? Why?

Many books cross my mind, but I will defer to the Bible. If we can truly understand the messages and allegory gifted to us in this great book, we can see past the difficulties of this life and recognize who we truly are and what a beautiful world we can make this.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Superman, hands down. To have the ability to do almost anything on this Earth without opposition, and to choose to do good and help others every single time is truly what we should all aspire to in this life. To be our best selves, while also helping others do the same is the very definition of living life.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The Despicable Me theme song......my kids are still young so that's on the tv quite often

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Because I grew up in a poor household with parents who had just left Greece post World War 2, money was always a big problem. More importantly was the mindset that created, a mindset of feeling unworthy and that success was an impossible goal. It took a great amount of hard work, but also creating the right environment for myself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Doing so required training and discipline, along with having a very supportive spouse and wonderful children to show me what it truly meant to love and serve others. Even to this day, I help others in my former position with many of the methods and techniques that I learned to help myself heal. This is my way of giving thanks for all who helped me defeat that struggle and grow into a man my children are proud of.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The ability to bring our local constituents ideas and needs to Washington. Senators must represent a whole state, and that is considerably more difficult to do. Congressional Representatives have a wonderful opportunity to speak with all of their constituents over time and actually represent that voice in Congress.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that previous experience in politics can be a double edged sword. I believe that if a representative has experienced government via bad methods that don't properly represent the people, then that can be incredibly detrimental. I would liken this to using a tool the wrong way for 10 years. You may have 10 years of experience, but you're experienced in something that isn't working properly. In that sense, we must look past simple government experience and look towards what individuals have truly accomplished with their lives and with the opportunities they have been given. We can learn how to perform a task, but who we are depends on how well we get the job done.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Adjusting to the incredible amount of inflation our country has created over the last 3 years, while simultaneously increasing our population so drastically via the border crisis. It is critical that we have the proper leadership in office that will actually listen to our constituents and take their needs seriously, so that we can ensure a proper recovery and allow Americans to keep thriving.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No, I believe representatives should have 4 year terms. I believe 2 years is more likely to create a scenario where representatives are doing nothing but campaigning and that creates career politicians, which is a serious problem because of how detached they become from their constituents over time.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I absolutely believe there should be term limits established for Congress. I believe the limit should be 5 terms, which would allow an individual to remain in office for 10 years. Without reasonable term limits, we allow individuals to become career politicians who depend upon their government powers for their regular income. This creates a conflict of interest as what is often best for their constituents may not be the most profitable decision for them.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I spoke with the owner of a small jewelry store just today, and she voiced a concern that made me very upset. She primarily works the business herself, and because of this, she is subject to being victimized more often. She told me about two younger males in her neighborhood who have robbed her 3 times over the last 4 months. The 3rd time, they ripped the door off because she would not buzz them in. She called the police, but the police refused to pursue the case any further because there was no physical violence and they do not have the staff, nor the legal ability to pursue these individuals properly because of Chicago's outlandishly destructive criminal justice system. She is now afraid to press the issue any further in fear of gang retaliation as she believes these individuals are gang members. As a former police officer, I want nothing more than to see justice done for this woman and for the community to know they are safe. We MUST course correct the way we are handling our legal system right now. There is a way to bring compassion and justice together to keep our streets safe, while still offering individuals the rehabilitative options. What they have done to our communities is destructive and just outright wrong!

Tell us your favorite joke.

You really got me here because I love corny dad jokes. I used to hijack my wife's Facebook when she wasn't looking so I could write bad puns pretending to be her. Most of our friends would get a kick out of it. If I had to pick just one joke though, it would be - "I finally made my famous holy water.....I was boiling the hell out of it all night"

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is necessary for policymaking. We are an extremely diverse nation of over 350 million individuals from all walks of life. It would be impossible to create laws that benefit Americans without compromise. If we never compromised, we would disenfranchise Americans, and that is unacceptable. As an attorney and police officer, negotiating compromises has been the basis of my professional career. It requires a lot of hard work, knowledge about your subject matter and surroundings, and a very fast mental processing ability. My success in this area will be an immense benefit to Americans.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

All endorsements will be listed on the campaign website. Please visit www.BoorasForCongress.com

What committees interest you?

With business, tax, and law enforcement as my professional background, I would love to bring my knowledge to committees like Homeland Security, Ethics, Small Business, The Joint Committee on Taxation, and Oversight and Accountability. I have a lot to offer our country based on my unique background and experience in these areas, and I would look forward to creating a lot of good for our citizens.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

One of the main keys to my campaign is about transparency in general for elected officials. As public servants, we should always be willing to show our constituents that we are honest and ethical, and that we are not using our post to take advantage of the laws of our country. Currently it feels like most politicians can get away with committing any crime and can lie about it to their constituents at will. This is unacceptable, and reasonable Americans should never be made to feel this way. I promise to do everything in my power to ensure financial transparency and government accountability.

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

Booras’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Issues
The current representative of the 3rd District does not vote according to the beliefs of the constituents in the district, nor does she vote according to the best interests of the American people. I strongly oppose the policy positions of Delia Ramirez that are represented here and her voting record. I also strongly oppose the SAFE-T Act - which Delia Ramirez cosponsored - because it has destroyed the lives of too many Illinois citizens! Here are examples of how she has voted on several important issues in Washington.

January 31, 2024 - HR 6679 - No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act
 Republicans Yes - 215
 Democrats Yes - 210<br  Republicans No - 0
 Democrats No or Present - 3 (Delia Ramirez voted Present)
 NV - 6

March 23, 2023 - HR 1093 - A vote that recognizes the security threat posed by China by strengthening the security alliance between Australia, US and UK.
 Republicans Yes - 209
 Democrats Yes - 184
 Republicans No - 0
 Democrats No - 4 (Delia Ramirez voted No)
 NV - 38

May 18, 2023 - Continuing Resolution 40 - Vote to recognize police and condemn abolishing or defunding police.
 Republicans Yes - 214
 Democrats Yes - 87
 Republicans No - 2
 Democrats No -117 (Delia Ramirez voted No)

February 2, 2023 - Continuing Resolution 9 - Vote to denounce Socialism in the U.S.
 Republicans Yes - 219
 Democrats Yes - 109
 Republicans No - 0
 Democrats No - 86 (Delia Ramirez voted No)

January 10, 2023 - Resolution 11 - Vote to establish a committee to study/monitor Chinese threat.
 Republicans Yes - 218
 Democrats Yes - 147
 Republicans No - 0
 Democrats No - 65 (Delia Ramirez voted No)

May 25, 2023 - HR 467 - Halt Fentanyl Act. Vote to raise the visibility of fentanyl as a national problem by permanently placing fentanyl-related substances as a class on the Controlled Substances Act.
 Republicans Yes - 215
 Democrats Yes - 74
 Republicans No - 1
 Democrats No - 132 (Delia Ramirez voted No)

March 22, 2023 - Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act toreport on capabilities of the trilateral security partner ship between Australia, U.K. and the U.S.
 Yes - 404
 No—7 (Delia Ramirez voted No)

October 19, 2023 - House Res 798 - adopt a resolution that condemns the support of Hamas and other terrorist organizations.
 Republicans Yes - 212
 Democrats Yes - 184
 Republicans No - 1
 Democrats No - 22 (Delia Ramirez voted No)

DELIA RAMIREZ WANTS NO SCHOOL CHOICE FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN: “The Invest in Kids program, which launched in 2018, allowed private donors to make contributions into a scholarship fund that provides funds for children of low-income families to be able to attend private schools.” (nbcchicago.com 11/1/23) Invest in Kids was the product of a genuine bipartisan agreement on state education policy...it provides scholarships to roughly 9000 kids with about 20,000 more on the scholarship waiting list. (abc7chicago.com 10/24/23 and news-gazette.com 11/9/23 in Springfield, IL) Despite widespread protests when it became known that the program would likely be discontinued at the end of 2023, Delia Ramirez felt it necessary to issue the following statement on November 8, 2023: “...We firmly oppose the continuation of the Invest in Kids program, and urge state lawmakers to allow the program to sunset …” (dailyherald.com 11/8/23 in Chicago suburbs) Delia Ramirez’s actions regarding the Invest in Kids program do not match her often caring words. I believe destroying the only option low income children had in Illinois to attend better schools is cruel and completely unethical.

I want to create a 3rd District and an America in which all individuals feel heard and represented, not just a select few. Delia Ramirez has disenfranchised the majority of the district, and as you can see by her voting record, she has no intention of ever changing that. Below, I want to highlight a portion of my plan that will help all the citizens of the 3rd District, and not just a select few deemed worthy by Delia Ramirez:

Healthcare

More help for our seniors including medical vouchers and better healthcare.
Right to try and health cures to save lives.
Better care for our veterans including addressing mental health and eliminating homelessness.
Better and more affordable healthcare for small business owners.
Cutting costs on otherwise overly expensive prescription medication.

Safety

Youth and parental training to prevent violence.
Fighting drug cartels to curb overdoses, drug abuse, and violence.
Combatting gangs and violent criminals.
Fighting for tougher penalties for convicted violent felons, and in particular violent felons.
Increasing training for federal agents to combat violent crime and close homicide cases.
Expanding cyber investigations aimed at combatting human trafficking.
A stronger military presence.
A stronger border presence and refined immigration and asylum process.

Economic Growth and Prosperity

More targeted grants to entice American Business.
More jobs for American workers.
Protecting our pensions and investments.
Better education opportunities for all through school vouchers for private schools.
Daycare vouchers for single parents to have the freedom to work.
Better infrastructure by building better roads and bridges.
Access to clean water, clean air, and healthy food for all Americans.
Cutting foreign AID and military funding.
Put Americans First.^[2]

”

—John Booras's campaign website (2024)^[3]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

John Booras campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Illinois District 3	Lost general	$38,597	$39,492
Grand total			$38,597	$39,492
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Illinois District 3

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 18, 2024
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ John Booras for U.S. Congress 3rd District, “Issues,” accessed February 26, 2024

[show]

Illinois' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tammy Duckworth (D)

Dick Durbin (D)

Representatives

District 1

Jonathan Jackson (D)

District 2

Robin Kelly (D)

District 3

Delia Ramirez (D)

District 4

Jesus Garcia (D)

District 5

Mike Quigley (D)

District 6

Sean Casten (D)

District 7

Danny Davis (D)

District 8

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)

District 9

Jan Schakowsky (D)

District 10

Brad Schneider (D)

District 11

Bill Foster (D)

District 12

Mike Bost (R)

District 13

Nikki Budzinski (D)

District 14

Lauren Underwood (D)

District 15

Mary Miller (R)

District 16

Darin LaHood (R)

District 17

Eric Sorensen (D)

Democratic Party (16)

Republican Party (3)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 18, 2024

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] John Booras for U.S. Congress 3rd District, “Issues,” accessed February 26, 2024

[1]

[2]

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John Booras

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 3

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 3

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 3

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

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