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Justin Ford (Illinois)
Justin Ford (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 17, 2026.[source]
Ford completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Justin Ford was born in Newberry, Michigan. He graduated from Newberry High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 2001 and a graduate degree from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2005. His career experience includes working as an environmental engineer.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.
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 = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jan Schakowsky (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9
Rocio Cleveland and Mark Su are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Rocio Cleveland | |
 | Mark Su | |
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| = 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
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released April 28, 2025 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Justin Ford completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ford's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’ve lived in Andersonville for over a decade, raised two sons, and worked to protect people’s health, safety, and rights on the job. I’ve helped organize workers, supported unions, and built a career in public health as a Certified Industrial Hygienist—focusing on protecting people in workplaces, schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods across the country.
I’m running because too many working families are being left behind while corporate power grows unchecked. It’s time for bold structural reforms, like a four-day work week, real climate action, and rebuilding the labor movement, to build an economy and a democracy that actually work for all of us- A four-day work week isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. It’s time to give people their time back, boost productivity, and build an economy that works for working families.
- Real climate action creates jobs. We need to invest in a carbon-negative, storm-resilient future; powered by union labor, clean energy, and smart public infrastructure.
- Rebuild the labor movement to rebuild the middle class. That means stronger unions, higher wages, safer workplaces, and policies that put people—not corporations—at the center of our economy.
I’m also committed to bold climate policy, leveraging our amazing American workforce, and rooted in justice, resilience, and job creation.
She didn’t just believe in good policy; she believed in building institutions that protect people, especially those most likely to be exploited or left behind. Her work was grounded in both compassion and structural change, and she used her position not for personal power but to fight for workers and families who had none.
The lyrics speak to a world where no one is judged for who they are, where basic needs are met, and where we all have the chance to live free from fear. It’s about building something better—not just for ourselves, but for the people who’ve been pushed aside or left behind. That spirit of inclusion and shared responsibility is at the core of my political philosophy.
Second, they need to be able to deliver. Good intentions aren’t enough—we need leaders who can turn values into action and ideas into tangible results. That means understanding how systems work, building coalitions, and doing the hard, unglamorous work of governing. Caring without competence can’t change lives—but competence without caring leads to policies that leave people behind. We need both.
I bring a rare mix of real-world experience, practical problem-solving, and deep care for the people I serve. I’ve built a career protecting workers and communities, not from behind a desk, but out in the field, making sure our workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods are safe.
I know how to listen, how to organize, and how to get results. Whether it was helping unionize grad workers at UIC or protecting public health during the pandemic, I’ve always believed in showing up, sticking with the hard problems, and putting people first.
First and foremost, elected officials must show up for their constituents, not just in election years, but every single day. That means helping people navigate federal programs, cutting through red tape, and responding quickly and personally when folks need help. In a time when trust in government is low, good constituent service isn’t a side duty, it’s a lifeline.
Second, this office is a lawmaking role. We need members of Congress who understand policy, who can write and pass legislation that actually improves people’s lives, and who aren’t afraid to take tough votes. That includes fighting for a four-day work week, climate resilience, and a fairer economy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected.
There’s a quote I think about often: 'A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.' That’s the kind of leadership I believe in.
We’ve lost some of that moral clarity in recent years, but I believe we can reclaim it.
One of my favorite books is "The Giving Tree". It’s a children’s book, but the message stays with you for life. It’s about selflessness, quiet love, and what it means to give without expecting anything in return. To me, it reflects the kind of leadership we should strive
for: rooted in care, service, and a long-term commitment to others. It’s also a reminder that we all have a role to play in supporting the people around us, even if that role changes over time. That message has always stuck with me, especially as a parent and a public servant.
Also, I’ve always had a soft spot for "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy". It’s hilarious, imaginative, and full of unexpected wisdom. Beneath the Absurdity, there’s a quiet message: the universe is chaotic, but kindness, curiosity, and a sense of humor still matter. The line “Don’t panic” has stuck with me for years. It’s simple, but good advice in life and in politics. The book reminds me that we can take our work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. And that even in a messy,
What I admire about Riker is that he’s confident without being arrogant, decisive without being impulsive. He brings heart and strength to tough situations, and he never forgets the human element, even in the middle of a crisis.
It’s not just a song—it’s a warning, a promise, and a challenge all at once. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded that we’re living through one of those moments again, where people are demanding real change, and the old ways just aren’t cutting it anymore.
There’s no handbook for this kind of thing. But through it, I’ve learned a lot about flexibility, long-term thinking, and putting relationships first. It’s shaped the way I lead and how I think about policy, not just in terms of programs or systems, but in terms of real people doing their best for the people they love.
We need bold, structural action: protect democratic institutions, fight for an economy that works for working people, and take serious climate action that creates jobs and builds resilience. The next decade will test whether we’re willing to fix what is broken and pave the way for a brighter future.
Like Simon, I believe leadership starts with integrity and ends with action. He worked across the aisle without ever losing his principles. That’s the kind of representative I aim to be: someone grounded in values, serious about results, and never afraid to speak the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
That was before the ACA. And now, as politicians try to roll back healthcare protections, I worry that more families will face impossible choices like that one. No child should have to beg for medical care.
We need stricter disclosure laws, stronger oversight of federal spending, and real consequences for corruption and self-dealing. That includes closing loopholes that allow dark money to influence our elections and making sure campaign finance data is accessible and clear.
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 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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 6, 2025
