Ricky Rivard
Ricky Rivard (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Illinois House of Representatives to represent District 65. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.[source]
Rivard completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Ricky Rivard earned a high school diploma from Saint Charles High School and a graduate degree from Northern Illinois University in 2018. His career experience includes working as an adjunct professor.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 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.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 65
Ricky Rivard (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 65 on March 17, 2026.
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 65
Incumbent Dan Ugaste (R) is running in the Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 65 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Dan Ugaste | ||
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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
Rivard received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ricky Rivard completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rivard's responses.
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I believe government should be a relentless force for good, not a distant bureaucracy. My campaign is built on tackling the affordability issues facing our families. I am focused on lowering the soaring costs of healthcare and childcare, fighting for true property tax relief by fixing how we fund our schools at the state level, and working to ensure accessible, attainable housing for all. These aren't abstract policies—they are the kitchen-table concerns that determine whether a family thrives or just gets by.
My promise is to be a voice that echoes our community's needs with empathy and unwavering resolve. When our workers succeed, our whole community succeeds. Together, we can build an Illinois where every family every can truly prosper.- The central issue in this race is affordability. Families are being squeezed by the high costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and education. As a parent and longtime resident, I experience these pressures directly. I will center the working family in every choice I make, because I know the value of a dollar and what it takes to build a secure life. I will fight to make our community more livable by advocating for affordable housing, lowering healthcare costs, expanding childcare access, and investing in our public schools. Everyone deserves a fair shot at a thriving future here.
- The promise of property tax relief has become an empty slogan for too many families in the 65th District. It's time for effectual change from Springfield. The core of the solution lies in properly funding our public schools at the state level and ending the burden of unfunded mandates on our local communities. When our schools are forced to rely overwhelmingly on local property taxes to meet their needs, homeowners and renters unfairly bear the cost. I will fight for a sustainable state education funding model that alleviates this pressure, ensuring our children receive a first-class education without overburdening the taxpayers. It's time to deliver real relief, not just rhetoric.
- For too long, the financial burden of rising costs and underfunded mandates has been placed squarely on the overworked shoulders of Illinois's working families. From the grocery store to the property tax bill, hard-earned dollars are stretched thin. I will center our shared experience in every decision, fighting for policies that put more money back into your household. By championing lower healthcare costs, true property tax relief, and ending unfair fees, we can ease the strain on your budget. When our workers succeed, we all succeed. It's time for practical, tangible solutions that strengthen your financial security and build a more affordable Illinois.
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
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 23, 2026
