Tamika La'Shon Hill
Tamika La'Shon Hill (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 17, 2026.[source]
Hill completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Tamika La'Shon Hill was born in Chicago, Illinois. She earned a high school diploma from Thornton Township High School. Hill also attended Harper College, Colorado Technical University, and Benedictine University. Her career experience includes working as a public policy advocate. As of 2025, Hill was affiliated with the Rights of Americans Association National Committee.[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.
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Miracle Jenkins (D)
- 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 ![]() |
![]() | ||||
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
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Tamika La'Shon Hill completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hill's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Collapse all
|I specialize in reverse-engineering complex compliance systems and building resilient campaign infrastructure that withstands scrutiny and uplifts communities. Whether I’m designing donor vetting dashboards, forensic audit protocols, or signature collection frameworks, my focus is always on operational clarity and legacy-building.
I’m organizing this campaign remotely from a nursing home, turning personal adversity into a rallying point for innovation and grassroots action. My lived experience fuels my fight for accessible governance, disability rights, and economic justice. I believe every voter deserves a representative who not only understands the system—but can redesign it to work for everyone.
This campaign isn’t just about winning a seat. It’s about setting new standards for how campaigns are run, how communities are engaged, and how leadership is passed on with dignity and purpose.- 1. Transparency isn’t optional—it’s foundational. I’m committed to building a campaign that sets a new standard for public accountability. From donor vetting dashboards to audit-resilient compliance frameworks, I believe voters deserve full clarity on how campaigns operate, raise funds, and make decisions. I don’t just talk about transparency—I operationalize it.
- 2. Grassroots power can overcome any barrier. I’m organizing this campaign remotely from a nursing home, proving that physical limitations don’t limit civic leadership. By mobilizing volunteers, leveraging digital outreach, and designing inclusive systems, I’m showing that real representation starts with real people—wherever they are.
- 3. Legacy matters. This campaign is about more than one election cycle. I’m building infrastructure that future candidates can inherit, stress-test, and improve. Whether it’s signature collection protocols, governance matrices, or community engagement tools, I’m laying the groundwork for lasting civic empowerment in Illinois’ 9th District and beyond.
Upholding ethical standards in every decision.
Making campaign finances, policy positions, and governance processes fully accessible to the public.
🧠 Competence and Clarity
Understanding the systems they’re elected to oversee—and being able to explain them clearly.
Designing solutions that are not just visionary but operationally sound.
🫱🏽🫲🏿 Responsiveness and Accessibility
Listening to constituents, especially those historically excluded.
Creating channels for feedback, participation, and real-time accountability.
🛠️ Resilience and Adaptability
Navigating challenges with creativity and grit.
Turning obstacles into opportunities for reform and empowerment.
🧬 Legacy-Minded Leadership
Building infrastructure that future leaders can inherit and improve.
Legislating with clarity and integrity: Crafting laws that reflect the needs of constituents, while ensuring transparency in how those laws are developed, debated, and passed.
Oversight and accountability: Monitoring federal agencies, budgets, and executive actions to ensure ethical governance and fiscal responsibility.
Constituent advocacy: Listening to and elevating the voices of the district—especially those historically marginalized—and translating their concerns into actionable policy.
Infrastructure-building: Designing systems that future leaders can inherit, improve, and use to serve the public more effectively. This includes compliance protocols, outreach frameworks, and legacy tools that reinforce resilience and transparency.
📍 Date: Began November 4, 1979
🎂 Your Age: 3 years old
Why that book? Because it doesn’t just tell a story—it builds a framework. It shows how lived experience can become political insight, how pain can be repurposed into power, and how legacy is forged through both confrontation and reflection. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just inspire—it operationalizes purpose.
That kind of role resonates with me: empowering others, designing resilient frameworks, and making sure the mission doesn’t fall apart when things get tough. It’s strategic, quiet leadership with lasting impact.
Every member is elected directly by constituents in single-member districts.
With 435 seats, it reflects the most granular level of representation in federal government.
⏱️ Short Terms, High Accountability
Members serve two-year terms, which keeps them closely tied to their communities and forces regular engagement with voters.
💰 “Power of the Purse”
All revenue-raising bills must originate in the House, giving it unique control over federal taxation and spending.
🧩 Committee-Driven Structure
The House operates through a vast network of standing and subcommittees, allowing for specialized oversight and rapid legislative development.
🧑🏽🤝🧑🏿 Demographic Diversity
Historically, the House has led the way in increasing representation of women, minorities, and younger leaders.
🔍 Investigative Authority
But experience alone isn’t enough. What matters more is how that experience is used. Does it reinforce transparency, accountability, and public trust? Or does it entrench insider privilege and status quo thinking?
Second, we face a growing crisis of inequality—economic, racial, and geographic. Policy must evolve to close systemic gaps in healthcare, housing, education, and digital access, especially for disabled and marginalized communities.
Third, we must prepare for generational transitions in leadership, infrastructure, and civic engagement. That means investing in legacy systems, succession planning, and intergenerational empowerment—so that the next wave of leaders inherits tools, not just problems.
That said, the pace can also hinder long-term policymaking and infrastructure-building. Representatives often spend more time campaigning than legislating, which can dilute strategic focus and continuity. For reform-minded leaders like myself, who prioritize legacy systems and operational resilience, the challenge is to build lasting impact within a compressed timeline.
That said, term limits alone aren’t enough. We also need transparent campaign finance systems, accessible ballot access, and robust civic education to truly democratize representation. My campaign is committed to building the infrastructure that makes leadership turnover not just possible—but sustainable and empowering.
I’m inspired by Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, who ran “unbought and unbossed.” Her unapologetic advocacy for marginalized communities and her refusal to be tokenized resonate deeply with my own campaign’s values.
I also draw from Barbara Jordan, whose constitutional brilliance and integrity during the Watergate hearings showed how principled oversight can restore public trust. Her ability to translate complex systems into accessible truths is something I strive for in every compliance framework I build.
And I admire John Lewis, not just for his civil rights legacy, but for his belief in “good trouble”—the kind of strategic disruption that leads to lasting change. My campaign is rooted in that same spirit: challenging broken systems with dignity, precision, and purpose.
Her story reminded me that policy isn’t abstract—it’s personal. It’s about the people who hold families together in silence, who navigate broken systems with grace, and who deserve more than lip service from their government. Her resilience mirrors my own journey organizing this campaign remotely from a nursing home. We’re both proof that leadership and strength come in many forms—and that representation must reflect the full spectrum of lived experience.
As a candidate, I believe compromise should never mean sacrificing transparency, equity, or accountability. But it should mean listening deeply, adapting intelligently, and designing solutions that serve the broader public—not just the loudest voices or most powerful interests. Real progress requires both clarity of purpose and flexibility in approach. That’s the kind of leadership I bring to the table.
If elected, I would use this authority to:
Embed audit resilience into federal spending: Every revenue bill should be paired with clear compliance protocols, donor vetting standards, and public-facing dashboards that show where money comes from and how it’s used.
Advance economic justice: I’d prioritize tax structures that reduce burdens on working families, caregivers, and disabled individuals—especially those navigating systemic barriers without recognition or support.
Democratize budget priorities: Revenue bills should reflect community input, not just lobbyist influence. I’d push for participatory budgeting models and transparent allocation frameworks that empower constituents to shape federal investments.
Build legacy infrastructure: I’d design revenue legislation with long-term resilience in mind—so future lawmakers inherit systems that are clear, ethical, and adaptable.
Here’s how I believe the House should use them:
🔍 Legislative Precision
Investigations should inform policymaking by uncovering facts, identifying systemic failures, and spotlighting gaps in existing laws. The goal isn’t just exposure—it’s reform.
🧭 Checks and Balances
The House must act as a watchdog over executive agencies, federal spending, and regulatory enforcement. Investigations help ensure that power is exercised ethically and within legal bounds.
🧑🏽⚖️ Public Trust and Education
Hearings and inquiries should demystify government operations for the public. When done transparently, they build civic understanding and restore faith in democratic institutions.
🛠️ Systemic Reform
Here’s how I believe that role should be shaped:
🏛️ Regulatory Stewardship
The government must establish clear guardrails for ethical AI use, including privacy protections, anti-bias standards, and transparency requirements. This includes oversight of both public and private sector applications to prevent misuse and discrimination.
🧠 Public Sector Innovation
Federal agencies should harness AI to improve service delivery, streamline operations, and enhance data-driven decision-making. From case management to citizen engagement, AI can make government more responsive and efficient—if deployed responsibly2.
🛡️ National Security and Infrastructure
AI is central to cybersecurity, defense, and critical infrastructure resilience. The government must invest in secure, domestically developed AI systems and ensure that strategic technologies are not vulnerable to foreign manipulation.
🤝 Interagency Collaboration and Talent Development
Agencies should coordinate through councils and shared frameworks to build AI capacity, share best practices, and recruit diverse technical talent. This includes developing public AI strategies and removing bureaucratic barriers to innovation3.
🧬 Democratizing Access and Equity
1. National Audit Resilience Standards Establish mandatory audit protocols for campaign finance, petition signatures, and ballot tabulation. Require digital dashboards for public transparency and real-time compliance tracking across all federal races.
2. Universal Ballot Access Infrastructure Fund and standardize signature collection systems, including mobile verification tools and remote volunteer coordination platforms. Ensure disabled and homebound candidates and voters have equal access to participation.
3. Voter Registration Modernization Mandate automatic voter registration through federal agencies, with opt-out provisions. Require states to maintain secure, interoperable databases that flag duplicate registrations and ensure timely updates.
4. Election Workforce Equity Grants Provide federal grants to recruit, train, and retain diverse election workers—including caregivers, disabled individuals, and formerly incarcerated citizens—through inclusive hiring pipelines and civic education programs.
5. Legacy Infrastructure Mandate Require campaigns receiving federal matching funds to submit legacy plans: documentation of compliance systems, outreach frameworks, and succession protocols that future candidates can inherit and improve.
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 September 3, 2025