Theresa Raborn

Theresa Raborn (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 2nd Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Raborn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Raborn earned a B.S. in criminal justice from Governors State University in 2005. Her professional experience includes working as a medical claims processor, as a review coordinator and manager, as an entrepreneur, and as a home-schooling mom.^[1]

Elections

2020

Illinois' 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (March 17 Democratic primary)

Illinois' 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (March 17 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 2

Incumbent Robin Kelly defeated Theresa Raborn in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 2 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Robin Kelly (D)	78.8	234,896
	Theresa Raborn (R)	21.2	63,142

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 298,038
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 2

Incumbent Robin Kelly defeated Marcus Lewis in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 2 on March 17, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Robin Kelly	84.8	94,767
	Marcus Lewis	15.2	16,942

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 111,709
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

John Morrow (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 2

Theresa Raborn advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 2 on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Theresa Raborn	100.0	12,181

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,181
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

Theresa Raborn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Raborn's 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 am a lifelong Christian. I have a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Governors State University and attended law school for a year. I was a claims processor for a major insurance company for nine years. I have been a business owner and now I am a home schooling mom.

Our children (yours and mine) are the reason I am running for Congress, to protect freedom and liberty for the next generation. Unlike politicians who make vague promises, I provide you with my detailed solutions to the challenges our district and our nation face. The 30+ bills and solutions on my website, RabornForCongress.com, include rehabilitating criminals to eliminate the revolving door of our criminal justice system; bringing justice to our injustice system; providing our children with individualized, high quality education, with no cracks for our children to slip through; flooding our district with entirely new sectors of industry and high-paying jobs; and fighting corruption at all levels, regardless of the political party involved, and so much more!

It's time to fire those elitist, career politicians and elect a problem-solving, solutions-oriented, citizen legislator from a military family, to fight for YOU!

We, the People, can take our district and our country back and we can solve these challenges together.

That's why I am the right solution to put people first in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District!

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?

I am not going to Washington to "find" solutions; I'm going to Washington to bring solutions.
I provide you with my detailed bills and solutions, rather than vague promises. This makes me the most transparent candidate running for Congress.
The American Dream should be accessible to every American, regardless of zip code or household income.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Jobs and the economy, education, crime and criminal justice, and healthcare are my biggest passions. When adults have access to entry-level, high-paying jobs, their children are receiving a high-quality individualized education, criminals are caught and rehabilitated to eliminate the revolving door of our prisons, and everyone has access to state-of-the art healthcare at reasonable costs, many of our societal challenges will disappear.

My goal is to bring prosperity to my district and my constituents, by bringing in entirely new sectors of industry. We should be on the front lines of production and innovation, not left behind.

I want every child, regardless of zip code or household income, to have equal access to the highest quality education, that is tailored to each individual child, provides flexibility for the modern family, and has no cracks for our children to slip through.

Criminals must be held accountable for their crimes, whether it's a misdemeanor or felony. With 95% of our incarcerated population scheduled to be released at some point, we must ensure that incarceration is used to rehabilitate criminals so they will be productive members of society when they return to our communities.

While everyone else is talking about lowering the cost of prescription drugs, I am talking about lowering the cost of all medical products and services so healthcare can finally be accessible and affordable to every person, regardless of zip code or household income.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my parents the most. They taught me to think critically and to formulate my own opinions. They taught me to be my own person and how to be a leader rather than a follower. They instilled a strong work ethic and Christian values, with God, country, and family at the core. They taught me to never judge a book by it's cover and to always do my best to uphold my promises, vows, and commitments. They showed me how an honorable person behaves and acts, in public and in private. They raised me to be a problem-solver, not a complainer. They assured me that even though perfection is rarely achieved, it was nevertheless worthy of attempting.

My parents came from humble beginnings. My dad grew up on a farm, farming well into adulthood. My mom worked in factories, while her parents worked in factories and construction. I have also worked on a farm and in factories, in my late teens and early adult years. I am proud of my blue-collar roots and the values instilled in me, by my parents, throughout my life.

I would like to follow in their footsteps by being the leader they raised me to be, to lead with a compassionate heart, using logic and reason to better the lives of all of my constituents.

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

I have a wide variety of life experiences that make me uniquely experienced to legislate on a number of important issues. As a Claims Processor for a major health insurance company for nine years, I understand the medical / insurance field. With my Bachelors in Criminal Justice and law school background I understand crime, criminology, the factors contributing to crime and the ways to prevent crime. My experience as a home schooling mom gives me insight into education, what works, what doesn't.

My experience in the real world, coupled with my Christian values of helping my neighbors, gives me the experience, character, passion, and drive to take our our nation's biggest challenges and solve them once and for all.

I have also committed to being more transparent than any other candidate I have ever seen. This is evidenced by the 30+ bills I have posted on my campaign website, RabornForCongress.com. I don't just give you my "stance" or "position", but the actual bills I will introduce into the House on January 3, 2021. I have even provided my diagnostic reports to show you what is wrong with some of our major systems (i.e., healthcare) and my bill to cure all those problems.

Transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of my campaign.

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

The core responsibilities include 1) ensuring that every vote I cast for every bill does not violate the United States Constitution, 2) that I listen to, and address, the concerns of my constituents, 3) that I remain true to the promises I made during the campaign, and 4) that I NEVER forget the oath I made to uphold, support, and defend the United States Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible because I can always find something that speaks right to whatever is going on in my life. When I am facing a struggle, I find very sensible solutions to life's everyday problems. When I need relationship advice, it's right there. When I am sad, scared, or overwhelmed, there is always something to lift me up. I call the Bible my self-help book for the human experience.

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

The U.S. House of Representatives is part of the greatest deliberative body in the world. First, the United States is the world leader. Wherever we go, most other countries tend to follow. Since the U.S. Congress is the legislative body charged with making the laws of our land, this makes Congress the most powerful deliberative body in the world.

The House of Representatives and the Senate must work together to enact those laws. But, what makes the U.S. House of Representatives so unique and special is the fact that Representatives serve for terms of only two years, with the possibility of re-election every two years. Because of this short term, our Representatives are held accountable to the people of their respective districts. While Senators serve for six years and the President for four years, Representatives must continuously be on-guard that their actions today could mean the difference between re-election or being replaced. This accountability means that the U.S. House is the voice of the people, which can change every two years. We do not have the luxury of acting on our own, in direct opposition to our constituents. If we do, we will be voted out with the next election cycle. This makes our Representatives the true voice of the American people, not just a group of bureaucrats dictating from on high.

That is why I chose to run for the House of Representatives. I want that constant contact and communication with my constituents so I can be their voice in Washington, the way it was meant to be.

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

It can be beneficial to a degree. Experience usually is good. But after a while, that experience becomes a hindrance. When a person is spending most, if not all his or her time in Washington, DC, he or she becomes removed and distant from the very people that he or she is supposed to represent. That's one of the reasons I do not wish to put down roots in Washington, DC.

Illinois is my home, where my heart and soul is. I am asking my constituents to remain in contact with me to ensure that I am always representing them accurately. I plan to continue to grow my relationships with our mayors and religious leaders to ensure that I am kept in the loop and in constant contact with my constituents. Every week, I intend to have meet and greets, town halls, and/or meetings with our community leaders and constituents, so ensure that the lines of communication remain open and free flowing.

I believe that what I lack in political experience, I more than make up in my experience with being a regular citizen, which makes me the best candidate to properly represent the voice of the people of my district - from our farmers to our inner city youth!

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

The greatest challenge we have, as a nation, is the rise of socialism. Socialism has never succeeded in any country where it has been implemented. Each time, the leaders claim that socialism was not implemented correctly in the past, but "we'll get it right this time." Our nation, and her beloved citizens are not guinea pigs.

We have done a disservice to our children by not teaching them the great contributions the United States has made in the world. Instead, our public schools are teaching our children to hate their own country. Do we have problems and challenges? Of course! We have many problems and challenges. That means we need to fix what is broken, not destroy the whole thing and rebuild it with policies that have been tried, and failed, all over the world.

Socialism is not a destination. It is a stepping stone on the path to communism. I grew up during a time when we were fighting against communism. I know many people who have come from Socialist or Communist countries and they all say the same thing - Socialism and Communism is nothing but tyranny. They fled their home countries to come to our nation because they cherish freedom, liberty, equality, justice, and the opportunity for prosperity. These are all ideals that we often take for granted. We must all cherish what we have because if we let it slip through our fingers, we may never get to taste freedom, liberty, equality, justice, or prosperity ever again.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I am very interested in the Education & Labor Committee, where I could fight for the passage of my Educating For Success bill, Freedom Health Care Bill, and various bills regarding jobs and the economy.

I also very interested in the House Judiciary Committee. With my degree in Criminal Justice and law school background, I can truly contribute to this committee and ensure that we protect our Constitution, protect Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Fight crime and terrorism, and bring sanity to our Immigration system.

I am also interested in the Ways & Means Committee, with my focus on the Health Subcommittee, Social Security Subcommittee (we MUST save Social Security for our seniors), and the Worker & Family Support Subcommittee.

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

I absolutely think that two years is the right term length for representatives! Anything shorter would make it impossible to focus on legislation because we would be going from one election to another (re-election). Anything longer would remove us from our constituents and make representing our constituents more difficult. We must be out there, constantly talking with our constituents to ensure that we are being their voice in Washington, representing their interests effectively.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits for members of Congress. Serving in Congress, either as a Representative or as a Senator, is a civic duty to represent the people in your district or your state. It was never meant to be a life-time career. I believe that term limits should be limited to 12 years of combined service, either 12 years in the Senate, 12 years in the House, or a combination of service in both chambers but not to exceed 12 combined years.

My reason for that is simple. If you have been in Congress for more than 12 years, either you have completed the objectives you had when you initially entered service, or you have not. If you have not completed your objectives, then either your policies were simply not good policies, or you were not the best advocate for those policies. Either way, it's time to pass the baton on to someone with better ideas or who can be a better advocate for those ideas.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I am not actively seeking a leadership role at this time. However, I am leaving that option open. It will depend on who ends up being elected / re-elected for the 117th Congress. I am not seeking the limelight of leadership, but I will step up into that role if I think it is necessary to ensure that our House of Representatives focuses on solutions and solving our nation's challenges rather than partisan bickering. There's no way for me to make that determination until after the election, when we will know who the members will end up being.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I do not like comparing myself to others because that only serves to limit me. I simply want to conquer our nation's challenges, as quickly as possible. I am not a follower. I like to carve out my own path, and hopefully lead our House back to being a problem-solving institution that serves the American people.

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?

One story that impacted me was from a cashier at a Family Dollar store, just before closing one night about a year ago. She was telling me about the school closings in Chicago and the south suburbs. I was clueless because it's been decades since I have been in school and as a home schooling mom, this wasn't something I had been paying much attention to. That night, I stayed up all night researching these school closings and was so shocked by what I learned that it became one of the biggest issues of my campaign, resulting in my Educating For Success Bill, to ensure that all children will have access to high-quality, individualized education, with no cracks for our children to slip through.

You never know what issues may be brought to you as a candidate. That is why I invite my constituents to reach out to me with their concerns. I want you to tell me what you need from me, as your Congresswoman.

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.

2019

Ballotpedia biographical submission form

The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:

“

What is your political philosophy?

While leaders argue, Americans are being ignored. Challenges are not being addressed. I am running on solid solutions, not vague promises. We have an education crisis, a healthcare crisis, a broken criminal justice system, and a debt crisis. Our 20th Century systems no longer work in the 21st Century.

I already have policies to tackle these big issues and I am already working to gain the support of my future colleagues so we can get our beloved Americans the relief the deserve. My hope is that during my time in office we can finally solve these issues and much more, once and for all.

I am running to preserve our Republic and ensure that the future for my children and yours will be securely rooted in freedom, liberty, and justice. I am running to bring fresh, new, innovative solutions to Washington.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I love America and all the precious people that make our nation so unique. Our founding fathers were not dreamers; they were visionaries. That’s exactly why the constitution has stood the test of time. That's why America is worth fighting for! I want to make sure we make it even better for our kids and grand kids, so they will love America as much as I do.^[2]

”

—Theresa Raborn^[1]

External links

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Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on August 8, 2019
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[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)

[bio-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on August 8, 2019

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

[1]

[2]

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Theresa Raborn

Contents

Biography

Elections

2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 2

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 2

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 2

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

2019

Ballotpedia biographical submission form

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

Information for candidates

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