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<h2>The system is broken. It doesn't work for working people. I'm a combat veteran and former cancer researcher, and I'm running for U.S. Congress to change the system.</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6370ac06-dbfb-4f6c-88b6-8d501e2ef4a7/314ff418-ccc3-488b-9b29-d8c97b6c81de/314ff418-ccc3-488b-9b29-d8c97b6c81de.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3024%2C2268&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>We are in the middle of a constitutional crisis, and most politicians (both Republican and Democrat) continue to do nothing. It’s past time for Americans to be represented by candidates who fight for their constituents.</h3>The current administration full of millionaires and billionaires continues to dismantle our democracy at an alarming rate - all while continuing to enrich themselves. We are in the middle of a class war, and the billionaire class is winning.<h4>We all deserve elected representatives who understand what we're going through, and we need to get big money out of politics.</h4>I've served my country for almost 13 years in the United States Army, and I want to continue that service by fighting for the people of Illinois' 13th District and beyond. I've also worked as a biochemist for the University of Illinois, and I will fight for education and scientific progress in society.I believe in democracy, freedom, opportunity and equality for ALL Americans. I believe in providing healthcare and education systems that won’t leave Americans in debt. I believe everyone should be able to afford life's necessities and have plenty of money left over. To achieve this, we need change, and we need it now.Too many politicians take money from big donors, lobbyists and super PACs, who they are more loyal to than the constituents they serve. Representative Nikki Budzinski's top donors include lobbyists and super PACs. She ran on a platform of getting "dark money" out of politics, but it now looks like she's fallen victim to the same disease.I will follow the path of leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and only accept grassroots donations. I will also never allow money to influence my legislative decisions. This is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.Above all else, I will fight for the rights of every American, regardless of who you are, where you are from or what you believe in. I will fight against the greed and recklessness of the ruling class. I will fight against oligarchy, authoritarianism, and kleptocracy.I don't cower in the face of bullies - I stand up to them.

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Our district deserves a transparent leader who does everything possible to stop authoritarianism, oligarchy, and kleptocracy in the United States. I've served my country for over twelve years in the United States Army, and I want to continue my service by fighting for the American people in Congress.

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<h2>Experience and Credentials</h2>Dylan is not a politician. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology. After several years studying cancer immunotherapies as a research technician and graduate student at UIUC, he graduated with a Master of Science in Biochemistry. Dylan enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard as a combat medic in 2012 and commissioned as an Army Officer in 2016, through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at UIUC. He served on active duty for over five years, including a deployment to Afghanistan from 2019-2020 as a Battalion Medical Operations Officer for the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment. Dylan also served on the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff as the lead medical planner to support COVID-19 pandemic response operations. He then served a three-year tour at US Army Europe and Africa in Germany to support both Ukraine and NATO, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.For his service, Dylan has received a Bronze Star Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device. Dylan also received the 2023 Captain John R. Teal Leadership Award for his contributions to US Army medicine and the entire US Army.

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By Mara ThackerWhat do sharks and transgender people have in common? No, it’s not just <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/how-ikea-shark-became-trans-icon-1753400">an iconic blue, pink, and white colorway</a>. Both are depicted as dangerous predators in the mainstream media, despite ample evidence to the contrary. This manufactured monstrousness becomes a catalyst and justification for violence, and the pretext for the dismantling of legal protections. It’s also representative of a larger problem plaguing the United States right now – an absolute epidemic of misinformation and disinformation. While misinformation and disinformation can both result in negative consequences, the distinction between the two matters, and sharks and transgender people can help us understand this crucial difference. Misinformation is false or inaccurate information, but importantly, it is typically a mistake or shared without a motive for a particular outcome. Disinformation is false information that is deliberately intended to mislead.&nbsp; Sharks are first and foremost victims of misinformation, though they can be the target of disinformation as well. <a href="https://issues.org/episode-26-misinformation-about-sharks/">A 2023 episode</a> of the Issues in Science and Technology podcast discusses this issue in more detail. One of the biggest culprits of spreading both mis- and disinformation about sharks is the Discovery Channel’s popular annual <a href="https://www.discovery.com/shark-week">Shark Week</a> television event. To capture viewers, Shark Week programming follows the evergreen adage coined by William Randolph Hearst in 1890, “If it bleeds, it leads.” That is to say, though the programming packages themselves are educational, scientific documentaries, in fact, their purpose is entertainment, and editing choices are made accordingly. Examples of misinformation in Shark Week programming include things like an overrepresentation of white men (<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/shark-week-marine-science-diversity/">who are not shark researchers to boot</a>) starring in the programming, creating the false impression that not many women are shark experts. In fact, as<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-dark-side-of-being-a-female-shark-researcher/"> one shark scientist reported, </a>nearly 60% of graduate students in the field are women. Another example is that the focus on the larger, more predatory sharks creates the impression that sharks are dangerous and you could be attacked at any moment within the ocean. In fact, <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/debunking-common-shark-myths">shark attacks are exceedingly rare</a> and are even decreasing in recent years. The most egregious example of disinformation, however, is illustrated by the controversy surrounding the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/showbiz/tv/discovery-shark-week-megalodon">Megalodon: The Monster Shark that Lives</a> film released during the 2013 Shark Week. The problem with the documentary is revealed in its very title– the megalodon has been extinct for millions of years. The title drew viewers in with an expectation that experts would be looking for evidence that these creatures still exist and may be a threat to humans. And no evidence refuting this possibility was presented. These were deliberate choices made by producers because they knew that a hint of a possible oversized killer would draw in viewers far more effectively than a discussion of a long-extinct ocean creature.&nbsp; The impact of all of these choices to privilege entertainment over a more boring truth is that the general public vastly overestimates the threat sharks pose, and genuine conservation efforts are undermined. Many shark species are <a href="https://news.asu.edu/20200313-solutions-deep-dive-shark-conservation">facing significant population decline</a> and are in need of serious conservation efforts to avoid disrupting the ocean’s ecosystems.The transgender community on the other hand, has specifically been the <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/Anti-trans-attitudes-have-existed-for-years-but-organised-disinformation-campaigns-are-increasingly-driving-them">target of disinformation</a> spread by right-wing organizations and individuals who are seeking to implement a (white) Christian Nationalist agenda. Donald Trump’s second term as president has already been marked by <a href="https://www.kff.org/other-health/overview-of-president-trumps-executive-actions-impacting-lgbtq-health/">a number of executive actions and policies</a> targeting transgender and LGTBQIA+ people, though disinformation attacking these communities dates back to well before his inauguration. Nevertheless, it is not an understatement to say that recent years have seen an increase in anti-trans legislation based on scientific disinformation. A few <a href="https://glaad.org/fact-check-overview-falsehoods-and-misleading-tropes-about-transgender-people/">examples of pernicious</a> falsehoods being peddled by the anti-trans movement include the idea that gender is an ideology rather than an innate identity, that LGTBQIA+ people are <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/11/1096623939/accusations-grooming-political-attack-homophobic-origins">groomers and pose a threat to children</a>, that there is an <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/charlie-kirk-trans-shooter-myth/">increase is terrorism</a> being committed by transgender people, and more. In fact, before the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/17/justice-department-study-far-right-extremist-violence">United States government scrubbed the webpage</a> from existence for revealing an inconvenient truth, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250911012550/https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/what-nij-research-tells-us-about-domestic-terrorism">a report published by the National Institute of Justice</a> demonstrated in no uncertain terms that far-right extremists have killed more Americans than any other domestic terrorist group. Yet, as a result of this type of disinformation, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/trans-bathroom-ban-19-states-lgbtq-rights-rcna220503">19 states have enacted restrictions</a> on what bathrooms transgender people may use. These same 19 states have also used scientific disinformation as a basis for passing laws that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11456759/">restrict gender-affirming care</a>. False claims about the legitimacy of gender-affirming care include the thoroughly debunked notion that gender dysphoria is a mental health issue that should be treated via therapy (especially harmful here is<a href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy"> religious right-wing support for conversion therapy</a>), that people who transition will experience regret and detransition, or that there is no evidence of the benefits of gender-affirming care, and lies about safety and standard of care, among others. The sheer volume of disinformation being spread about the transgender community and resulting harmful legislation (to say nothing of extralegal discrimination and violence) can be overwhelming. One result of these pervasive attacks and discrimination is <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/09/25/nx-s1-5127347/more-trans-teens-attempted-suicide-after-states-passed-anti-trans-laws-a-study-shows">an increase in suicide risk</a> by transgender and gender non-conforming teenagers. It is critical that something be done to push back against this flood of cruelty and lies. While <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11456759/">a 2024 article</a> about the role of disinformation in gender-affirming care bans offers some strategies for experts and leaders in the medical and legal professions, for the average citizen the most powerful tool in their arsenal is to support and vote for leaders who are vocal in their support for the transgender community and to push back against blatant disinformation being peddled in their social circles. They can also choose to engage with and support organizations that advocate for transgender and LGTBQIA+ rights such as <a href="https://www.elevatedaccess.org/about">Elevated Access</a> or <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project.</a> As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” so we must all work together to push back against disinformation and misinformation, whether it’s against transgender people, immigrants, or even sharks. Being careful consumers of information allows us to make better choices at the ballot box and create a better world together.&nbsp; To learn more about Dylan's platform regarding the transgender community and protecting trans rights, <a href="https://www.dylanforillinois.com/issues/lgbtq-protections" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.

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<h2>No More, Nikki.</h2><ol><li>Nikki voted to crack down on free speech.<ul><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/159">https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/159</a></li></ul></li><li>Nikki voted for anti-trans legislation.<ul><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/118-2/500">https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/118-2/500</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thelavendernewsletter.com/champaign-residents-and-organizations-balk-at-budzinskis-support-of-anti-trans-legislation/">https://www.thelavendernewsletter.com/champaign-residents-and-organizations-balk-at-budzinskis-support-of-anti-trans-legislation/</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250806181702/https://www.thelavendernewsletter.com/champaign-residents-and-organizations-balk-at-budzinskis-support-of-anti-trans-legislation/">https://web.archive.org/web/20250806181702/https://www.thelavendernewsletter.com/champaign-residents-and-organizations-balk-at-budzinskis-support-of-anti-trans-legislation/</a></li></ul></li><li>Nikki voted for the Laken Riley Act.<ul><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/6">https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/6</a></li></ul></li><li>Nikki cosponsored bills to benefit big agriculture and against clean energy.<ul><li><a href="https://budzinski.house.gov/posts/budzinski-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-biofuels-and-biobased-manufacturing-innovation">https://budzinski.house.gov/posts/budzinski-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-biofuels-and-biobased-manufacturing-innovation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6413/cosponsors">https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6413/cosponsors</a></li></ul></li><li>Nikki has accepted over $200,000 from the pro-Israel lobby.<ul><li><a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts">https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts</a><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6370ac06-dbfb-4f6c-88b6-8d501e2ef4a7/1ea9371f-140e-4656-82d2-5a1d7bf504b0/9ebd532e-afd2-4a45-a8c6-0014a4d7eb33.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4082%2C4096&amp;w=1500" alt="Portrait of Nikki Budzinski stating that she is the current U.S. Representative (D) for IL-13 and has accepted $234,449 in Independent expenditures and campaign donations received from the pro-Israel lobby as of 8/13/25." caption="Nikki Budzinski has accepted $234,449 from the Pro-Israel Lobby." align="right" alignwidth="35" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Nikki Budzinski has accepted $234,449 from the Pro-Israel Lobby.</li></ul></li><li>Nikki voted for pro-crypto bills like the Genius Act.<ul><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/200">https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/200</a> (Genius Act)</li><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/199">https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/199</a> (Clarity Act)</li><li><a href="https://www.standwithcrypto.org/politicians/person/nikki---budzinski">https://www.standwithcrypto.org/politicians/person/nikki---budzinski</a></li></ul></li><li>Nikki voted to increase SNAP and TANF work requirements in 2023.<ul><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/118-1/243">https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/118-1/243</a></li></ul></li><li>Nikki voted to give Charlie Kirk a holiday.<ul><li><a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025282">https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025282</a></li><li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/282">https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/282</a></li></ul></li><li>Nikki has been silent on NIH cuts and attacks on universities.</li></ol>

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Our district deserves a transparent leader who does everything possible to stop authoritarianism, oligarchy, and kleptocracy in the United States. I've served my country for over twelve years in the United States Army, and I want to continue my service by fighting for the American people in Congress.

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The federal government must do all it can to strengthen public education systems. We must also improve access to higher education and make it affordable to all, so students are prepared for jobs.Our public school systems should never be on the chopping block, even when budgets are tight. Rather than abolishing the Department of Education, the federal government must use the DOE to improve childhood education across the United States. For starters, the federal government must incentivize states and communities to pay their teachers higher wages.Rising college tuition costs make colleges and trade schools inaccessible for millions of Americans, while millions more are saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. To combat this, Congress must simultaneously work to pass legislation like the College for All Act to establish tuition-free public colleges and trade schools and the Student Debt Cancellation Act to forgive outstanding federal and private student loans.I know the idea might seem drastic, but many western democracies operate this way. Both these acts will create an easier pathway to economic stability for young people and provide a $1 trillion boost to our economy over a ten-year period.

The federal government must do all it can to strengthen public education systems. We must strengthen higher education and make it affordable to all, so students are prepared for jobs.

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Housing is a human right.We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also seek justice for small businesses and workers by rebuilding unions, investing in people instead of corporations, and providing a federal jobs guarantee.In his 1944 State of the Union address to Congress, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke of a second bill of rights. He spoke of the right to adequate food and clothing, the right to a decent home, the right to a good education, the right to adequate medical care, and the right to protection from economic fears of old age, sickness, accidents, and unemployment.As FDR went on to say, all these rights spell security. I know many Americans are wishing they had some of that economic security right now.Congress must pass legislation like The Place to Prosper Act to incentivize local governments to promote affordable housing in their communities, streamline permits and timelines to accelerate the building of affordable housing, and prohibiting landlords from rejecting a rental application on the basis of an applicant's income source.Rent increases have outpaced wage increases in many communities, leaving families struggling to afford groceries, healthcare, clothes and school supplies. We must pass smart legislation to protect both renters and homeowners.We must also work to rebuild labor unions across America. The labor movement of the turn of the 20th century fought tirelessly for the workplace protections that helped bring power to the working class through greater economic democracy. Wealth and labor protections were directly responsible for the New Deal, which enabled a Golden Age for the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, far-right and reactionary movements, strengthened by Ronald Reagan and neoliberal establishment Democrats, have undone many labor protections.We must also invest in communities, rather than corporations. This means creating more equitable opportunities for small businesses and workers. This also means investing in community workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and support programs for small businesses.

Housing is a human right. We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also seek justice for small businesses and workers by rebuilding unions, investing in people instead of corporations, and providing a federal jobs guarantee.

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Donald Trump, Oligarchs, and the Republican Party continue to use the Project 2025 playbook to rapidly and illegally break this country and the U.S. Constitution, all at the expense of our most vulnerable. They share a fascist vision and seek to rapidly bend the will of Americans to the billionaire class. We cannot let them win.We need to speak up and fight for our rights now, or we will lose them. If you don't believe me, look at how authoritarian regimes stoke fear, stifle journalism, erode rights around the world. Many democrats believe we can wait until the November 2026 elections to turn things around, but I believe the fight must start now.As your Representative, I will continue to defend the constitution, as I have done for all of my adult life. I will not bend the knee and vote for authoritarian bills. I will not abandon or villainize vulnerable groups and give in to the far-right's rhetoric. I will not back down in the face of retaliation. I will not capitulate to fascists and authoritarians - I will stand up to them.Most importantly, I will ensure the voices of all my constituents are heard in Washington. I will do all I can to make you feel represented in Congress.

Donald Trump, Oligarchs, and the Republican Party continue to use the Project 2025 playbook to rapidly and illegally break this country and the U.S. Constitution, all at the expense of our most vulnerable. We need to speak up and fight for our rights now, or we will lose them.

Anti Authoritarian

The right to vote is foundational to our democracy, and it is under sustained attack through voter suppression, partisan gerrymandering, and efforts to undermine public trust in elections. If elected, protecting voting rights and ensuring election integrity will be one of my top priorities.I strongly support passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and modernize the Voting Rights Act, reinstate federal oversight over jurisdictions with a history of voter suppression, and stop discriminatory voting laws before they take effect. I also support nationwide standards to expand access to the ballot, including automatic voter registration, same-day registration, expanded early voting, no-excuse mail-in voting, and protections against voter intimidation and election interference.To ensure working people can fully participate in our democracy, I support making Election Day a federal holiday. No one should have to choose between earning a paycheck and exercising their right to vote. In addition, federal funding should be provided to states and local election authorities to ensure adequate staffing, modern voting equipment, secure election infrastructure, and accessible polling locations, especially in rural, low-income, and historically marginalized communities.Election integrity and voting access go hand in hand. I reject false claims of widespread voter fraud and will oppose laws designed to suppress turnout under the guise of “security.” Real election integrity means transparent processes, secure systems, independent election administration, paper ballot backups, and clear chains of custody—without disenfranchising eligible voters.Our democracy works best when participation is broad, barriers are low, and the will of the people is respected. I will fight to protect and expand the right to vote so every voice is heard and every vote is counted.

The right to vote is foundational to our democracy, and it is under sustained attack through voter suppression, partisan gerrymandering, and efforts to undermine public trust in elections. If elected, protecting voting rights and ensuring election integrity will be one of my top priorities.

Voting Rights

Salon - Dylan Blaha, an Illinois National Guard member, is waging a campaign focused at bringing an affordability agenda to Washington D.C., while sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.salon.com/2025/10/29/ill-do-whatever-i-want-trump-threatens-to-deploy-other-military-branches-in-us-cities/">politicization of the United States military</a>.

The National Guardsman who won’t take orders from Trump

As a disabled veteran with post traumatic stress disorder, I recognize the need to support our veterans - especially those who return with visible or invisible wounds. I will fight for our veterans to continue to receive access to exemplary benefits and healthcare.When I returned home from Afghanistan in May 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic, my Soldiers and I received minimal support. Eventually, I figured out how to file a VA claim for my post traumatic stress disorder and other injuries and taught my Soldiers how to do the same. Now, the Trump administration continues to cut VA jobs, including suicide awareness hotline workers. We deserve better.We are not "suckers" and "losers." It should not be controversial to say that when our veterans return home they should receive exemplary benefits and healthcare. Congress must undo all of Trump's VA cuts and expand care, when possible.Additionally, veterans make up roughly 30% of our federal workforce, which means Trump and Musk's cuts have disproportionately affected veterans. These positions must be reinstated now, with any missed pay or benefits paid back in full.

As a disabled veteran with post traumatic stress disorder, I recognize the need to support our veterans - especially those who return with visible or invisible wounds. I will fight for our veterans to continue to receive access to exemplary benefits and healthcare.

Veteran Assistance

Are you concerned about Artificial Intelligence and its impacts on our society? Please join us on October 3rd for a Community Discussion on AI and its impacts on education, the job market, and more.This event is hosted by Dylan Blaha, who is a progressive candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 13th District. Dylan will be joined by special guest Anita Say Chan, a Professor in the School of Information Sciences and Department of Media and Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the author of Predatory Data: Eugenics in Big Tech and Our Fight for an Independent Future.

People &gt; AI: A Public Forum

Are you concerned about Artificial Intelligence and its impacts on our society? Please join us on October 3rd for a Community Discussion on AI and its impacts on education, the job market, and more.

People > AI Public Forum

Social Security is not a handout. It is an earned benefit.Two-thirds of America's senior citizens would live in poverty without Social Security. The benefit does not make them rich - it allows them to afford food and housing in this inflationary economy.President Trump and Elon Musk have circulated false rumors about Social Security fraud to further the administration's aspirations of eliminating or privatizing government programs. Any cuts to Social Security are unacceptable, and Democratic leaders must continue to speak out on this issue.In 2025, the Social Security tax limit is $176,100. This means that only the first $176,100 of an employee's or self-employed individual's earnings is subject to Social Security taxes. Any income earned above this amount will not be subject to Social Security tax for the year.If elected to Congress, I will introduce legislation to remove the limit on Social Security tax - millionaires and billionaires should pay their fair share, too. This will enable the Social Security trust funds to last far past the estimated depletion date of 2035, without the need for privatization or drastic program changes.

Social Security is not a handout. It is an earned benefit. Two-thirds of America's senior citizens would live in poverty without Social Security. The benefit does not make them rich - it allows them to afford food and housing in this inflationary economy.

Social Security

The Borowitz Report - Captain Dylan Blaha of the Illinois Army National Guard is refusing Trump’s order to deploy him against Americans on U.S. soil—and urging others in the military to disobey such illegal orders. Dylan will lift your spirits and inspire you.

A National Guardsman Stands Up to Trump

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Campaign Kickoff Event in Champaign County

We will host a Campaign Kickoff Event in Champaign County on August 31st at Hessel Park from 3 pm to 8 pm. This event is 100% open to the public! We ask that you please bring school supplies, which we will collectively donate to families in our community.

Campaign Kickoff Event

People are people, and no one is better than anyone else. We live in a society where some individuals prioritize personal gain over the common good. We need to work towards true liberty and equality in America for all individuals, regardless of your age, race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

Civil Rights

Champaign, IL. Democratic Challenger Dylan Blaha (IL-13) issued the following statement today on President Trump's decision to federalize the Washington D.C. police and deploy the National Guard.I strongly condemn the decision to federalize the Washington D.C. police department and deploy National Guard troops to D.C., along with the false narratives pushed forward by this administration.Our President has threatened a full federal takeover of our nation's capital, and now we are watching it play out. Homelessness is a policy failure, yet our government continues to villainize homeless Americans.President Trump also spread a false narrative of increased violent crime in Washington, D.C. However, D.C.'s violent crime statistics dropped in recent years.Last year, violent crime in our capital city hit its lowest level in more than 30 years, according to the U.S. Justice Department. So far this year, robberies have dropped by 28% and overall violent crime is down by 26%, as of August 11th.What's happening in America right now isn't new. Similar situations of authoritarian leaders consolidating executive power occured around the world, in countries like Turkiye, Hungary, Brazil, and Singapore.The far-right movement in America continues to corrupt the truth by demonizing the media, education, and our institutions themselves. We cannot let them control the narrative any longer.We will continue to see our rights stripped away, unless we as Americans stand up for ourselves and our neighbors. If you stand with your fellow Americans, please join the fight. Attend local meetings and see how you can help others in your community.This movement isn't about me, and it's not about any one person. This is about all of us working together to steer America towards a brighter future.

Champaign, IL - Democratic Challenger Dylan Blaha (IL-13) issued the following statement today on President Trump's decision to federalize the Washington D.C. police and deploy the National Guard.

Statement on the Federalization of D.C. Police and National Guard Mobilization

Many American cities face a housing shortage. The cost of renting and buying in Illinois has increased dramatically, due to a variety of factors, like private equity investments. Housing is a human right. We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also address the root causes of housing market inflation.I will introduce or back legislation to incentivize local governments to promote affordable housing in their communities by offering additional funds to local governments that advance the public interest. Measures like streamlining permits and timelines to accelerate the building of affordable housing and prohibiting landlords from rejecting a rental application on the basis of the applicant’s source of income will help promote affordable housing initiatives. We must do everything we can as legislators to increase public housing options. Rent increases have far outpaced wage increases, leaving families struggling to afford groceries, healthcare, clothes, or school supplies. I will support legislation like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez' The Place to Prosper Act, which proposed curbing rent increases for landlords who own 5 or more properties to just 3% of the preceding year’s rent. Additionally, we must stop unjust evictions, ensure rental access to lower income renters, and increase protections for homeowners. Furthermore, I will back a substantive Low Income Housing Tax Credit and permanent funding of the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Housing is a human right. We must protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing. We must also address the root causes of housing market inflation.

news & press

Latest Campaign Developments

National 50501 Movement Endorses Illinois Candidates Blaha, Palecek

BND 2026 Voter Guide: 13th congressional district Democratic primary

Illinois U.S. Primary 2026 | Riverbend Candidate Interviews

Primary candidates participate in League of Women Voters forum

Our Daily Show with CJ! Ft. Ameren Illinois, Dylan Blaha, and More!

WTTW Chicago PBS 2026 Primary Voter Guide Dylan Blaha Q&A

Nikki Budzinski faces Dylan Blaha in Illinois’ 13th Democratic primary

Progressive Democrat Dylan Blaha aims to primary U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski in Illinois’ 13th

Economics and energy take center stage in this year’s 13th congressional district campaigns

Anabel Mendoza and Dylan Blaha: Federal actions are hurting Illinois’ health care system and economy

The National Guardsman who won’t take orders from Trump

A National Guardsman Stands Up to Trump

2 National Guard Members Say They Would Defy Orders to Deploy to Chicago

These U.S. National Guard members say they’ll defy order to deploy in Chicago

And they’re off to the races: Candidates for local, state and national offices in 2026

2 Illinois National Guard members speak out: "I won't turn against my neighbors"

Two National Guardsmen Speak Out Against Trump Admin, Say They Would Refuse Deployment To Chicago

Illinois Army captain says Dems are ‘rolling over’ on LGBTQ+ rights. He's running to change that.

Active Illinois National Guard members share views on recent troop activations in Chicago area

Put people over party and profit in the midterms

Veterans demand ICE stop 'harassment' of protesters after arrest of retired U.S. Air Force member

Dylan Blaha calls on Rep. Budzinski and Miller and Sen. Durbin and Duckworth to Take Action

Statement on the UN’s Recognition of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza

A National Guard Member Running for Office Is Asking His Colleagues to Disobey Illegal Orders

Statement on the Federalization of D.C. Police and National Guard Mobilization

AI price fixing and the need for immediate regulation

Dylan Blaha Speaks Out On US Attacks on Iran

"Meet the Candidate" with The Daily Illini

C-U protesters oppose U.S. action in Iran

Democrats Face Backlash After 'Gratitude' towards ICE

National Guard Captain running against Budzinski

Veterans React to National Guard Deployment to LA

Dylan Blaha Launches Campaign

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