Alton Telegraph - In the 13th U.S. Congressional District of Illinois, Democratic incumbent Rep. Nikki Budzinski is facing a challenge in the primary election from Dylan Blaha. 

Voting is currently underway for the primary election and continuing through March 17. 

Blaha is a medical planner with the Illinois National Guard. He portrays himself as the more

St. Louis Public Radio - Dylan Blaha, a progressive Democrat and Illinois National Guard member, has an uphill battle to defeat U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski in the primary for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.

NPR Illinois - On February 5, early voting begins in Illinois for the March 17 primary election. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski is seeking a third term in Illinois’ 13th congressional district, which stretches from Champaign-Urbana to East St. Louis. She faces several challengers from the GOP as well as her own party.

The Chicago Tribune - Illinois’ 7th and 13th congressional districts may look different on a map, but their histories are deeply connected. The 7th District was shaped by the Great Migration, when Black families built communities on Chicago’s South and West sides while powering the city’s industrial and service economy.

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 politicization of the United States military.

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.

PEOPLE - "I did not raise my right hand to be used as a pawn and activated against my community," Capt. Dylan Blaha tells PEOPLE

CBC - Capt. Dylan Blaha and Staff Sgt. Demi Palecek, both Democratic candidates, say Trump’s demands are unlawful. When Capt. Dylan Blaha signed up for the Illinois National Guard, he never thought he would be asked to stand against people in his own state.

The News-Gazette - Democrat Dylan Blaha, 32, of Urbana, filed Monday to run against Budzinski in the race for Illinois’ 13th congressional district seat.

CBS News - Two Illinois National Guard members told CBS News they would refuse to obey federal orders to deploy in Chicago as part of President Trump's controversial immigration enforcement mission — a rare act of open defiance from within the military ranks.

The Chicago Crusader - Two National Guard members, Staff Sgt. Demi Palecek and Capt. Dylan Blaha, said they would refuse Trump’s orders to deploy in Chicago.

Advocate - In the Illinois 13th Congressional District, 32-year-old Army Captain and biochemist Dylan Blaha is mounting a progressive primary challenge against Democratic U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who has represented the district since 2023. At the core of his campaign is a clear commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and a critique of what he sees as his own party’s growing reluctance to defend the community.

Chicago Sun Times - Members of the military are required to follow constitutional orders and disobey unconstitutional orders. But two members from Illinois see gray areas in the deployment of forces in the Chicago area to assist immigration agents.

Smile Politely - For IL-13, we have some early optimism about the candidacy of Democratic challenger Dylan Blaha. Blaha is a US Army Veteran and former biochemist at the University of Illinois, and he is running a “People First” grassroots campaign that eschews corporate donations in favor of building relationships with his constituents.

Chicago Sun Times - Following the arrest of a 70-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran at an anti-ICE protest over the weekend, fellow veterans are demanding that federal immigration agents end their harassment of both protesters and immigrants.

Champaign, IL - Democratic Candidate Dylan Blaha (IL-13) issued the following statement today regarding Israel's illegal attacks against the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Champaign, IL - Champaign, IL. Democratic Challenger Dylan Blaha (IL-13) issued the following statement today, following the UN's recognition of Israel's genocide in Gaza.

THE LEFT HOOK with Wajahat Ali - Captain Dylan Blaha, an Illinois National Guard veteran, is asking his colleagues to disobey Trump's illegal order, & he's running for office as a progressive Democrat to reform the Democratic Party.

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.

The News-Gazette - In the past year, it has seemed that the consequences of artificial intelligence have dominated the news cycle. There’s one topic that hasn’t been covered enough in the news, however: AI-based price fixing, or surveillance pricing. In short, corporations are now able to raise prices by using your consumer data to gauge your willingness to pay.

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Dylan Blaha, an Afghan War veteran and National Guard Captain running for United States Congress, condemned Donald Trump’s decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday.

The Daily Illini - Dylan Blaha, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois' 13th Congressional District, met with The Daily Illini to discuss his platform.

The Daily Illini - Over 50 community members gathered to protest President Donald Trump’s threats of military action and continued U.S. support for Israel’s ongoing airstrikes in Iran. 

Newsweek - "75 Democrats joined Republicans to "express gratitude" to ICE agents and call for greater local and state collaboration with ICE. There is honor in immigration. The government works for the people, and Congress has a duty to protect the most vulnerable," Dylan Blaha stated.

WAND - Dylan Blaha, Democratic candidate for United States Congress in Illinois 13th congressional district, announced he will officially launch his primary challenge against Democratic Rep. Nikki Budzinski.

The Financial Times - National Guard Captain Dylan Blaha spoke with The Financial Times regarding the deployment of 4,000 National Guard Soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, in response to ICE protests.

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Progressive US Army veteran and scientist Dylan Blaha announced Monday he’s launching a campaign to challenge Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) during the 2026 Democratic Primary in Illinois’ 13^th District.