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 progressive candidate, citing several disagreements with Budzinski on policy and specific bills.

Both have positioned themselves as opponents of President Donald Trump’s policies.

The winner of that race will face either Jeff Wilson or Joshua Loyd, who are running in the Republican primary.

Here is a deeper look at both Nikki Budzinski and Dylan Blaha: 

Dylan Blaha outlines platform in Illinois' 13th District

Dylan Blaha, an Urbana resident, is a medical planner with the Illinois Army National Guard and a former cancer research scientist at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign.

He has a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology and a master’s degree in Biochemistry, both from the University of Illinois.

“I’m running for office because I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to serve my country and stand up for people who are too often ignored by those in power,” Blaha said. “Through my work as a cancer research scientist and my service in the Illinois Army National Guard, I’ve seen firsthand how broken systems (healthcare, housing, and our economy) fail working families while billionaires and special interests thrive.”

He said politics should be about improving people’s lives and not protecting corporate donors.

“I believe government should be a tool for the working class: lowering costs, guaranteeing healthcare as a human right, and investing in our communities instead of endless war and corporate greed,” saying he is running to return power to the people.

Blaha cited his military service, including tours in Afghanistan, saying he brings “a deep commitment to public service and accountability. I understand how federal systems work, where they fail working people, and how to push for reforms that put human well-being first. I’m running to bring that experience to Congress and use it to fight for healthcare, infrastructure, and economic policies that actually serve the people of this district.

“Beyond my military service, I bring a deep commitment to public service and accountability,” Blaha said. “I understand how federal systems work, where they fail working people, and how to push for reforms that put human well-being first.”

He said the most pressing issue in the 13th District is the rising cost of living, specifically citing healthcare, housing, and “wages that haven’t kept up with reality.”

“Too many families are one medical emergency away from financial ruin, spending unsustainable portions of their income on rent, and stuck in jobs that don’t pay enough to live on, even while working full-time,” he said, adding he would fight for Medicare for all.

He also supports large-scale federal investment in affordable and social housing, stronger tenant protection, and “using federal dollars to build homes where people actually need them.

In addition, he would fight for “a true living wage, indexed to inflation,” as well as stronger labor protections.

Blaha said he would approach the office with a “fundamentally different set of priorities” rooted in defending human rights, standing with vulnerable communities and “refusing to cave to fear-based or right-wing narratives.”

He took exception to Budzinski’s vote for the Laken Riley Act and “symbolic measures praising ICE.”

“I also oppose the continued arming of Israel — a country that is continuing its genocide in Gaza at this very moment,” he said.

“At home, I would not support legislation that harms trans children, restricts reproductive freedom, or advances right-wing framing on public safety at the expense of civil liberties,” he said. “I believe Congress has a responsibility to defend bodily autonomy, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the safety and dignity of all people.”

Ultimately, Blaha said he would stand “consistently” with working people and marginalized communities.

Nikki Budzinski seeks another term in Illinois’ 13th

Nikki Budzinski, of Springfield, was first elected in 2022 after redistricting following the 2020 census. She defeated Republican Regan Deering 56.6% to 43.4% in 2022, and in 2024, she defeated Republican Joshua Loyd, 58.1% to 41.9%.

Prior to being elected to Congress, Budzinski was a labor organizer and had worked in government for both Gov. JB Pritzker and under the President Joe Biden administration.

She has bachelor’s degrees in political science and history from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“I’m running again because I love this community — and because our work is far from finished,” she said. “I believe I can be the voice our community needs in Washington, focused on two urgent priorities: standing up to Donald Trump and lowering costs for working families.”

In her three years in Congress, she has “proven that I get things done.”

She said her experience in the labor movement, and then working in government at the state and federal levels, has both shaped her priorities and reflects a “lifelong commitment” to putting working people first.

“In the past year, I’ve been standing up to Trump’s attacks on our democracy while staying focused on lowering the cost of living and creating good-paying jobs,” she said. “I’ve delivered millions in funding back to communities across the district, including $34 million this year alone. That record shows exactly why voters can trust me to keep fighting for them in Washington.”

Budzinski noted that the 13th Congressional District is “large and diverse,” with many communities that have unique needs.

She cited working closely with the University of Illinois to support research, workforce issues, and higher education; in Springfield, focusing on economic development and addressing rising costs; and in Decatur, focusing on agricultural issues.

“In the Metro East, I’m addressing longstanding flooding and water infrastructure problems that residents have dealt with for far too long,” she said. “At the same time, I’m working to ensure additional investment in Granite City Works, safeguarding good-paying union jobs.

“Continuing to serve in this office means continuing to fight for all these objectives and having the experience and passion necessary to get the job done — and done right,” she said.

The most important issue is affordability.

“Families are being squeezed at every turn, from the grocery store to the doctor’s office to their monthly rent,” she added. “We need to take real action to lower costs. I’ve led countless efforts in Congress to make healthcare affordable, hold large retailers like Dollar General and Family Dollar accountable for deceptive pricing practices, to end reckless trade wars that raise prices for consumers and hurt our farmers, and build more affordable housing so families can actually stay in their communities.”