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<p><strong>Lots of things are happening!</strong> Check back here to find our latest news and press releases.</p>

<h2>Latest Campaign Developments</h2>

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<p><strong>I'm excited to launch my campaign and share this journey with you!</strong> I will update this section with the news we make.</p>

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<p><strong>I will fight to get big money out of politics and give the power back to the American people.</strong> Above all else, I will fight for the rights of every American, regardless of who you are, where you’re from or what you believe in.</p>

<h2>Our Campaign’s Top Issues</h2>

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<h1>BILLIONAIRES HAVE TOO MUCH POWER <span style="color: var(--color-bg0-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-bg0-text-accent-primary)">OVER OUR ECONOMY AND GOVERNMENT</span></h1>

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<p><strong>Are you interested in supporting a different kind of candidate?</strong></p>

<h2>IT'S TIME TO <span style="color: var(--color-headline-secondary)">STAND UP</span> <span style="color: var(--color-headline-secondary)">FOR DEMOCRACY</span></h2>

<h4>Contribute to Dylan's fight for change!</h4>

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<p><strong>Please check out our upcoming events!</strong></p>

<h2>Campaign Events</h2>

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<h1>Press Requests</h1>

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.

Dylan for Illinois

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<p><strong>Chicago Sun Times</strong> - 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.</p>

<h4>Active Illinois National Guard members share views on recent troop activations in Chicago area</h4>

<p><strong>If you want to link an external news source,</strong> use the “link” icons on the sidebar. Anything linked externally will automatically be listed <a target="_blank" href="">as “new</a>s” and any article you create on the site itself will automatically be listed as a “press release.”</p>

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<p>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.</p>

<h2>Education</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>Economic Rights</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>Anti Authoritarian</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>Voting Rights</h2>

<p><strong>Salon</strong> - 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>.</p>

<h4>The National Guardsman who won’t take orders from Trump</h4>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>Veteran Assistance</h2>

<p>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.</p><p>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 <em>Predatory Data: Eugenics in Big Tech and Our Fight for an Independent Future.</em></p>

<h4><p>People &gt; AI: </p><p>A Public Forum</p></h4>

<p>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.</p>

People > AI Public Forum

<p><strong>Social Security is not a handout. It is an earned benefit. </strong>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.</p>

<h2>Social Security</h2>

<p><strong>The Borowitz Report</strong> - 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.</p>

<h4>A National Guardsman Stands Up to Trump</h4>

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<h4>Campaign Kickoff Event in Champaign County</h4>

<p>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. </p>

Campaign Kickoff Event

<p>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.</p>

<h2>Civil Rights</h2>

<p><strong>Champaign, IL</strong> - 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.</p>

<h4>Statement on the Federalization of D.C. Police and National Guard Mobilization</h4>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>Building Affordable Housing</h2>

<h4>Candidates in Conversation for a People First Illinois: Dylan Blaha and Kevin Ryan</h4>

<p>Come meet Dylan Blaha and Kevin Ryan, who is running for US Senate! Find our more from our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2030445371108923/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook event page</a>!</p>

Meet Dylan Blaha and Kevin Ryan

<p>Meet with Dylan's Team for Office Hours! Ask Questions, Sign his Petition, and Donate to our Grassroots Campaign!</p>

<h4>Office Hours</h4>

Office Hours

<p><strong>CBS News</strong> - Two Illinois National Guard members told CBS News they would refuse to obey federal <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/national-guard-chicago-portland-what-we-know/">orders</a> 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.</p>

<h4>2 Illinois National Guard members speak out: "I won't turn against my neighbors"</h4>

<p><strong>Belleville News-Democrat </strong> - Welcome to the Belleville News-Democrat’s Voter Guide for the 13th congressional district Democratic primary that features Dylan Blaha and Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who is the incumbent in the district that stretches from the metro-east to Champaign.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p>

<h4>BND 2026 Voter Guide: 13th congressional district Democratic primary</h4>

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

<h4>And they’re off to the races: Candidates for local, state and national offices in 2026</h4>

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

<h4>A National Guard Member Running for Office Is Asking His Colleagues to Disobey Illegal Orders</h4>

<p>We must implement a substantial child tax credit, guarantee paid parental leave, and provide Social Security credits for stay-at-home parents. No person, especially a child, should live in poverty.</p>

<h2>Families</h2>

<p><strong>CHAMPAIGN, IL </strong>- 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.</p>

<h4>Dylan Blaha Speaks Out On US Attacks on Iran</h4>

<p>Advancements in artificial intelligence must not come at the cost of humanity. We must ensure fairness, protect human rights, and maintain societal well-being. The US government must regulate artificial intelligence to mitigate significant risks to public safety and economic security, including bias, privacy infringement, misuse of misinformation, and potential harm to safety and security.</p>

<h2>Artificial Intelligence Regulation</h2>

<p><strong>The Sunken Press </strong>- This video features candidates appearing on Riverbend ballots for United States Congress in the March 17 primary election.<br></p>

<h4>Illinois U.S. Primary 2026 | Riverbend Candidate Interviews</h4>

<p>We will host a "Meet the Candidate" event at Riggs Beer Company in Urbana, IL on June 22nd!</p><p>While not mandatory, we ask that you bring one non-perishable food item per attendee. We will donate all items to local food banks. </p>

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<h4>"Meet the Candidate" in Urbana</h4>

<p>Write a little something about your issue here. You can only write about a paragraph here, but you can turn on <strong>an option to create full issues pages</strong> on the options sidebar of the issues page.</p>

<h2>Gun Violence</h2>

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

<h4>Dylan Blaha calls on Rep. Budzinski and Miller and Sen. Durbin and Duckworth to Take Action</h4>

<p><strong>St. Louis Public Radio </strong><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">-</span> 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.</p><p></p>

<h4>Progressive Democrat Dylan Blaha aims to primary U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski in Illinois’ 13th</h4>

<p>We will host a "Meet the Candidate" event in Springfield, IL on August 16th!</p><p>While not mandatory, we ask that you bring one non-perishable food item per attendee. We will donate all items to local food banks.</p>

<h4>"Meet the Candidate" in Springfield</h4>

<p>We will host a "Meet the Candidate" event in Springfield, IL on August 23th!</p><p>While not mandatory, we ask that you bring one non-perishable food item per attendee. We will donate all items to local food banks.</p>

"Meet the Candidate" in Springfield

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

<h4>Veterans React to National Guard Deployment to LA</h4>

<p><strong>WTTW Chicago PBS</strong> -<strong> </strong>Dylan answers questions on his platform with WTTW Chicago PBS before the primary and outlines why he is running and what he plans to do once elected to represent IL-13.</p>

<h4>WTTW Chicago PBS 2026 Primary Voter Guide Dylan Blaha Q&A</h4>

<p><strong>The Chicago Tribune </strong><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">-</span><strong> </strong>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.</p>

<h4>Anabel Mendoza and Dylan Blaha: Federal actions are hurting Illinois’ health care system and economy</h4>

<p>Join us as we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ Community in Springfield, Illinois!</p>

<h4>Springfield Pride-tober</h4>

Springfield Pride-tober

<p><strong>CBC </strong>- 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.</p>

<h4>These U.S. National Guard members say they’ll defy order to deploy in Chicago</h4>

<p><strong>Alton Telegraph </strong><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">-</span><strong> </strong><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">In the 13th U.S. Congressional District of Illinois, Democratic incumbent Rep. <a href="https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/nikki-budzinski-seniors-shutdown-metro-east-21112350.php" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Nikki Budzinski</a> is facing a challenge in the primary election from Dylan Blaha.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Voting is currently underway for the primary election and continuing through March 17.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Blaha is a medical planner with the Illinois National Guard. He portrays himself as the more</span></p>

<h4>Nikki Budzinski faces Dylan Blaha in Illinois’ 13th Democratic primary</h4>

<p><strong>The Intelligencer</strong> - Candidates in Several contested primaries participated in a forum Feb. 25 at Widley Theater in Edwardsville.</p>

<h4>Primary candidates participate in League of Women Voters forum</h4>

<p><strong>Chicago Sun Times</strong> - 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.</p>

<h4>Veterans demand ICE stop 'harassment' of protesters after arrest of retired U.S. Air Force member</h4>

<p><strong>CHAMPAIGN, IL</strong> - 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<sup>th</sup> District.</p>

<h4>Dylan Blaha Launches Campaign</h4>

<p><strong>The News-Gazette</strong> - 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.</p>

<h4>AI price fixing and the need for immediate regulation</h4>

<p>The climate crisis is an existential threat, and incrementalism is no longer sufficient. While the Green New Deal set an important framework by linking climate action to jobs and justice, we must now move faster and be more aggressive in transforming our economy and energy systems.</p>

<h2>Environment</h2>

<p>The US economic system must work to the benefit of all, rather than just the wealthy few. Working people are the backbone of the US economy and deserve a fair share of the wealth they help create.</p>

<h2>Strong Unions</h2>

<p>The current system is broken. Too many politicians (Republican and Democrat) fall victim to a system that promotes greed, rewards stagnation and fails to incentivize change. We must get money out of politics, and that starts with overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous <em>Citizens United</em> ruling.</p>

<h2>Democratic Reform</h2>

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

<h4>2 National Guard Members Say They Would Defy Orders to Deploy to Chicago</h4>

<p>A kleptocracy is a government whose corrupt leaders use their political power to expropriate the wealth of the people and land they govern. Sound familiar?</p>

<h2>Anti Kleptocracy</h2>

<p><strong>WAND </strong>-<strong> </strong>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.</p>

<h4>National Guard Captain running against Budzinski</h4>

<p>Elon Musk spent over $277 million to elect Donald Trump to his second term. At the inauguration, he received a front row seat, along with Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other tech oligarchs, while the President literally left his supporters to sit out in the cold. It's time to get big money out of politics.</p>

<h2>Anti-Oligarchy</h2>

<p>We must immediately reverse all cuts to scientific advancement in America and continue to invest in lifesaving medical advancements and environmental technologies.</p>

<h2>Science is Real</h2>

<p>Small businesses and family farmers are the backbone of Illinois’ 13th District and communities across the country, but today they’re being squeezed by corporate consolidation, unfair markets, rising costs, and a federal system that too often favors the biggest players.</p>

<h2>Small Businesses and Family Farmers</h2>

<p><strong>The Chicago Crusader</strong> - Two National Guard members, Staff Sgt. Demi Palecek and Capt. Dylan Blaha, said they would refuse Trump’s&nbsp;orders&nbsp;to deploy in Chicago.</p>

<h4>Two National Guardsmen Speak Out Against Trump Admin, Say They Would Refuse Deployment To Chicago</h4>

<p>Come join supporters for Dylan Blaha as they celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community in Champaign/Urbana. </p>

<h4>Urbana Pride Parade</h4>

<p>Join supporters of Dylan Blaha as we celebrate the LGBTIA+ community in Champaign-Urbana!</p>

Champaign/Urbana Pride Parade

<p>Illinois’s 13th Congressional District’s progressive challenger gained a nod from 50501, the nation’s leading grassroots protest movement against oligarchy, fascism, and corruption.</p>

<h4>National 50501 Movement Endorses Illinois Candidates Blaha, Palecek</h4>

<p>There is honor in immigration. Both sides of my family immigrated to the US a few generations ago. It is past time to make undocumented individuals full members of the country they call their home and abolish ICE.</p>

<h2>Immigration</h2>

<p>Freedom and safety should not be in conflict. The United States has allowed gun violence to become a normalized part of daily life, with devastating consequences for children, families, and communities. Addressing gun violence requires courage, evidence-based policy, and a commitment to protecting life.</p>

<h2>Gun Reform</h2>

<p>The United States was built on systems of racial exploitation (slavery, segregation, redlining, mass incarceration, and discriminatory federal policy) that continue to shape economic and social inequality today. Justice requires more than acknowledgment; it requires repair.</p>

<h2>Reparations and Social Justice</h2>

<p>Healthcare is a human right. I believe in guaranteed healthcare for all people (Medicare for All). I believe in curbing costs for Americans and launching initiatives to improve long-term health.</p>

<h2>Healthcare</h2>

<p>True public safety does not come from mass incarceration - it comes from investing in people and addressing the root causes of harm. For too long, our criminal legal system has punished poverty, criminalized survival, and denied people the resources they need to rebuild their lives.</p>

<h2>Prison Reform</h2>

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

<h4>"Meet the Candidate" with The Daily Illini</h4>

<p><strong>The Daily Illini </strong>- Over 50 community members gathered to protest President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/us/politics/trump-iran-surrender-khamenei.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">threats</a> of military action and continued U.S. support for Israel’s ongoing airstrikes in Iran.&nbsp;</p>

<h4>C-U protesters oppose U.S. action in Iran</h4>

<p><strong>Smile Politely</strong> - For IL-13, we have some early optimism about the candidacy of Democratic challenger <a href="https://www.dylanforillinois.com/">Dylan Blaha</a>. 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.</p>

<h4>Put people over party and profit in the midterms</h4>

<p><strong>Advocate</strong> - In the <a href="http://advocate.com/illinois" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Illinois</a> 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 <a href="http://advocate.com/lgbt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LGBTQ+</a> rights and a critique of what he sees as his own party’s growing reluctance to defend the community.</p>

<h4>Illinois Army captain says Dems are ‘rolling over’ on LGBTQ+ rights. He's running to change that.</h4>

<p><strong>&nbsp;Riverbender </strong>- At 10:35 AM, Democratic congressional candidate Dylan Blaha joins us to discuss his campaign for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, currently represented by Nikki Budzinski. We’ll talk about his platform, priorities for the district, and how he views the upcoming primary. The conversation will focus on policy ideas, constituent concerns, and what he believes voters are looking for in the next election cycle.</p>

<h4>Our Daily Show with CJ! Ft. Ameren Illinois, Dylan Blaha, and More!</h4>

<p><strong>Newsweek </strong>- "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 <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Congress</a> has a duty to protect the most vulnerable," Dylan Blaha stated.</p>

<h4>Democrats Face Backlash After 'Gratitude' towards ICE</h4>

<p>We must expand protections for LGBTQIA+ people and end the criminalization of LGBTQIA+ identities. People are people and all Americans deserve the right to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.</p>

<h2>LGBTQIA+ Protections</h2>

<p><span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);"><strong>NPR Illinois </strong></span><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">-</span> 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.</p><p></p>

<h4>Economics and energy take center stage in this year’s 13th congressional district campaigns</h4>

<p>I believe in equal access to workplace safety, equal pay, paid parental leave, and full access to healthcare for women. Alongside other leaders in America, I want to help create a society in which ALL women are free from structural impediments and able to live and thrive in safe and healthy environments. I support economic rights, reproductive rights, and the end to oppression of all women.</p>

<h2>Women's Rights</h2>

<h4>Rockin' Around Democracy</h4>

Rockin' Around Democracy

<p>The US must immediately eliminate any rhetoric of purchasing Greenland, annexing the Panama Canal, or making Canada the 51st state and develop a noninterventionist and anti-imperialist approach. The US must also stop enabling Israel's genocide in Gaza and push for a permanent ceasefire. I condemn anti-Palestinian, antisemitic, and anti-Muslim rhetoric.</p>

<h2>Foreign Policy</h2>

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

<h4>Statement on the UN’s Recognition of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza</h4>

Dylan Thomas Blaha is a progressive candidate running for the US House of Representatives in Illinois' 13th District.