Marching towards November: Meet our latest Primary Candidates
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but we’re rolling full-steam ahead into general elections! Today, seven** Run for Something endorsed candidates have contested primaries in Illinois. Despite the tumult happening across the country, each of these candidates has continued to mobilize voters and reach out to constituents in their district.
Take a look at the seven candidates up for election!
** On March 16, at 11:15 pm et, the Director of the Ohio Department of Health announced that the polls would not open for Ohio’s primary due to COVID-19. Therefore RFS-endorsed candidate Reem Subei will have her primary on June 2 (hopefully.) Florida, Illinois, and Arizona have elected to keep their polls open today.
DeAndre Tillman
Illinois State House of Representatives, District 29
A lifelong resident of Chicago’s Southland, DeAndre Tillman is an accomplished attorney and public official with a reputation for being an advocate for disadvantaged kids, families, and seniors. Tillman is a progressive candidate who will bring innovative ideas to the 29th District of Illinois. Tillman will use his background in law and government to create policies that are consistent with the needs and interest of the people of Illinois. Tillman currently serves on the City Council of Calumet City, Illinois and is seeking higher office to better advocate for more investments into the most disenfranchised communities of the District.
Ryan Huffman
Illinois State House of Representatives, District 54
Ryan Huffman is a candidate for state representative in Illinois’ 54th district. A former energy policy analyst and White House intern in the Obama administration, Ryan holds a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago. In 2018, he ran for Congress in Illinois’ 6th Congressional district, and went on to join the campaign team of his former rival Democrat Sean Casten in his successful bid to flip the district blue. A Palatine resident, Huffman works as a data analyst at a Chicago digital advertising company.
Ken Thomas
Illinois State Senate, District 13
Ken Thomas is a 28-year-old husband and University of Chicago trained lawyer running for the Illinois State Senate in District 13. He is passionate about bringing more affordable housing, jobs and economic development to his community. In his law practice, Ken successfully represented dozens of low-income families in eviction court for free. Additionally, Ken has represented victims of domestic violence in their asylum proceedings and stepped up to fight Trump’s travel ban by providing legal assistance to families of potential detainees at O’Hare International Airport. Ken will be a strong, independent and progressive voice in the Illinois State Senate.
Robert Peters
Illinois State Senate, District 13
State Senator Robert Peters has a deep passion for public service cultivated by numerous events throughout his life that left a profound impact on him and the people he cares about. As a political organizer, Peters successfully fought to require Cook County judges to set affordable bail amounts for all defendants, leading to a substantial reduction in the Cook County Jail population since it took effect in July 2017.
As a state senator, Peters plans to continue advocating for the people in his community and district to ensure they get the investment they need. He is also committed to passing a balanced budget, continuing his focus on criminal justice reform, creating clean energy jobs and fighting for quality public education. He is passionate about his work and his community and intends to be the best public servant he can be.
Daniel Epstein
Illinois Supreme Court, District 1
Daniel Epstein is an award winning attorney who represented clients in complex pro bono cases in the Supreme Court of the United States and courts across the country. But it was when he returned to serve clients in Illinois that he experienced the systemic problems that he’s now campaigning to fix. Daniel saw the State using faulty DNA machines and pseudoscience to convict people; a system giving financial rewards to forensic labs and courts for finding guilt; and a system vulnerable to judicial corruption. And, most importantly, he saw what we can do to fix it.
Hadiya Afzal
DuPage County Board, District 4
Hadiya Afzal is a college student who grew up and ran for office in her home district in 2018 to fix the racial, gender, age, and ideological disparities she saw in her County Board. In addition to serving as President of the College Democrats of Illinois, she has also worked for state, federal, and international representatives and learned how to craft and pass the strong progressive legislation she believes DuPage County deserves. Hadiya is passionate and experienced about the issues her district faces and is ready to find courageous solutions to those complex problems.
DeShawn Williams
Champaign County Board, District 6, Illinois
DeShawn is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and leader within the financial industry. He’s an assistant vice president and branch manager as well as an active member of the community. DeShawn is a progressive candidate running for County Board, District 6, in Champaign, IL. As a county board member, he will push for restorative justice programs that will keep our county jails from filling up with individuals who look like him. He is adamant about the development of individuals who find themselves fighting against the grain.
