FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2026
March 16, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
AFGE Endorses 7 Illinois Lawmakers for Reelection to Congress
Categories:
Congress, Election 2026, House
Largest federal employee union says lawmakers stand with union members and all federal workers
FOWLERVILLE, Mich. – The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of seven incumbents for reelection to Congress from Illinois – U.S. Reps. Jonathan Jackson, Delia Ramirez, Brad Schneider, Bill Foster, Nikki Budzinski, Lauren Underwood, and Eric Sorensen.
AFGE District 7 National Vice President Jason Anderson announced the endorsements ahead of tomorrow’s statewide primary. The general election is Nov. 3.
“These members of Congress have stood up for AFGE members and all federal workers time and time again, and we are proud to endorse them for reelection,” NVP Anderson said. “At a time when federal departments and agencies have lost hundreds of thousands of dedicated workers – and those who remain are facing unprecedented attacks on their rights and benefits – it’s more critical than ever to support the members of Congress who will stand up and fight for us.”
Nearly 90,000 federal employees live in Illinois – caring for veterans, supporting the military, and ensuring our food is safe to eat. AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 800,000 federal and D.C. government workers. AFGE District 7 represents nearly 43,000 members in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The endorsed candidates are:
Rep. Jonathan Jackson, 1st Congressional District
The son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Jackson has spent decades championing civil rights and social reform and uplifting the work of marginalized and underserved communities.
As the national spokesman for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Jackson has been a powerful force in the fight for justice. He has also emerged as a steadfast advocate for public education, including sponsoring legislation that would prohibit funds appropriated to the Department of Education from being used to reorganize or downsize the department.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, 3rd Congressional District
The daughter of working-class Guatemalan immigrants, Rep. Ramirez is an accomplished legislator, social service director, community leader, and coalition builder who has dedicated her life and career advocating for working families. She currently is the only Latina serving in Congress from the Midwest.
Ramirez served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2018 to 2023, where she ascended to the role of majority floor leader and cofounded the Illinois Progressive Caucus. She has been vocal advocate for veterans and for federal workers.
Rep. Brad Schneider, 10th Congressional District
During his time in Congress, Rep. Schneider has gained a reputation as one of the most bipartisan members in the House and currently chairs the centrist caucus group the New Democrat Coalition.
Schneider is a senior member of the influential Ways and Means Committee, where he is working to improve our health care system and protect Medicare and Social Security. He has earned a 100% voting record on issues critical to AFGE while in Congress.
Rep. Bill Foster, 11th Congressional District
Rep. Foster is a staunch advocate of workers’ rights and has worked during his time in Congress to strengthen and improve federal agencies’ outreach to veterans, seniors, and all Americans.
Foster serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, and also serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. He was appointed to the House Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in the 118th Congress.
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, 13th Congressional District
An Illinois native, Rep. Budzinski has spent her career fighting to raise wages, strengthen and expand union rights, and help restore the American Dream for millions of struggling workers.
Before her election to Congress in 2022, Budzinski spent most of her professional career working for trade unions including the Laborers' International Union of North America, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and United Food and Commercial Workers. She has been ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the House.
Rep. Lauren Underwood, 14th Congressional District
Since becoming the youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress when she was first elected in November 2018, Rep. Underwood has proven herself to be a hard worker and an effective leader for her community. She was elected by her peers to a leadership role in the House Democratic Caucus in 2022 and currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee, where she is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Underwood worked to implement the Affordable Care Act as a federal worker in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services before being elected to Congress, and since then she has made access to high-quality, affordable health care a signature issue. A bill she introduced to lower the cost of health insurance by increasing the tax credit and making permanent was signed into law as part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Rep. Eric Sorensen, 17th Congressional District
A native of Rockford, Ill., Rep. Sorensen is focused on lowering costs for working families, creating sustainable jobs in Central and Northwestern Illinois, and supporting the family farms and rural communities that keep our economy moving forward.
Sorensen advocates for Illinois farmers as a member of the House Agriculture Committee and advocates for the service members and civilian employees working in his district at Rock Island Arsenal and Peoria Air National Guard Base as a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
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