FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2026
October 16, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Six Illinois Candidates for U.S. House
Categories:
Congress, Election 2026, House
AFGE says candidates stand with labor and will support federal employees and their work
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of six candidates running to represent Illinois in the U.S. House in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
The newly endorsed candidates are Donna Miller (CD-2), La Shawn Ford (CD-7), Melissa Bean (CD-8), Daniel Biss (CD-9), Jennifer Todd (CD-15), and Paul Nolley (CD-16).
“AFGE is proud to support these U.S. House candidates who will stand up for AFGE members, federal workers and the essential services they provide to the public,” said AFGE District 7 National Vice President Jason Anderson.
Donna Miller (CD-2) is a public servant, health care professional and community advocate with decades of experience delivering results. She chairs the Veterans Committee on the Cook County Board of Commissioners and has a 100% voting record on union contracts as a commissioner.
La Shawn Ford (CD-7) is a former Chicago Public Schools teacher and coach. As a state representative, he helps constituents access services like workforce development, and he focuses on social justice, small business and health care access. He holds regular public and media forums, and he has stood on picket lines with striking workers.
Melissa Bean (CD-8) is a former member of Congress who will be ready to work from day one. The daughter of a World War II Marine veteran who became a small business owner, she is running for cleaner air and water, better schools, and safer communities. In Congress, she helped pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Wall Street reform, and the Affordable Care Act, and she was known for working across the aisle.
Daniel Biss (CD-9) is the mayor of Evanston and a former state representative and state senator. A lifelong community activist and former University of Chicago mathematics professor, he took on entrenched power and big money in Evanston to deliver campaign finance reform. He has a record of fighting the important fights and winning them.
Jennifer Todd (CD-15) is a nurse, a mom and a fighter. Her priorities are affordability, farming, health care, veterans’ care and education. As a health care provider, she knows what rural hospital closures do to communities. Her campaign is rooted in showing up, listening and doing the work for working families who have been ignored.
Paul Nolley (CD-16) is executive director of Project First Rate, where he fights for blue-collar apprenticeships, responsible construction practices, and policies that put workers first. He is dedicated to saving Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and he will work to strengthen worker rights and pass serious campaign finance reform.
AFGE previously announced other endorsements in Illinois, including Juliana Stratton for the U.S. Senate and nine candidates seeking reelection for the U.S. House.
Nearly 90,000 federal employees live in Illinois – caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents nearly 43,000 federal employees in District 7, which includes Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Written by OPEIU 2 AFL-CIO
###
Click here to Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund.
For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.
Follow us on:
