BND 2026 Voter Guide: 13th congressional district Democratic primary
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.
The News-Democrat has contacted candidates running in contested races in the March 17 Illinois primary and asked them to complete a candidate questionnaire.
While this article has information about the Democratic primary for the 13th congressional district, you can go to this page at bnd.com to get links to read about other candidates running in the primary.
Below are the responses from Blaha and Budzinski. They are running to be the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 3 election. (They’re listed alphabetically.)
NAME: DYLAN BLAHA
Age as of March 17, 2026: 32
Campaign website or social media page: https://www.dylanforillinois.com/
Office seeking: U.S. House of Representatives, IL-13
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) No
Occupation: Illinois Army National Guard captain, former cancer researcher
Education: Master of Science in biochemistry, Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology, both from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I’ve served in the Illinois Army National Guard for over 13 years, as both a combat medic and medical planner in places like Afghanistan and Germany. Over the years, I’ve used this skillset to teach first aid classes to my community. I’ve also volunteered with several groups in the Champaign-Urbana community like the MCB Graduate Student Organization to teach science to middle school children, and I’ve volunteered with Big Brother Big Sister since January 2025. Since starting this campaign, I’ve organized or supported many protests of the Trump regime in places like Springfield, Urbana and Alton. I also began making social media content in late February 2025 to educate my followers on the rising authoritarianism and ever-present oligarchy in America. Because of my videos reminding service members to disobey unlawful orders, I was invited to speak at the Remove the Regime Rally in Washington, D.C. in November 2025. Regardless of how this campaign ends, I will continue to be an organizer and activist throughout our district.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Individual donors (James Chambers, Kristen Kuo, Ream Qato). I do not take money from corporations, corporate super PACs or foreign interest groups like AIPAC.
How much money have you raised for your campaign? $80,592.32
Why are you running? I’m running for Congress because the system is broken and I want to help fix it. I want to help people, which is why I’ve previously sought work in health care. Donald Trump continues to plunge America further into an authoritarian state and hurt working families, but I believe he is a symptom of a much larger problem in America. We live in an oligarchy, one that prioritizes the needs of the one percent over the needs of the many. If Democrats want to win elections consistently, we need to embrace good, progressive policies that improve the lives of the working class. I’m running for Congress to bring those working class policies to IL-13.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? People in our district continue to struggle to afford basic necessities, like healthcare, housing and groceries. The top issue in our district is affordability, and the solution is a multi-faceted approach. Healthcare is a human right and the solution to America’s subpar healthcare system is a single-payer system like Medicare for All. Simultaneously, we must fix the abysmal housing market by building affordable housing and holding corporations accountable for purchasing single family homes. Last, we must reform our tax system to ensure billionaires and corporations pay their fair share.
Why should people vote for you? I’m running for Congress to ensure the working class has a say in how our government runs. Unfortunately, the unlimited flow of money into our elections has made it so billionaires and corporations have more say than everyone else. Our current representative has voted against Women’s Rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and our immigrant communities, in addition to funding endless war and Israel’s genocide in Gaza. These are all things I cannot stand for. I will defend human and civil rights, while fighting for a truly affordable America with an accountable government. Because I am a grassroots candidate who refuses money from corporations, I will only be accountable to my constituents.
Did you use AI to write your responses to these questions? No
NAME: NIKKI BUDZINSKI
Age as of March 17, 2026: 49
Campaign website or social media page: https://nikkiforcongress.com/
Office seeking: U.S. House Seat, Illinois’ 13th District
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) U.S. House Seat, Illinois’ 13th District
Occupation: U.S. Representative for IL-13
Education: University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Since being elected in 2023, I have delivered real results for our communities by securing historic investments. Most recently, I secured more than $34 million in federal funding for local projects, bringing critical resources back to our district. This is in addition to the $136.1 million I secured in fiscal year 2024.
I was also proud to work with our Senators to secure $157 million for the final segment of the Springfield Rail Improvement Project, which will improve rail safety, reduce delays, and strengthen our regional economy.
Beyond funding wins, I led the charge to secure a national monument designation for the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, ensuring this important chapter of American history is recognized and remembered.
On the legislative front, I’ve seen two of my bills signed into law. The Clear Communications for Veterans Act streamlines how the Department of Veterans Affairs communicates with veterans by requiring clearer, more accessible language, helping veterans better understand their benefits and medical care. The Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Act would reform the VA disability claims process for survivors. The bill aims to reduce re-traumatization by requiring mandatory annual, specialized training for VA staff and contracted examiners handling MST claims.
These accomplishments reflect my commitment to delivering real results – bringing resources home, honoring our history, and advancing legislation that makes government work better for the people it serves.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? I’m proud of my campaign, including the strength and diversity of the grassroots support I’ve received. My campaign received well over 5,000 individual contributions, including small dollar and higher dollar contributions. Running a grassroots-focused, people-powered campaign, I’m grateful for the support I received from supporters within IL-13. I’m proud to have the support of Organized Labor, who’ve been some of my strongest supporters. Without whom I wouldn’t have the honor of serving IL-13.
How much money have you raised for your campaign? $2.05 million
Why are you running? I’m running again because I love this community – and because our work is far from finished. 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. These are the issues that keep people up at night. They keep me up at night, too. I’m committed to fighting for this community every single day. We’ve already made real progress together, and I know that by staying focused, determined and united, we can keep delivering the results people deserve.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? I represent a large and diverse district, and each community has its own unique needs. I’ve been proud to be elevating those needs and those voices in Washington to deliver real, lasting results.
In Champaign, I’m working closely with the University of Illinois to support research investment, workforce pipelines, and keeping higher education affordable.
In Springfield, I’m focused on economic development and tackling rising costs, including securing over $150 million for the Springfield Rail Improvement Project – a multi-phase project to boost commerce and passenger transportation across our state and lead to a brighter new future for Downtown Springfield.
In Decatur, I’m standing up for our farmers and agricultural producers, fighting against painful tariffs, supporting the biofuel sector, and overall leading the charge in D.C. to secure a farm bill that will help our growers in my district thrive.
In the Metro East, I’m addressing longstanding flooding and water infrastructure problems that residents have dealt with for far too long. At the same time, I’m working to ensure additional investment in Granite City Works, safeguarding good-paying union jobs. I’ve also been fighting to include the communities I represent in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), so families can finally receive the justice and accountability they deserve.
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
Why should people vote for you? I’ve had the honor of serving this district for just over three years, and I’ve proven that I know how to get things done – delivering real results, not just rhetoric. While I’ve been standing up to Donald Trump’s attacks on our democracy and people’s rights, I’ve also stayed focused on what families here care about most: lowering the cost of living and creating good-paying jobs. I’ve delivered millions of dollars back to communities across the Metro East and throughout the district – investments that are already making a difference.
That record shows exactly why voters can trust me to keep fighting for them in Washington. At a time when Trump is trying to tear down working families, I will always stand up for them. This is a 24/7 fight, and I’ve proven I can meet that moment – pushing back when it matters and delivering results that make our communities stronger.
Did you use AI to write your responses to these questions? No