Did you know?
There will be an Advisory Referendum on your ballot!
Because of the Big Bad Bill, we are being asked to opt in to a school voucher program masquerading as a scholarship. Get the information you need HERE.
McHenry County Democrats:
Clerk Tirio Should Publicly Reject President Trump’s Call for Nationalized Elections
The Democratic Party of McHenry County is formally calling upon County Clerk Joe Tirio to publicly oppose the president's suggestion that the federal government usurp state authority over local election processes. As the chief election official for McHenry County, Clerk Tirio has a fundamental responsibility to protect the integrity, independence, and localized administration of our voting process. Our full statement here.
Illinois Versus Trump: One Lawsuit A Week
Think there's no difference between the parties? Check out this January 28th article from Capitol News Illinois:
"SPRINGFIELD — Illinois has filed lawsuits early and often against the Trump administration since the president’s return to power last year. The state challenged Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship less than a day after he took office. Fifty more suits followed as of late January — roughly one per week. “'It’s been 365 days, but together, we remain resolute and clear-eyed and ready to continue our fight,' Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said at a Chicago news conference this month to mark the anniversary. He added, though, that 'the strain has been a real one.'"
The full article includes a detailed listing of every such lawsuit, and its status. Important reading!
Make a Difference With Your Dollars
Each of us can make a difference by choosing how we spend our precious funds, avoiding, as much as practicable, corporations that facilitate the brutal actions of ICE.
For a detailed listing of such corporations, visit boycottcitizens.org, an organization devoted to publicizing corporate complicity in the actions of ICE and related agencies and to organizing direct action against the worst offenders. The page boycottcitizens.org/ice has a lengthy list of corporations facilitating our government’s war on our communities.
This article, published at Truthout, “Here’s How We Pressured an Airline to End Its Contract With ICE” describes the campaign focusing on Avelos Airline, a provider of deportation flights, which recently announced it would cut ties with ICE.
For information on efforts to designate specific days to avoid spending, visit nationalshutdown.org.
Democratic Party of McHenry County Announces 2026 Candidates
November 30, 2025 -- News Release.
The Democratic Party of McHenry County is proud to announce our slate of eleven candidates for the County Board and Executive Offices. Our candidates’ backgrounds in community service, technology, military service, and environmental stewardship represent the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of our big tent party.
The Democratic Party of McHenry County is prepared to back these candidates every step of the way. Democrats in McHenry County collected just under 12,000 signatures, four times our goal amount, to get our candidates and Democrats across the state on the ballot. We look forward to bringing balance, fiscal responsibility, and dedication to public service back to our county government.
Get to know our great slate of candidates for county board and county-wide offices:
McHenry County Clerk - Bill McNeese - Bill is a father of three, a U.S. Navy veteran, and a small business owner having a Bachelors in Business Administration with a focus on Economics and an MBA In small business. He brings a record of service, accountability, and hands-on leadership along with a commitment to running an efficient, transparent Clerk’s Office that makes county services more accessible to every resident. votemcneese.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
McHenry County Treasurer - Amin Karim - A resident of Crystal Lake, McHenry County, for the past 22 years, and a proud father of four and grandfather of three. Amin is an engineer by profession with an MBA in Finance and a 30 year career in corporate management, including a proven track record of leading and executing Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Projects. aminkarim.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
County Board District 1 - Deanna "Dee" Darling - Current Cary District 26 School Board Member. Focused on advocating for social services, championing public education, affordable housing availability, protecting natural resources, and transparency and accessibility. [email protected]
County Board District 2 - Gloria Van Hof - Current County Board Member for District 2 and 50-year resident of McHenry County. A mom, teacher, writer, previous business-owner, licensed Nursing Home Administrator, an Underground Railroad researcher and lecturer, and a volunteer and board member of numerous groups. Dedicated to improving communication, transparency, economic vitality, community identity and effective management of our resources. [email protected] - Facebook - Donate
County Board District 3 - Carolyn "Lyn" Campbell - Current County Board Member for District 3 and long-time advocate for the protection of our natural and agricultural resources, Carolyn has proven her support for our mental health community, for common sense transportation solutions, public safety, and effective senior services. A former local government finance and administration professional, she is an advocate for a strong local economy as a means of reducing the overall tax burden on property owners. carolynlyncampbell.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
County Board District 4 - Edward "Bud" Bowie - Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and former sanitation industry CEO, Bud will use the analytical and planning skills honed by a long career in both government and private industry to ensure transparent fiscal responsibility, protect our Conservation Districts, preserve agriculture, promote responsible economic growth, and support fair-minded, unbiased County leadership that represents the interests of all residents. [email protected]
County Board District 5 - Austin May - Born and raised in McHenry County and a dedicated public servant, his background includes service in AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and currently as a US Army Reserve officer. Austin is focused on lowering our property taxes through improving infrastructure, supporting community health, and fiscal responsibility. abetterwaymc.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
County Board District 6 - Sheryl Lindenbaum - Sheryl has worked in the health insurance industry for over 40 years. Her focus is on resources and affordability of elder-care, assistance for family caregivers, women’s health, support for local farmers, sustainable growth, and creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of background, can participate fully and equitably in McHenry County. citizensforsheryl.com
County Board District 7 - Patrick J. Shea - A career in the construction industry, including project managing and acting as crew foreman. His vision is to build McHenry County’s future with practical experience, responsible growth, and respect for our land and water. citizensforpatshea.com - Email - Donate
County Board District 8 - Christy "Chris" Stevens - Chris, a resident of McHenry County since 1981, has had a prior career in Information Technology, implementing e-Commerce websites for top 1000 retailers. Her experience also includes a home-building business, giving her insight into the lack of workforce housing in our county, water quality, open land and conservation, maintaining agriculture, property taxes, economic opportunity/development, global warming impacts, and sustainable growth. christystevens.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
County Board District 9 - Christine B. Hamm - Christine Hamm is a nonprofit executive, community organizer, and advocate for inclusion and community empowerment who has called Huntley and McHenry County home for much of the past seventeen years. christine-hamm.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
Here are our Democratic candidates for State Representative and State Senator:
State Rep District 52 - Maria Peterson and Erin Chan Ding are vying for the nomination.
As a first-generation Mexican American, Maria Peterson witnessed firsthand how her immigrant parents transformed their American Dream into reality through hard work and perseverance. As an attorney, Maria became a trusted advocate for Latino families facing discrimination, and served with the U.S. Department of Labor, where she litigated workplace safety and health violations and stood up for Black Lung victims who were being denied benefits by the coal mining companies they had dedicated their lives to serving. A tireless advocate for causes including women’s rights and environmental protection, Maria came very close to unseating Republican incumbents in a 2022 race for state senate and a 2024 race for the state house. mariafor52.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
Born in Arlington Heights to immigrant parents from Hong Kong, Erin Chan Ding started her journalism career at the Detroit Free Press, where she served as a union representative and fought for a fair contract. As an independent journalist, she’s written for a variety of websites, magazines and newspapers, including as a contributing editor for PolitiFact, a prize-winning fact-checking site. As a twice-elected member of the Barrington 220 Board of Education, Erin advocates for students, staff and families throughout the district, and oversaw the start of free, full-day kindergarten throughout the district. erinforillinois.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
State Rep District 64 - AJ Johnson - From a large Biloxi family with a long military tradition, AJ Johnson enlisted in the army at the first opportunity, finishing his career as a top recruiter. Since retiring from our armed services he’s brought his leadership skills to teaching ROTC in Lake County high schools. ajjohnsonforstaterep.com - Email - Facebook
State Rep District 66 - Suzanne Ness, our Democratic incumbent, was first elected to the Illinois House in 2020, and is now running for her fourth term. Previously she served as a McHenry County Board Member. As a State Representative, Suzanne has brought more than $34 million to the district and has passed 14 bills, including funding for the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge, eliminating the need for tolling. She advocates for the needs of her constituents and supports legislation that has made Illinois a leader in environmental sustainability, voting rights, and access to reproductive healthcare. citizensforsuzanneness.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
State Rep District 69 - Pete Janko - Peter Janko is the elected Democratic State Central Committeeman for Illinois’s 11th Congressional District, He is known for turning advocacy into results, including helping secure funding for Rockford passenger rail and paving the way for the repeal of Illinois’s grocery tax. Now running for a third term as State Central Committeeman and also a candidate for State Representative in Illinois’s 69th District, he’s focused on protecting online privacy through his RAVE initiative and continuing to use his strong relationships with state and federal lawmakers to deliver real benefits for Illinois families. - pete4illinois.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
State Rep District 70 - Veronica Garcia-Martinez - Veronica is a mother of three teenagers, a 5th-grade teacher, a small business owner, and a long-time resident of DeKalb County. Born in Chicago and raised in the Pilsen neighborhood, she grew up in an immigrant household where she learned the true meaning of community. Veronica spent 17 years in the nonprofit sector and six years as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dedicating herself to students and families. Her platform reflects the values she lives every day - dignity and respect for all, responsible development, strong communities, and fair democracy. - Email - Facebook - Donate
State Senate District 26 - Nabeela Syed - Currently state representative in the 51st district, Nabeela made history in 2022 as one of the youngest members ever elected to the Illinois legislature. She is now running to continue delivering bold, compassionate and common-sense leadership. She has built a strong record of fighting for working families, focusing on lowering costs, protecting access to healthcare and delivering real results. She’s passed legislation to cap prescription drug costs, expand breast cancer screening, secure paid leave for organ donors and make voting more accessible to young people. - nabeelasyed.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
State Senate District 32 - Karen Battaglia - Karen Battaglia is a longtime emergency and trauma nurse, healthcare leader, and advocate for working families. She is the incoming President of the Illinois Emergency Nurses Association and has served for more than a decade on the Illinois ENA Government Affairs Committee, advocating for nursing and healthcare policy at both the state and federal levels. In 2020, Dr. Battaglia was Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s guest at the State of the Union, advocating to protect coverage for people with preexisting conditions under the Affordable Care Act. A daughter, mother, and grandmother, Dr. Battaglia understands the real challenges families face. She is running for State Senate to fight for affordable and accessible healthcare at every stage of life, an economy that works for working families, and safe communities and workplaces. Email - Facebook - Donate
State Senate District 33 - Michele Clark - Well-known in McHenry County as the proud owner of a large early child learning center, Michele later served as Chief Operating Officer of the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township during the COVID-19 pandemic—overseeing a multimillion-dollar budget and leading through a most difficult time for families and kids in our community. Today she serves as Director of Development for the District 300 Food Pantry, working to ensure that no child in our district goes hungry. She brings nonprofit experience, business background, and passion for service—all in support of the next generation. micheleforilsenate.com - Email
State Senate District 35 - Sarah Mertens - One of six kids from a working-class union household, Sarah acquired her work ethic early on, babysitting from a young age, working from the moment she turned 16, putting herself through college via jobs and loans. Her degree’s in education, with a specialization in teaching German, she’s taught English as a second language, and she’s worked in health care administration and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. Only 36 and a working mom, in Springfield she plans to be a strong advocate for affordable housing and protecting our civil rights. - citizensforsarahmertens.com - Email - Facebook - Donate - Volunteer
Here are the Democratic candidates for US Congress:
9th Congressional District:
Kat Abughazaleh - katforillinois.com - Email - Facebook
Bushra Amiwala - bushraforcongress.com - Email - Facebook
Phil Andrew - philandrewforcongress.com - Email - Facebook
Natalie Angelo
Daniel Biss - danielbiss.com - Email - Facebook
Patricia A. Brown
Jeff Cohen - jeffcohenforcongress.com - Email
Laura Fine - laurafineforcongress.org - Email - Facebook
Justin Ford - votejustinford.com - Email - Facebook
Mark Arnold Fredrickson
Hoan Huynh - hoanfor9.com - Email - Facebook
Bethany Johnson - bethanyfordistrictnine.com
Bruce Leon - bruceleonforcongress.com - Email - Facebook
Sam Polan - sampolan.com - Email - Facebook
Nick Pyati - nickpyati.com - Email - Facebook
Howard Rosenblum - howardrosenblum.com - Email - Facebook
Mike Simmons - mikesimmons.org - Email - Facebook
10th Congressional District:
Morgan Coghill - coghillforcongress.com - Facebook
Brad Schneider - schneiderforcongress.com - Email - Facebook
11th Congressional District:
Bill Foster - billfoster.com - Email - Facebook
16th Congressional District:
Paul Nolley - nolleyforcongress.com - Email - Facebook
Here are the Democratic candidates running for the US Senate for the seat being vacated by Dick Durbin:
Steve Botsford Jr. - botsfordforillinois.com - Email - Facebook
Sean Brown - seanbrownforsenate.com - Email - Facebook
Awisi A. Bustos - awisiforussenate.us - Email
Jonathan Dean - dean4il.com - Email - Facebook
Adam Delgado - adamdelgadoforussenate.com - Email - Facebook
Robin Kelly - robinforsenate.com - Facebook
Raja Krishnamoorthi - rajaforil.com - Facebook
Bryan Maxwell - maxwell4senate.com - Email - Facebook
Robert Palmer - palmerforsenate.com
Kevin Ryan - runwithkev.com - Email - Facebook
Juliana Stratton - julianastratton.com - Email - Facebook
Christopher Swann - swannforsenate.com - Email
Here all the Democratic candidates running for state-wide constitutional offices:
Attorney General:
Kwame Raoul - kwameraoul.com - Email - Facebook
Comptroller:
Margaret Croke - crokeforillinois.com - Email
George Danos
Ricky Hendon
Stephanie Kifowit - kifowitforcomptroller.com - Email - Facebook
Holly Kim - voteforhollykim.com - Email - Facebook
Karina Villa - karinavilla.com - Facebook
Governor & Lieutenant Governor:
JB Pritzker and Christian Mitchell - jbpritzker.com - Facebook
Secretary of State:
Alexi Giannoulias - alexiforus.com - Email - Facebook
Treasurer:
Mike Frerichs - mikeforillinois.com - Facebook
Here are the Democratic candidates for State Central Comitteeperson:
9th Congressional District:
George D. Alpogianis
Daniel Biss
Laura Fine
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth
Josina Morita - josinamorita.com - Email - Facebook
Kevin Olickal
Eric Smith
10th Congressional District:
Jennifer Banek
Mary Edly-Allen
Thomas Maillard
Tracy Katz Muhl
11th Congressional District:
Daniel Hebreard
Peter Janko - pete4illinois.com - Email - Facebook - Donate
Janet Yang Rohr
Anne Stava
16th Congressional District:
Kim Armstrong
Patrick Cortesi
Kevin Lamm - kevinlammforillinois.com - Email