Junaid Ahmed: Illinois' 8th Congressional District Candidate

SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL — Ahead of Illinois' June 28 primary elections, Patch distributed questionnaires to candidates running in contested races in the Democratic and Republican parties, including the eight candidates seeking a two-year term in the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois' 8th Congressional District.

On the Democratic side, incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi is facing a challenge from Junaid Ahmed. For the Republicans, Chris Dargis, Karen Kolodziej, Chad Koppie, Peter Kopsaftis and Phillip Wood are seeking the nod. Mohammed Faheem is running as an independent.

The congressional district covers parts of Cook County, DuPage County and Kane County. All or parts of Addison, Barrington Hills, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Lombard, Palatine, Roselle, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Streamwood, Villa Park and Wood Dale are included.

Name

Junaid Ahmed

Campaign website

https://www.junaidforcongress.com/

What county do you live in?

City or town of residence

South Barrington

Office sought

U.S. House of Representatives, IL-8

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

MBA University of Chicago

Occupation

Small Business Owner - 15 years

Family

Wife and 4 children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

45

Previous public office, appointive or elective

No

Why are you seeking this office?

I'm running to fix D.C. so it works for us. I have spent years as a community organizer building power in my home town. That experience has made me realize however, that to really get things done on a larger scale, we need political leaders who are willing to stand up against special interests and other bad actors that have brought progress to a halt in D.C.

I want to be someone the voters in my district (and working families nationwide) can depend on and be a representative who actually focuses on the real problems we are facing. We do that by cutting corporations and special interests out of D.C., and then focusing on the issues that matter to real people-like universal healthcare that includes dental ,vision, and hearing, making college more affordable to everyone, and ensuring every worker has a livable, thriving wage.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

High property taxes are the top concern voters present to me and my team. I’ve got good news and bad news for everyone. The good news: this is a problem we can fix. And the bad news: it’s gonna take hard work that forces politicians in D.C. to have some important conversations with their constituents. But I’m ready to tackle this problem at its root and with immediate solutions designed to relieve middle-income taxpayers.

The climate crisis is the single most important problem our country faces. Congress must do whatever it takes to pass meaningful, effective legislation right now. The legislation must build a green economy that relies entirely on renewable energy; that allows people to be people, not just workers; that is built on 21st-century infrastructure that’s not crumbling to the ground, and that can keep churning during global crises – so we can take care of ourselves when supply chains stop.

My biggest issue is the inaction in D.C. I’m ashamed to say that only catastrophic events have inspired Democrats and Republicans to address big problems in recent years (9/11, the ‘08 market crashes, and pandemic relief). A system that only works during crises is no system at all. I'm running to fix it so politicians spend more time solving problems than running for reelection. We do that with campaign finance reform, term limits, and by engaging voters in the political system every day – not just when we need their votes or money.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The major differences is how badly each of us want to change the status quo in D.C.

My opponent has had six years to really shake things up in Washington, and in that time he hasn't managed to do much more than raise (a lot of) money fundraising. He's only managed to pass 2% of his proposed legislation but has managed to raise more than $13 million in donations (with millions coming from special interests and corporate PACs). I pledge to never take a dime from special interests. I'm only accountable to my constituents and working class families nationwide.

Unlike my opponent, I am not hoping to go to D.C. to be sucked into the establishment for my benefit. I want to push for bold changes that help people like you and me, rather than a handful of corporations and billionaire donors.

If you are challenging an incumbent, how would you perform differently if elected?

For one, our campaign has pledged to never take a dime of corporate PAC money, and I will continue to uphold that pledge in office. I do not want to be beholden to a handful of wealthy donors and special interest groups because I recognize that the people who matter most are my constituents - the same constituents who my opponent has spent six years ignoring.

I also plan on actually fighting to accomplish my proposed agenda--unlike my opponent who boasts about his record passing just 2% of his proposed bills and building a handful of toll roads (something everyone in Illinois can come together to dislike).

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

A key issue we are also running on is defending the rights and dignity of older Americans. Roughly 10.6 million older adults actively participate in the workforce. They pay 18% of federal income taxes (about $630 billion), and Americans 55+ pay roughly 45% of all income taxes. They also make up approximately 34% of all unpaid caregivers (about 15 million people) – contributing about $150 billion in free labor every year to take care of our country’s oldest and youngest populations.

They have lived through wars, pandemics, and the rise and fall of democracies. Along the way, they helped transform our world in ways their parents would have deemed unimaginable. But I’m not sure we do enough to honor those contributions. Among the lessons we’ve learned throughout this pandemic is how much we take older Americans for granted (despite all they have and continue to contribute to our success). Older Americans have disproportionately suffered throughout COVID. They have lost their lives, their jobs, and their peace of mind.

On top of that, Social Security, a sacred trust between us and our government, is set to run out in just 12 years. We need government leaders dedicated to tackling issues like that, and ensure our eldest have the support they deserve.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

While being a candidate is a new experience for me – community service is not. I was a big brother to middle school students during college. I am the Chairman of our Local Boy Scouts troop. My family and I participate in Meals on Wheels every weekend, and I volunteer in local natural disaster relief efforts. When you’re a volunteer taking action on the ground, you can’t help but notice that you’re never getting enough done (and that some people in DC aren’t doing much at all). So, a few years back, I decided to step up and fight for real change. I volunteered to elect real Democrats across Illinois. I also organized rallies in support of universal healthcare.

What was your first paying job, and what did you learn from it?

My first paying job was working at Woolworth's Supermarket. I was paid less than $5 an hour at the time, and remember learning the value of money, but also critically how little I was making despite putting in the best of my efforts. It's part of what pushed me to firmly believe that every worker in the country deserves to make a livable wage, no matter their job.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"Don't run for Congress."

Let me explain. Before I started this race, I talked to a close friend who's a local elected official who told me that. They said it was too difficult, with too many obstacles and not a high enough chance of success, and a game I couldn't play nor wanted to play. They claimed I was too honest and would struggle with the compromising that inevitably came with being a politician. I reflected on that and said "No. I can do better and will do better for district 8."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

In 38 words: Husband; Father; Small Business Owner: Community College Alum; University of Chicago Graduate; Boy Scout Troop Leader; Big Brother; Community Activist; Sugar Lover; Coffee/Tea Equal Opportunist; Self-loathing Shark Tank Fan – and voter disappointed with the status quo.