Lauren Underwood

Race: U.S. House Illinois District 14 (Incumbent)

Party: Democratic

Experience: U.S. representative since 2019, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services senior adviser, adjunct instructor at Georgetown University

Education:

Master’s degree – John Hopkins University, nursing & public health

Bachelor’s degree – University of Michigan, nursing

Major issues:

“I voted for a piece of legislation called the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would enshrine Roe v. Wade into law,” Underwood said.

“The president has made his announcement about student debt cancellation, and I very much support that executive action,” Underwood said.

“I’ve had 10 pieces of legislation signed into law, six under President Trump, and I have really learned to be effective in cutting through the red tape of government agencies,” Underwood said.

What matters most:

“We all have a choice in this election. I know that in particular for young voters, the choice is, ‘Do I even vote?’ What I want to tell people is, your vote is so powerful. And especially in this district, opting out of voting this year is a de facto vote for a far right extremist who wants to take away your reproductive freedom,” Underwood said.

Interview conducted by Evan Mellon, senior news reporter.

Barry Wilson

Race: U.S. House Illinois District 14

Party: Independent

Experience: Chairman and chief executive officer of Urban Capital Inc., co-founder of Huntington Capital

Education:

Juris doctor – Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Bachelor’s degree – Michigan State University, political science

Major issues:

“I’d like to have 56 independents run by 2026, because 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I’ve got four years to try and do that. So I’ve talked to a lot of people about that and we’re very excited about it,” Wilson said.

“I’m still paying student loans for my own kids. We have to be careful about the huge bureaucracies that are in our universities. I think we can run them more efficiently,” Wilson said.

“I think secure borders are very important. I don’t think that you can survive very long as a country if you don’t have them. I do a lot of immigration work as an attorney and I think we have to make the legal immigration process much more efficient and welcoming,” Wilson said.

What matters most:

“I think the country is very troubled right now because we’ve ended up with two teams moving further and further apart. I think all the anger and finger pointing moves through the whole country,” Wilson said.

Interview conducted by Colin Kempsell, news editor.

Scott Gryder

Race: U.S. House Illinois District 14

Party: Republican

Experience: Attorney for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Kendall County Board Vice Chairman, Illinois State Board of Elections County Board Chairman

Education:

Juris doctor – DePaul University

Bachelor’s degree – University of Illinois-Springfield, business administration

Major issues:

“I believe federal mandates too often increase the cost of education at the expense of our children and future,” Gryder said via his campaign website.

“Our healthcare system is failing patients, providers, and taxpayers. Patient rights and choice should not be restricted. Hardworking families should not struggle to pay their medical bills,” Gryder said via his campaign website.

“Our government must provide for the common defense and a comprehensive national security strategy that addresses threats to our country posed by Iran, Russia, and China,” Gryder said via his campaign website.

The Northern Star contacted this candidate requesting an interview and received no reply.