IL-13: Nikki Budzinski (D)
Nikki Budzinski has spent her life fighting for workers and working families. Born in Peoria, her parents taught her the importance of family, community, and service to others.
Budzinski attended the University of Illinois Champaign and was inspired to devote her life to public service after interning for former Rep. Dick Gephardt, former Sen. Paul Simon and Planned Parenthood.
After college, she worked for the IAFF Firefighters’ union to help look out for first responders making sure they have the equipment, training, and health protections they need. Then she stood with UFCW workers, making sure grocery workers and meatpackers got a fair day’s pay and workplace protections at dangerous processing plants. She also fought to protect workers’ rights to collectively bargain for fair pay, safety protections, and benefits in states trying to attack those rights.
As Gov. JB Pritzker’s senior advisor on labor issues, she led the charge to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Also in the governor’s office, she served as the chair of the Broadband Advisory Council that expanded high-speed “broadband” internet across Illinois.
As chief of staff for President Biden’s Office of Management and Budget, she served in the office that helped implement the American Rescue Plan to help the economy recover from the pandemic.
The biographical information above was sourced from the campaign website; see link above for more information.
