Discovery Insights Elections Candidates Calendar Watchlist

Independent

Austin Mink

Independent

Austin Mink

Illinois Democratic Senate nominee?

$560.1K

MAR 18, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

9 more

Overview

Current roleFilmmaker

PartyIndependent

Political ideologyDemocratic Socialist

GenderMale

LocationIllinois

BackgroundFilmmaker

Notable personal detailsAustin James Mink is a U.S. political candidate in Illinois who has filed with the Federal Election Commission as an Independent candidate for U.S. Senate. He is affiliated with the principal campaign committee Mink for Senate. Public candidate directories and filings identify him as a filmmaker and activist.

SourcesShow

fec.gov thegreenpapers.com politics1.com illinoislibertea.com opencampaign.com en.wikipedia.org crowdblue.com senatemajority.com nprillinois.org cbsnews.com thecandidate.com linkedin.com reddit.com chicagovotes.com docquery.fec.gov austin4rep.com bsky.app ilga.gov myjournalcourier.com dailyillini.com sjodaily.com archive.ventilaar.net nakedcapitalism.com developer.ballotpedia.org legislation.ballotpedia.org frontpage.ballotpedia.org voterguide.ballotpedia.org donate.ballotpedia.org cdn.ballotpedia.org senate.gov history.house.gov ballotready.org durbin.senate.gov congress.gov clerk.house.gov duckworth.senate.gov govinfo.gov judiciary.senate.gov

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports sharply higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations, including wealth taxes and high top marginal rates, and proposes major revenue increases to fund expanded public programs and redistribution policies.

Healthcare

Supports universal healthcare and endorses Medicare for All as a policy goal.

Immigration & Border

Supports immigration reform that would dismantle current enforcement structures and expand access: advocates abolishing ICE, removing sponsorship requirements for immigrants, and treating the border as highly secure but open to lawful movement. Positions emphasize humanitarian access and reducing enforcement-first policies.

Public Safety & Guns

The candidate, Austin James Mink, has publicly supported Illinois gun-violence-prevention legislation and identified as a proponent on an Illinois General Assembly witness list. He is an active candidate for U.S. Senate (listed with the FEC) and promotes a campaign online that includes progressive policy priorities.

News

AINews Summary

Last updatedMar 14, 2026

Austin Mink is showing up in coverage of Illinois’ crowded 2026 primary season, as the state sees record numbers of candidates competing for multiple open congressional seats ahead of the March 17 primary. Recent reporting also highlights heightened campaigning, debates, and voter interest as retirements have created unusually competitive races. No specific new actions or statements by Mink are detailed in the provided summaries.

fec.gov+37

Articles

TBThe Boston Herald3 months ago