Incumbent
Illinois Democratic Comptroller nominee?
$32.3K
MAR 18, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age47 years old (Sep 20, 1978)
GenderFemale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundPolitician
EducationAurora University (BA)
Notable personal detailsKarina Villa is a Democratic politician and social worker who has served in the Illinois Senate representing the 25th District since 2021. She previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives (49th District) from 2019 to 2021 and has held local education leadership roles, including as vice president of the West Chicago District 33 Board of Education. Villa earned degrees from Aurora University, including a Master of Social Work, and worked as a school social worker in the West Chicago and Villa Park school systems.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for the middle class while backing state budgets that increase investment in schools, housing, and healthcare; frames budget choices as prioritizing working families and preserving a balanced budget. Positions emphasize both protecting fiscal stability and using revenue to expand social investments.
Healthcare
Supports prioritizing funding for healthcare and lowering healthcare costs; advocates using the comptroller’s office to protect and prioritize payments for healthcare, mental health services, and other public health supports. Legislative work includes committee service on health-related committees and sponsorship of bills addressing mental health parity and support for clinics and community health services.
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Immigration & Border
Karina Villa opposes aggressive immigration enforcement actions in Illinois and has publicly warned residents about ICE activity in her district. She has criticized ICE practices and framed enforcement raids as harmful to immigrant families and community safety. Her public statements emphasize protecting immigrant communities and documenting enforcement activity rather than expanding detention or deportation measures.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports broad legal access to abortion and has sponsored and voted for legislation to protect and expand reproductive health care access in Illinois, including measures to codify reproductive rights and safeguard access to abortion medications. Advocates making Illinois a safe haven for reproductive care and removing state-level barriers to abortion services. Has backed repeal of parental-notice requirements and co-sponsored the Illinois Reproductive Health Act.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strong gun safety reforms including an assault-weapons ban, expanded/background check and FOID reforms, safe-storage measures, and other regulations such as addressing ghost guns and holding manufacturers accountable. Has sponsored or endorsed legislation and voted in favor of gun-safety measures while describing gun violence as a public-health crisis.
News
Karina Villa is in the news as one of the candidates in Illinois’ 2026 primary, where multiple politicians are seeking higher office ahead of the March 17 election. She is also running in the Democratic primary for Illinois Comptroller, competing against Margaret Croke, Holly Kim, and Stephanie Kifowit. Recent coverage notes that Croke has picked up major backing, including an endorsement from the Chicago Tribune, while Villa remains in the mix as another contender.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising