Incumbent
IL-13 Democratic nominee?
$2.5K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age49 years old (Mar 11, 1977)
GenderFemale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundU.S. Representative
EducationUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BA)
Notable personal detailsNicole Jai “Nikki” Budzinski is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Illinois’s 13th Congressional District since 2023. She previously worked in organized labor and held government roles in Illinois state government and in the Biden administration, including serving as chief of staff to the director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2021. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax measures and tax credits to help working families and low-income households, and opposes large tax breaks for billionaires and corporations while defending funding for programs like Medicaid. Has voted for bipartisan legislation that expands the Child Tax Credit and for extending ACA premium tax credits. Advocates using tax policy to support affordable housing, research incentives, and programs that lower costs for families.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable health care through measures like a public option and strengthening/expanding Medicare benefits while opposing cuts to Medicaid and advocating to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. Emphasizes lowering prescription drug prices and protecting community health centers and rural telemedicine access. Focuses on pragmatic expansions within the public program framework rather than endorsing single-payer Medicare for All.
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Immigration & Border
Supports expanding legal pathways to legal status (including pathways for Dreamers, TPS holders, and worker visa reforms) while also backing additional resources for border security and technology rather than large-scale walls; opposes increased ICE funding without accountability and cosponsors measures to restrict excessive force and increase oversight. Advocates bipartisan, pragmatic reform to fix the asylum system and streamline legal immigration channels.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion access and reproductive rights, describes herself as “pro-choice,” opposes national abortion bans, and favors codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade. States that decisions about abortion should be made between a patient and her doctor and has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood for her stance defending reproductive health care access.
Climate & Energy
Supports a pro-worker clean energy transition with federal investment in pollution monitoring, environmental justice, and climate jobs; advocates for policies that pair clean energy development with union job creation and environmental protections. Emphasizes reducing dependence on foreign energy while advancing renewable and biofuel technology and environmental justice programs.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports commonsense gun safety measures including closing the gun show loophole, universal background checks, red flag laws, and restricting military-style/assault weapons; has supported federal bills such as the Assault Weapons Ban and the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Balances support for gun-violence prevention with recognition of Second Amendment rights and backing for law enforcement funding and training.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262022
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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