Paul Friedman
IL-09 Republican nominee?
$4.1K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleSoftware developer
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationIllinois
BackgroundSoftware developer
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EducationUniversity of Michigan — B.A. (1992)
Notable personal detailsPaul Sanford Friedman is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. He has described his professional background as a software developer/software writer and has said this is his first run for public office. In questionnaires and interviews, he has emphasized congressional institutional reforms such as anti-gerrymandering measures and term limits, along with strengthening Congress’s Article I role.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for middle‑income households and small businesses, reducing regulatory burdens, and fiscal responsibility by pairing middle‑class tax relief with spending cuts and selective revenue measures. Proposes redirecting corporate tax cuts toward family benefits (a Family Income Supplemental Credit) rather than across‑the‑board tax reductions.
Healthcare
Supports a market-driven approach to lower costs and expand access while opposing increased government control; favors empowering individuals to make their own healthcare decisions within a system aimed at affordable coverage.
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Immigration & Border
Supports expanding legal immigration avenues (more worker visas, streamlined asylum, guest‑worker programs) and creating a path to citizenship while also endorsing border controls and reforming DHS to limit heavy militarized enforcement. Prefers coordination with local authorities for enforcement rather than federal unilateral actions.
Climate & Energy
Supports expanding domestic energy supply and investing in energy and infrastructure to keep costs down, emphasizes ensuring adequate energy supply for growing demands (including data centers/AI), and favors market-driven approaches rather than aggressive emissions mandates. Does not endorse Green New Deal–style targets or explicit large federal clean-energy mandates in his publicly stated positions.
Public Safety & Guns
Paul Friedman emphasizes empowering and arming local law enforcement and says federal officers should coordinate with and not supersede local authorities; he frames public safety as supporting law enforcement while respecting civil rights. He has not published detailed public positions on specific gun regulations (e.g., universal background checks or assault-weapons bans) in the sources found.
News
Paul Friedman is running in the Republican primary for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, competing for the seat held by retiring Democrat Jan Schakowsky. In the campaign, he has emphasized immigration and has said he supports a path to citizenship. The primary is scheduled for March 17, 2026.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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