Meet Sidney Moore: Illinois 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary Candidate

Sidney Moore is among 10 angling for U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly's seat in the 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary March 17.

Having held the seat since 2013, Kelly’s bid to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin has set the stage for a contentious primary. Early voting is already underway.

The winner will face Republican Mike Noack—the sole Republican on the March 17 ballot—in November.

The 2nd Congressional District includes the far southeast side of Chicago (including Hyde Park); Cook County suburbs of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Sauk Village, South Holland, and Steger; Crete, Monee, Peotone, and University Park in Will County; Aroma Park, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Kankakee, Manteno, and Momence in Kankakee County; portions of southern Will and Kankakee counties, including Pembroke Township.

CANDIDATE

Sidney Moore

TOWN OF RESIDENCE

Calumet City

POSITION SOUGHT

Congress 2nd District

PARTY AFFILIATION

Democrat

FAMILY

No answer provided.

EDUCATION

AA Malcolm X College, Study Social work at Governor State

OCCUPATION

Self employed

PREVIOUS OR CURRENT ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICE

N/A

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE

Sidneymooreforcongress.com

The single most pressing issue facing our district or state is ___________, and this is what I intend to do about it.*

High taxes. Property taxes are local, but Congress can:

Expand and protect the SALT deduction

Increase federal housing support for middle-class homeowners

Incentivize state/local tax reform through federal programs

I will fight to reduce the federal tax burden on working families and protect deductions that matter to homeowners in our district.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Many of the candidates have long careers in public office. I respect their service. My candidacy is different because I am not coming from the political establishment — I am coming from the community and the private sector with a district-first economic vision. This moment calls for new energy, new thinking, and a new economic strategy that prepares our district for the next 30 years — not the last 30.

If you support tax cuts in Illinois, what spending should be eliminated to offset those cuts? Please be specific.

We should review and eliminate corporate tax incentive programs that fail to produce measurable job creation and enforce clawback provisions when companies do not meet commitments. Also, we must conduct a comprehensive audit of state administrative overhead and consulting contracts, consolidating duplicative functions and reducing non-essential spending before cutting services that families rely on.

Do you believe an inequity exists between funding for wealthy and poor schools? If so, what would you do to address the disparity?

Yes — in many states, funding disparities exist, though the structure varies.

In much of the U.S., K–12 education funding relies heavily on:There is no single solution, but most education finance experts agree that heavy reliance on local property taxes contributes to disparities. What The federal government can do is expand Title I funding (low-income schools) Increase IDEA funding for special education, and tie federal grants to equity metrics. However, federal funding is typically a minority share of total school funding.

What would you do to help constituents struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living, housing and healthcare?

At the federal level, the government has influence through tax policy, spending authority, regulation, and incentives to states. It cannot directly control prices in most markets, but it can shape the conditions that drive costs. The federal government cannot directly set prices, but it can address the root causes driving higher costs. That means expanding tax relief for working families, strengthening competition laws to prevent monopolistic pricing, and adjusting trade and supply chain policies that increase consumer costs. On housing, Congress can expand affordable housing tax credits, incentivize local zoning reform, and support first-time homebuyers. In healthcare, the federal government can lower prescription drug costs, strengthen price transparency, expand premium subsidies, and reduce administrative waste. Long-term affordability also requires raising incomes through workforce development, domestic manufacturing investment, and small business growth. Sustainable relief comes from increasing competition, expanding supply, and growing wages — not short-term fixes alone.

Do you support redistricting in a non-census year?

Redistricting should occur through a fair, transparent process tied to the decennial census. Mid-decade redistricting should only happen if a court determines that existing maps violate the Constitution or the Voting Rights Act. The process must never be used for partisan advantage, but to protect voters’ rights and equal representation.

Do you support the full release of the Epstein files with the victims' names redacted? What should Congress do to pressure the DOJ into following the law with the full release of the Epstein files?

The crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein were horrific, and the public deserves transparency and accountability. I support the release of all appropriate records related to this case, with victims’ names and identifying information fully protected. Any disclosure must comply with federal law, protect grand jury secrecy where required, and safeguard the rights and privacy of survivors.

Do you support the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement in the Chicago area and beyond? Why or why not? If not, what changes do you think should be made?

Immigration enforcement must be lawful, targeted, and consistent with our values. I support enforcing the law, particularly against individuals who pose serious public safety threats. However, I do not support broad or indiscriminate enforcement actions that undermine due process, separate families unnecessarily, or erode trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. We need reforms that prioritize serious criminal activity, ensure transparency and accountability, and pair enforcement with comprehensive immigration reform.

Do you support the repeal of the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail? Why or why not, and do you think wealthier defendants should have an easier route to release?

I do not support returning to a system where someone’s freedom depends on how much money they have. The goal of pretrial policy should be to protect public safety while ensuring fairness. Judges should make release decisions based on risk and threat to the community — not on whether a defendant can afford bail. If there are implementation issues, those should be addressed through data-driven structural improvements, not a wholesale repeal that restores wealth-based detention.

Would you push to repeal the TRUST Act, which bars local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement? Why or why not?

Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and local law enforcement should focus on keeping communities safe. I believe policies must protect public safety while maintaining trust between police and the communities they serve. Cooperation should occur where there is a judicial warrant or serious criminal conduct, but turning local officers into federal immigration agents can undermine crime reporting and community safety. The goal should be clear roles, constitutional compliance, and safer neighborhoods.

Where do you agree and disagree with President Donald Trump on policy?

With Immigration I support border security but oppose family separation and broad travel bans. I favor pathway to citizenship for long-term undocumented residents, and I support limits on local police cooperation with ICE. trump supports Lower individual income tax rates Increased standard deduction, and more Healthcare, President Trump support Attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but I support protect and expand the ACA

Expand Medicaid, support broader federal negotiation of drug prices, expanded short-term insurance plans, and protect and expand the ACA, Expand Medicaid, Protect and expand the ACA

Expand Medicaid

Support broader federal negotiation of drug prices

Support broader federal negotiation of drug prices

Drug pricing transparency efforts

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want voters to know that my decisions are guided by fairness, accountability, and a commitment to improving everyday life for working families. I believe in practical solutions, transparency in government, and protecting both opportunity and public safety. I am committed to listening to constituents, working across differences when possible, and standing firm on core principles when necessary. Public service is about trust — and earning that trust requires honesty, accessibility, and a relentless focus on delivering results for the communities we serve.