Election 2026: U.S. Representative 2nd Congressional District Candidate Ashley Banks

Three will contend for the U.S. Representatives 2nd Congressional District in the Nov. 3 General Election. The seat was vacated by Robin Kelly, who held it since 2013. Kelly leaves it in her bid to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin.

Democrat and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller beat out 9 other candidates in a March 2026 Democratic primary, to now face Republican Mike Noack Nov. 3. Noack was unopposed in the Republican primary. Write-in candidate Independent Ashley Banks also contends for the spot.

Subscribe

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.

Patch provided candidate questionnaires to candidates. Miller's responses are as follows:

Your Name:

Ashley Banks

Town of Residence:

Kankakee County

Position Sought:

U.S. Representative — Illinois 2nd Congressional District (IL-02)

Party Affiliation:

Independent

Family:

No answer provided.

Education:

DePaul University, Olive Harvey Community College

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

N/A

Campaign website:

www.ashleybanksworksforyou.com

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

The single most pressing issue facing our district is a lack of accountability in government.Too often, problems are ignored until they become crises, taxpayer dollars are spent without enough transparency, and residents are left asking who is responsible.

As your Congresswoman, I intend to demand transparency, hold government accountable for the decisions it makes and the money it spends, and make sure the voices of our communities are heard. Government should work for the people not the other way around.

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

The critical difference between me and the other candidates is accountability, accessibility, and demonstrated commitment to the people of Illinois' 2nd Congressional District.

Donna Miller has had the opportunity to serve as Cook County Commissioner for the 6th District and, in my review of her public record, I have concerns about whether that experience has produced the level of progress residents deserve particularly on issues such as taxes, infrastructure, and the future of our communities. Holding office is an opportunity to demonstrate what you can accomplish for the people you represent, and I believe voters deserve to see measurable results.

As for Michael Noack, I have not personally seen or learned enough about his community involvement or record of accomplishments to understand what he would bring to this position. I believe every candidate should be willing to engage directly with the people, listen to their concerns, and clearly explain what they intend to accomplish.

My difference is that I am not asking voters to judge me simply by a title. I am asking them to judge me by my willingness to listen, ask difficult questions, demand accountability, and put the needs of the people before politics.

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

If I support tax cuts, I believe taxpayers should not be asked to pay for them through cuts to essential services. Instead, I would focus on eliminating wasteful, duplicative, and ineffective federal spending.

Specifically, I would push for audits of federal programs, contracts, and administrative spending; eliminate duplicative programs that serve the same purpose; reduce unnecessary government contracting and consulting costs; and end funding for programs that cannot demonstrate measurable results.

I would also require greater transparency for taxpayer funded spending and make agencies justify programs that continue receiving federal funding without showing meaningful outcomes.

My goal is simple: protect essential services, eliminate waste, and make government live within its means before asking taxpayers for more money.

What can be done to alleviate concerns about the demand for electricity, water use and rising electricity costs as more and more data centers are built across Illinois? Do you support restrictions or a moratorium on new data centers?

Illinois must put the needs of its residents and existing infrastructure before the rapid expansion of data centers. I do not support continuing to approve data centers at the current rate when communities are already facing concerns about electricity reliability, water resources, aging infrastructure, and rising utility costs.

I support stricter restrictions on new data centers and a temporary moratorium where the existing electrical and water infrastructure cannot safely support additional demand. Before another facility is approved, developers should be required to demonstrate that they can provide or fully fund the additional infrastructure their project requires without shifting those costs onto taxpayers and existing ratepayers.

Illinois should also require greater transparency regarding projected electricity and water consumption, require meaningful community input, and prioritize upgrades to existing infrastructure and the needs of Illinois families and businesses.

We should not sacrifice affordable utilities, water resources, or the reliability of our infrastructure simply to accommodate unlimited data center growth.

Do you support regulations on AI?

Yes

The use of automated license plate reader systems like Flock cameras is increasing at police departments across Illinois, creating concerns about privacy, government surveillance and how that data is used or shared. What role, if any, should the government play in regulating the use of license plate readers, and what steps should be taken to protect Illinois residents' privacy and civil liberties?

Government has a responsibility to protect public safety, but that responsibility does not override the constitutional rights of the people. The increased use of automated license plate readers raises legitimate concerns about privacy, data collection, government surveillance, and how that information is shared.

I believe Illinois residents should be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment. Law enforcement should not be allowed to use technology as a way to conduct broad, continuous surveillance of law-abiding citizens without appropriate legal safeguards.

I support clear limits on how license plate reader data is collected, stored, accessed, and shared; strict retention periods; transparency about who has access to the information; and meaningful oversight of law enforcement agencies and private companies operating these systems. Access to sensitive location information should require appropriate legal justification, particularly when it goes beyond investigating a specific crime.

Technology should help law enforcement protect the public not create a system where Americans are constantly monitored simply because they are going about their daily lives. Public safety and constitutional rights must exist together.

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

I do not fully support the current administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Chicago or across the country. I believe our immigration laws should be enforced, but enforcement must be lawful, transparent, and consistent with the Constitution and the rights of every person.

I strongly support the enactment of Ashley's Law 2026 and the continued strengthening of Illinois laws that protect people from discrimination, unlawful treatment, and violations of their civil rights.

At the federal level, my goal is to increase accountability and oversight of ICE and address discrepancies in immigration enforcement. No federal agency should operate above the law, and individuals should have access to due process and meaningful avenues to report misconduct.

We can secure our borders and enforce immigration laws while still protecting constitutional rights. My position is simple: enforce the law, protect the people, and hold government agencies accountable when they fail to follow the law themselves.

Do you support President Donald Trump's attempts to impose tariffs on U.S. trade partners? What should be done to offset rising costs for Illinois businesses and consumers?

I do not fully support President Trump's approach to imposing tariffs on U.S. trade partners. While tariffs can sometimes be used strategically to protect American industries and address unfair trade practices, they can also increase costs for businesses and consumers when those costs are passed down through the supply chain.

I am concerned about the rising costs Illinois families and businesses are already facing. Trade policy should be based on economic data, long term strategy, and measurable outcomes not political pressure or emotional responses.

To offset rising costs, I would support targeted relief for small businesses, reducing unnecessary regulatory and operating costs, strengthening domestic supply chains, and pursuing trade agreements that create fair competition without unnecessarily increasing prices for American consumers.

America needs trade policies that strengthen American businesses without making it more expensive for Americans to live, work, and build a future.

What limits, if any, should Congress place on U.S. military action in Iran? Do you believe the president should be required to obtain congressional authorization for military operations against Iran?

I do not believe the United States should enter or expand a war with Iran without clear congressional authorization. Military action has serious consequences for the American people, our service members, and our national budget. We should not treat the lives of American soldiers or taxpayer dollars as unlimited resources.

The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, and I believe that authority must be respected. Before committing the United States to sustained military action or war against Iran, the president should be required to seek authorization from Congress, except in the narrow circumstances where immediate action is necessary to protect Americans from an imminent attack.

Congress should also establish clear limits on the scope, duration, and funding of any authorized military operation and require regular reporting to the American people.

Diplomacy should be pursued before war whenever possible. If our nation is going to send Americans into harm's way, Congress must have a meaningful voice in that decision.

What are your ideas for making housing, food, gas and utilities more affordable for your constituents and all Americans?

I understand the importance of affordable housing, food, gas, and utilities because I have personally relied on HUD and SNAP benefits. I know firsthand how critical these programs can be when families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

We also have a housing problem that requires us to look at the resources we already have. Across Illinois, including rural communities, there are vacant and underutilized properties and available housing resources that could help people who are homeless or facing homelessness.

I would support federal grants to help rehabilitate vacant and unused properties into affordable housing, while working with local communities to make better use of existing HUD housing. I would also push to simplify the application process for assistance programs and review eligibility requirements so that people who genuinely need help are not denied assistance because the system is unnecessarily complicated.

For food and utilities, I would support programs that help families manage rising costs while also addressing the underlying causes of those increases. My goal is not simply to expand government programs it is to make existing resources easier to access, more efficient, and more accountable.

Americans should not have to choose between paying their rent, buying groceries, keeping the lights on, or putting gas in their vehicle.

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

I am a write in candidate, but I believe my greatest qualification is the experience I have gained by actually living through many of the challenges facing Americans today.

I understand firsthand what it means to navigate HUD housing, experience food insecurity, face limited job opportunities particularly in rural communities and struggle with transportation while relying on public transit. I understand what it means to work hard to achieve stability and do everything necessary to maintain it.

For more than 20 years, I have been actively involved in my community. That involvement has taught me lessons that cannot be learned simply by sitting behind a desk. I have listened to people, advocated for them, challenged agencies when they failed to adequately serve their communities, and continued standing up even when doing so was difficult.

I know that being involved and demanding accountability can be tedious and challenging, but I am willing to step up to the plate and make the difficult decisions when they are the right decisions for the American people.

My goal is to bring that community experience to the federal level, work across all levels of government regardless of political affiliation, and focus on strengthening our economy, improving communities, and making government more accountable to the people it serves.

I am not asking voters to elect someone who simply understands the problems from a distance. I am asking them to consider someone who has lived through them, listened to others experiencing them, and is ready to work toward solutions.

Thank you for considering me for the opportunity to work for you.