Naperville Democrat Announces Run For U.S. Senate, Slams Madigan

NAPERVILLE, IL -- A recently elected Illinois state representative from Naperville is ready to take on the current administration — and wants to unseat fellow Democrat Rep. Dick Durbin from the U.S. Senate. Anne Stava-Murray recently announced her plans to run for U.S. Senate in a Facebook post that took aim at Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and U.S. Senate lawmakers whom she called the "bullies who try to hurt us."

In her post, Stava-Murray promised to vote against another term for Madigan as House Speaker. She also listed issues she plans to confront, both as a state representative and during her planned run for Durbin's seat. These include "reducing gun related deaths," supporting equal pay and union rights, and fighting for LGBTQIA and mental health rights.

Stava-Murray, who grew up in and resides in Naperville with her husband and three children, was elected as state representative in 2018. This position was Stava-Murray's first foray into politics, though she says she was previously heavily involved in pushing for pro-choice initiatives and marijuana legalization with David Olsen, the state representative she unseated.

Her Facebook post includes candid admissions of bullying that Stava-Murray said she experienced as a child. She likened this bullying to the behavior of many politicians currently in power, thanking constituents for their ongoing support. Stava-Murray wrote that she ran for state representative because she "was so sick of being indirectly bullied by our political machines who care more about preserving themselves than the health and wellness of the people."

She added that she has been bullied by some in the Illinois capitol have "tried to bully [her] in a very obvious way for my respectful vote against Speaker Madigan keeping his unprecedented power."

Stava-Murray also addressed the #metoo movement and challenges she said she faces as a state representative. She told consituents, "You make traveling to a workplace with an ongoing problem of sexual harassment/assault for 2 yrs something I’m willing to follow through on."

Stava-Murray will take office on Jan. 9.

Image via YouTube, nctv17