Brad Schneider: 2026 candidate for 10th Congressional District

Bio

Office sought: 10th Congressional District

City: Highland Park

Age: 64

Occupation:

Previous offices held: Congressman IL-10

Q&A

What is your top issue and how do you propose to address it?

The most important issue is always the economy. Today, too many people feel like they’re doing everything right and still falling behind.

Congress must focus on lowering costs, especially in health care. Giving Medicare the authority to negotiate drug prices, capping out-of-pocket costs, and increasing transparency are practical steps that deliver real savings.

Housing affordability is also critical. Congress should expand support for affordable housing development, reduce barriers to construction, and help communities increase supply while protecting existing residents.

Over the long term, improving affordability requires strengthening the underlying economy. That means investing in domestic manufacturing, supply chains, and infrastructure while supporting workforcedevelopment, education, and job training so wages can keep pace with costs.

Through my work on the Ways & Means Committee and as Chair of the New Democrat Coalition, I’m focused on advancing policies that lower costs, strengthen competition, and invest in long-term growth so our economy works for the people, not just those at the top.

Do you support the unilateral foreign policy course President Trump has taken with such actions as the bombing of Iran, assaults on Venezuelan ships and the seizure of the Venezuelan president?

I believe the President’s actions on the world stage are doing severe damage to our country’s global standing and national security. The President has behaved as if he has a blanket authority to unilaterally use military force around the world at his pleasure, without the involvement of Congress. That is wrong. The US must stand up to dangerous actors and protect our national security, but that does not mean the President can act, absent imminent threats, without the authorization or consultation of Congress. Further, US foreign policy must pursue diplomacy whenever possible and be grounded in a clear strategy so we are not again embroiled in endless foreign wars.

With respect to Venezuela, it’s important we all recognize Nicolas Maduro is a bad guy. He deserves to face justice. However, that alone doesn’t give President Trump the authority to enter a foreign nation and seize its leader. The Administration has yet to offer a clear and convincing legal justification for this unilateral action, nor provide a credible strategy for what comes next in Venezuela.

The executive branch has expanded its powers in recent years on foreign policy, economic tariffs, executive orders and more. Are you satisfied with the direction these activities are moving? If so, why? If not, what needs to be done differently?

No. The Founders created three coequal branches of government for a reason. The President is not a king, and no administration should be allowed to accumulate unchecked power.

Since President Trump returned to office, we’ve seen the executive branch expand its authority on foreign policy, tariffs, and domestic policy, often entirely bypassing Congress. That undermines democratic accountability and weakens the role of the branch closest to the people.

The solution starts with Congress reasserting its constitutional authority. Congress must reclaim its role in decisions of war and peace, trade policy, and major economic actions, and hold the executive branch accountable through oversight and legislation. Our system only works when each branch does its job.

We also need to restore balance to the judiciary. The Supreme Court has grown increasingly disconnected from the structure of the federal courts. Expanding the Court to align with the number of circuit courts would help rebalance the system and strengthen public confidence in its legitimacy.

Our democracy works best when power is shared, checked, and accountable to the people — and that balance must be restored.

What should U.S. border policy be? If elected, what would you do to make it happen?

Our immigration system has needed comprehensive reform for years — one that enhances border security, modernizes our immigration laws, and expands our capacity to fairly and efficiently enforce them.

In my first term, I helped introduce a bipartisan immigration bill that passed the Senate with strong support but was blocked in the House. More recently, a bipartisan group of Senators negotiated a border agreement that would have made real progress by increasing border resources, speeding asylum decisions, and strengthening enforcement.

Unfortunately, President Trump derailed it and replaced it with his cruel, ruthless immigration policy that has simply brought fear and chaos to our communities instead of meaningful reform. Policies that scare communities and ignore basic legal protections are not only wrong — they are ineffective. We can enforce the law while respecting human dignity and the Constitution.

We need to pass bipartisan legislation that includes tough but fair reforms that effectively secure the border and fix our broken immigration system, while also providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have lived here peacefully for years.

What should be the government’s role in assuring health care for Americans? What should be done regarding the ACA to better perform this function?

In the richest country in history, every citizen should have quality, affordable health care, from providers they know and trust, where and when they need it.

Congress must focus on lowering health care and prescription drug costs. The Affordable Care Act has expanded coverage and protected millions of Americans, especially those with preexisting conditions.

Giving Medicare the authority to negotiate drug prices, capping out-of-pocket costs, and increasing transparency across the health care system are practical steps that are delivering real savings to families and seniors.

We must now strengthen, not undermine it. The US House passed bipartisan legislation at the start of 2026 to extend ACA tax credits that help millions of Americans afford their care. The Senate must pass it, and President Trump should sign it into law.

We must also defend science-based public health policy, including vaccine access, and reject political interference that puts children and communities at risk.

The path forward is clear: protect and improve the ACA, lower costs, expand access, and ensure the health care system works for patients, above all else.

What is your vision for a solution to conflicts involving Israel and the Palestinians? What should the United States be doing to advance this position?

Since my youth, I have worked to advance peace in the Middle East. I believe the best path is a secure, democratic, and Jewish Israel living side-by-side with a demilitarized, democratic Palestinian state. The United States must lead to make that vision real.

The U.S. has a long record in the region: recognizing Israel in 1948, brokering the Israel—Egypt peace treaty in 1979, the Israel—Jordan treaty in 1994, and helping establish the Abraham Accords in 2020. Just last year, the U.S. helped secure the return of the last remaining hostages held by Hamas as part of a comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza.

With the hostages home and the ceasefire holding in Gaza, we must focus on building a credible political horizon for all sides. The U.S. should help establish a reformed, accountable Palestinian governing authority, guarantee Israel’s security against terrorism, and expand regional integration through the Abraham Accords and economic frameworks like IMEC. Lasting peace will not come from isolation or slogans, but from institutions, security, and shared prosperity anchored by sustained American leadership.