Jessica Breugelmans: 2026 candidate for Illinois Senate District 33

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: Illinois Senate District 33

City: Geneva

Age: 44

Occupation: Small business owner

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

Are you comfortable with the way the state budget is developed? If not, what should be done differently?

Absolutely not. Every year (typically during Memorial Day weekend) lawmakers pass the state budget in the middle of the night on the last day of session when legislators are in Springfield. They drop thousands of pages of the budget bill on lawmakers desks with only a couple hours to read before voting. The budget should be more transparent, further researched and vetted with ample time for legislators to make an informed decision.

Do you favor any tax increases or revenue enhancements to address fiscal problems?

NO! We cannot afford more tax hikes. Illinois has the highest tax burden in the nation and it is driving businesses and families out of the state of Illinois. Legislators have gone to the taxpayers every time to bail them out for their mismanagement. We do not have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.

Do you favor any changes in the pension structure for state employees?

We need to have an honest conversation about the hundreds of billions of dollars in pension liability that our state and taxpayers face. Illinois made a promise to workers and they should deliver on that promise for what workers have earned but also confront the long-term financial challenges facing the next 20 years or more.

I would consider a plan for all new hires in state government to enter into a 401(k) style, defined contribution plan like the private sector.

What should Illinois policy be toward immigration and federal efforts to enforce immigration laws?

Immigration is personal to me and my family. My husband came to this country legally 20 plus years ago. Through his process of becoming an American citizen we came across an abundance of expensive fees and long waiting periods (years) with no communication. He went about the system the right way, waited in line and I am proud to say he has become an American citizen, and he is proud to be a part of the greatest country in the world.

Although this is a federal issue and the state Senate does not enact federal laws, I would work with law enforcement across the state to find solutions to keep them safe and make sure violent criminals are kept off our streets. The system is broken and needs to be fixed- too many people who have waited in line and done it the right way are being punished because politicians like JB Pritzker fail to put Illinoisans first.

Ethics reform has long been promised in Illinois with little action. What would you do to change that?

First, I would support two measures that help alleviate our career politician problem. 1. Term limits on all house and senate members, with a 10-year limit. And 2., I would also support Fair Maps so that we increase competitiveness in campaigns in every part of the state. By enacting these two reforms we will bring more outsiders, with new perspectives to government to help us grow our way out of our financial problems.