Melissa L. Bean: 2026 candidate for the 8th Congressional District

Bio

Party: Democratic

Office sought: 8th Congressional District

City: Barrington

Age: 64

Occupation: N/A

Previous offices held: Member of Congress 2005-2011

Q&A

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

The top concern I hear from 8th District families is that the American Dream feels out of reach. Hardworking people — especially young families — are struggling to afford health care, higher education, housing, and a secure retirement. That’s not a failure of effort; it’s a failure of priorities.

My Empowering Young Americans Plan focuses on restoring economic security and upward mobility. It invests in affordable education through community colleges, workforce training, and low-interest student loans. It expands rental, starter, and mid-size housing inventory to build equity through homeownership.

It protects affordable health care by restoring ACA tax credits, expanding mental health access, and ensuring medical crises don’t lead to bankruptcy. It promotes job growth by restoring SBA lending, fully funding CHIPS and infrastructure investments, and supporting small businesses.

It strengthens retirement security by incentivizing employers to offer benefits like 401(k) matches and pensions while protecting Social Security and Medicare. And it restores clean energy investments to protect our planet for future generations.

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?

Our Constitution rejects unilateral foreign or domestic policymaking. The founders created equal branches with clear limits on executive power. While past presidents tested those limits, the Trump Administration’s overreach is unmatched, and Republican Party House leadership has abdicated its duty — allowing rule by executive fiat.

Nicolás Maduro is an authoritarian who has crushed democratic institutions, violated human rights, and fueled Venezuela’s economic crisis. The U.S. has an interest in supporting democracy and standing with the Venezuelan people.

But opposing Maduro does not justify unchecked action. War powers belong to Congress. Any use of force must be lawful, coordinated with allies, and guided by a clear strategy. Unilateral moves risk escalation, alienate partners, destabilize the region, and put U.S. service members in danger.

We should hold dictators accountable — firmly, but with constitutional, responsible leadership worthy of the public’s trust.

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?

In recent years, presidents of both parties have claimed broader authority in foreign policy, trade, and executive orders. I’m concerned about this trend, particularly the Trump Administration’s dangerous callous disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law.

Our system depends on checks and balances. When power concentrates in the executive, congressional oversight weakens, transparency declines, and accountability to the public suffers. Swift executive action may be needed at times, but it should be the exception — not the norm.

War powers and major foreign commitments must involve Congress. Trade actions like tariffs should follow a clear strategy and coordination with allies, not unilateral or retaliatory swings that create uncertainty for workers, farmers, and businesses.

The fix is straightforward: Congress must reclaim its role — on trade, on oversight of foreign engagements, and through serious bipartisan lawmaking.

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

Border security is a necessary responsibility, but it must be pursued lawfully, transparently, and with accountability.

Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is operating in ways that are unsafe, unlawful. Large-scale actions such as Operation Midway Blitz and armed occupation of Minneapolis communities have fueled fear, confrontation, and the deaths of Americans Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Images of masked agents taking over neighborhoods do not reflect American values and leave communities feeling unsafe.

Under Kristi Noem, untrained, unvetted and unaccountable armed ICE agents have put immigrants, citizens, children, and bystanders at risk. Enforcement without due process, transparency, or oversight erodes trust and violates constitutional protections.

Trump’s ICE weaponized for political purposes and shielded by immunity — must be dismantled and reformed. Congress must restore accountability by removing ICE from communities until reforms are enacted, suspending agent immunity, requiring public reporting, guaranteeing access to counsel, mandating bodycams, prohibiting masks, and setting firm limits on enforcement at schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses.

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?

The government has a responsibility to ensure health care is accessible, affordable, and reliable. When people lack coverage, they delay care leading to worse outcomes and higher costs.

I was proud to work with Pelosi and Obama to pass the ACA. Before the ACA, millions were denied or dropped for preexisting conditions, priced out of insurance, or one illness away from financial ruin. Children couldn’t stay on their parents’ plans, and care coordination lagged behind other countries. The ACA changed that by expanding coverage, strengthening consumer protections, improving care, and slowing cost growth.

That progress is at risk. The erosion of ACA tax credits makes coverage unaffordable for families and increases costs. When people lose insurance, they rely on emergency rooms, driving up costs and premiums.

We must strengthen the ACA by protecting premium tax credits, maintaining protections for preexisting conditions, encouraging competition to address costs, and investing in preventive and primary care. I supported the ACA because it was right: Lower costs, expand access, and protect the health and dignity of every American and I will continue to fight for that vision.

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?

My vision for resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is grounded in security, realism, and a commitment to lasting peace. The U.S. should work alongside regional partners to support humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, while ensuring Hamas has no role in governance.

I continue to believe a two-state solution is the most viable long-term outcome — but only if it results from direct negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders who recognize Israel’s right to exist and reject terrorism.

While the world is hopeful that the peace plan will develop beyond the hostage and prisoner exchange phase, the next steps are much harder to accomplish. Peace cannot be achieved while Hamas controls Gaza. Hamas is more committed to power and Israel’s destruction than to securing a viable future for the Palestinian people.

The United States should also advance regional stability by expanding normalization efforts through the Abraham Accords. Clear, consistent American leadership — grounded in security and diplomacy — is essential to creating the conditions for peace.