Sanjyot Dunung: 2026 candidate for the 8th Congressional District

Bio

Party: Democratic

Office sought: 8th Congressional District

City: Des Plaines

Age: 60

Occupation: Entrepreneur, CEO, and writer

Previous offices held: I served on President Biden's Foreign Policy Working Group focused on boosting small business exports. I continue to serve on the Board of Director of the National Small Business Association, a non-partisan small business advocacy representing more than 66,000 small businesses nationally, and the Board of Directors of the Truman Center for National Policy.

Q&A

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

My priority is two-pronged: defend our democracy AND restore affordability for working families. When democracy is weakened by chaos, partisan politics, and a Congress that can’t govern, families pay the price.

Defending democracy means protecting the rule of law. I will fight efforts to weaponize government, undermine voting rights, or rig outcomes. Our democracy works when people believe the system is fair and accountable.

Rising costs for groceries, housing, healthcare, childcare, elder care are squeezing families, seniors, and small businesses. Fixing this requires commonsense, responsible updates to policies that no longer reflect real life.

I will modernize how we measure affordability, so programs reflect today’s costs, smooth benefit cliffs, fix supply chains, housing shortages, and poorly designed tariffs, and raise incomes through better wages, skills training, and support for small businesses. I will also strengthen economic security through global leadership and fiscal responsibility, keeping inflation in check.

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 do not support a unilateral foreign policy that bypasses Congress, sidelines allies, and increases the risk of conflict without a clear strategy or authorization. Acting alone without allies, an endgame, or respect for international law, increases instability. As a military mom, I am always concerned when actions damage U.S. credibility and put American lives and global economic stability at risk.

The Constitution is clear: Congress has a central role in decisions of war and peace. When any president uses military force or conducts major foreign actions without congressional approval, it weakens the rule of law and democratic accountability.

As someone who served on President Biden’s Foreign Policy Working Group and serves on the board of the Truman Center for National Policy, I believe U.S. foreign policy must be strategic, disciplined, and principled. I support a diplomacy-first approach backed by strong deterrence, close allies, and congressional oversight.

If military force is ever necessary, it must be narrowly defined, clearly justified, and authorized by Congress. America is strongest when it leads with confidence, competence, and constitutional discipline.

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. When presidents bypass Congress, it weakens our democracy and undermines the rule of law. I believe deeply in civilian oversight, constitutional balance, and institutions that work — not power concentrated in one branch.

Using federal funds as political weapons against states and cities is dangerous and unconstitutional. Programs funded by Congress exist to serve people, not punish communities based on how they vote.

Withholding or threatening funds destabilizes local budgets and hurts families who rely on housing, healthcare, public safety, and infrastructure.

Congress must reassert its constitutional role: enforce the power of the purse, require real-time transparency when funds are delayed, and create legal remedies when the executive branch oversteps.

We are also seeing warning signs of democratic erosion: partisan gerrymandering, attacks on judges, and efforts to weaken elections. The answer isn’t more partisanship — it’s stronger guardrails.

Congress must protect judicial and law enforcement independence, reform elections and redistricting, and use oversight to prevent abuses. Democracy only endures when leaders defend the rule of law.

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

U.S. border policy should be secure, lawful, and humane — and right now, the system is broken. Chaos is a choice. Competence is too. I will concentrate on four commonsense steps:

• Fix the dysfunction that fuels disorder. Congress must fund more immigration judges, asylum officers, and caseworkers, and modernize processing so cases are resolved quicker.

• Focus enforcement on real threats. I believe in public safety, but fear-based sweeps that separate families and destabilize communities make us less safe. Enforcement should prioritize trafficking, fentanyl, and violent offenders — not parents, workers, and students.

• Pair border security with modern legal pathways: update work visas to reflect real labor needs and create a fair, structured process for long-standing, law-abiding residents to earn legal status.

• Hold ICE accountable. They must follow the law: require judicial warrants, ban face coverings, mandate body cameras, and present clear identification. No agency should operate as a masked, unaccountable force.

The U.S. can be a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants — but only if we choose competence, accountability, and solutions that work.

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’s role in healthcare is to ensure every American has access to affordable, reliable, quality care — regardless of income, age, or health status. It should never be a luxury or a source of financial ruin.

We must make healthcare work in real life — so no one has to choose between getting care and paying for groceries. I know. I cared for my aging and disabled parents. I’ve seen how quickly medical costs can destabilize families.

The Affordable Care Act must be strengthened to meet today’s realities. I will lower costs by expanding subsidies, strengthening protections so sick people aren’t priced out, and reducing prescription drug prices.

To enhance access, let’s invest in primary and preventive care, innovate with telehealth, and expand lower-cost medications and insurance across state lines. It's crucial to address shortages in mental health and long-term care.

For seniors and those with disabilities, expanding home and community-based care is vital for maintaining dignity and reducing reliance on costly institutions.

Healthcare can work better without reckless spending by focusing on prevention, efficiency, and smart oversight.

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 is a durable peace that ensures Israel’s security while providing Palestinians a viable, demilitarized state and a path to self-determination. A two-state solution via direct negotiations is the only realistic way to meet both peoples’ aspirations.

The Gaza Peace Plan offers a viable path, supported by the U.S. and the international community. The U.S. should play a steady role in this process, reaffirming its commitment to Israel’s security, opposing terrorism, and rejecting unilateral actions that undermine peace prospects. It is also vital to support humanitarian assistance and economic development for Palestinians to improve their lives and reduce instability.

I advocate a diplomacy-first approach, emphasizing regional engagement, de-escalation, and respect for international law. Military solutions alone cannot achieve lasting peace.

As a board member of the Truman Center for National Policy, I promote peace through trade and initiatives like the IMEEC economic corridor, which fosters stability and cooperation. Peace requires sustained leadership and a commitment to a negotiated outcome for both Israelis and Palestinians.