Steve Botsford: 2026 candidate for U.S. Senate

Bio

Office sought: U.S. Senate

City: Chicago

Age: 36

Occupation: Small Business Owner

Previous offices held:

Q&A

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

My top issue is affordability. For most families, life has simply gotten too expensive. Housing, health care, child care, groceries, and energy all cost more every year, while paychecks struggle to keep up. That is not an abstract economic debate. It is what people feel every time they pay rent, buy groceries, or open a medical bill.

The basic problem is straightforward. We have not built enough of the things people need. When supply is constrained, prices rise. My approach is to take on affordability at its root by expanding supply and removing bottlenecks, even when that means confronting powerful special interests.

On housing, that means federal incentives and zoning reforms so communities actually build more homes, especially near jobs and transit. On health care, it means training more doctors by raising residency caps, cracking down on hospital monopolies, and enforcing real price transparency. On family costs, it means a permanent child tax credit and paid family leave so raising a family is not a financial gamble. And on everyday goods, it means repealing tariffs and policies that quietly raise prices for consumers.

Let's bring back the American Dream!

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?

No. I do not support a unilateral foreign policy that bypasses Congress, alienates allies and risks dragging the United States into open-ended conflicts without a clear strategy.

America is strongest when it leads with allies, clear objectives and respect for the rule of law. Military force should be a last resort, not a substitute for diplomacy or a tool for political theater. When presidents act unilaterally without congressional authorization, they weaken our credibility and increase the risk of miscalculation that can cost American lives.

That does not mean ignoring real threats. The United States must protect its security and global stability by maintaining a strong, technologically advanced military. But the true strength of our military should be measured by its ability to deter our adversaries from conflict in the first place, not by how often it is deployed.

As a Senator, I would insist on Congress reclaiming its constitutional role in matters of war and peace. I would push for a foreign policy that prioritizes peace and restraint, keeps American troops out of unnecessary wars and focuses our resources on rebuilding strength here at home.

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. Too much power has shifted from Congress to the executive branch and that shift has made government less accountable and less effective.

The Constitution was designed to make Congress the most powerful branch, especially on decisions involving war, trade, and major economic policy. Over time, presidents of both parties have relied on executive orders, emergency powers and unilateral action to govern around Congress. That may be faster, but it leads to unstable policy and weaker checks on power.

This matters in real ways. Tariffs imposed by executive action raise prices for families. Foreign policy decisions made without debate in Congress risk American lives.

We need to restore balance. Congress should reclaim its authority and return to its intended role as the primary driver of national policy.

That means reforming Congress itself. House and Senate committees should be aligned more closely with executive branch agencies so lawmakers can provide real oversight and write clearer laws.

A stronger Congress means better policy, more accountability, and a government that works for the people, not just the presidency.

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

We need an immigration system that both enforces the law and treats people with dignity.

First, we must restore order at the border, starting with accountability at the top. I would push the president to remove Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem and rebuild border enforcement around professionalism and protecting communities rather than punishing migrants.

Second, the asylum system needs serious reform. Asylum is meant to protect people facing the most dangerous situations, not to serve as a workaround for a broken legal immigration system. Claims should move quickly and decisions should be timely and fair.

Third, we need to expand legal immigration pathways with American workers and the American economy in mind. When legal immigration works, it supports America’s economic interests.

Fourth, Dreamers should have a clear pathway to citizenship, and long-term undocumented residents who work, pay taxes, and follow the law should have a path to legal status.

Finally, we must address root causes by pressing other countries in the region to do their fair share and help combat cartels and economic collapse.

A working immigration system brings order and fairness back into balance.

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 health care should be simple: make sure every American can access affordable, high-quality care without fear of financial ruin.

The ACA was a major step forward. It expanded coverage, protected people with preexisting conditions, and ended the practice of denying care when people need it most. But coverage alone is not enough if care keeps getting more expensive and harder to access.

The biggest problem in health care today is cost. Families are paying more in premiums, deductibles, and surprise bills, while provider shortages and hospital consolidation drive prices higher. The government should focus on lowering costs by increasing supply and competition. That means training more doctors by raising residency caps, enforcing antitrust laws against hospital monopolies, and requiring real price transparency.

We should also strengthen the ACA by making subsidies more predictable and improving plan choices so coverage is stable when people change jobs.

Health care should not depend on where you work or how lucky you get. The goal is affordable care, stable coverage, and real choice for American families.

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 where Israel is secure and Palestinians can live with freedom, dignity and self government. The only realistic end state is two states.

The United States should focus on ending the fighting and ensuring sustained humanitarian access so civilians are not trapped between bad options. Any postwar plan must ensure Hamas has no role in governing and that there is a credible path to Palestinian leadership that can provide security and basic services.

We also need to be honest about political reality. I have no faith that the current Netanyahu government is serious about pursuing a genuine two state solution. Continued settlement expansion and rejection of Palestinian statehood make peace impossible. The United States should not provide unconditional support under those conditions. Aid and offensive weapons should be withheld until there is a partner in Israel willing to credibly pursue peace and a viable two state outcome.

America should use its leverage, work with regional partners and stay focused on outcomes, not rhetoric. The goal is to end the cycle of war and give both peoples a future worth choosing.