Jeff Walter: 2026 candidate for the 11th Congressional District

Bio

Office sought: 11th Congressional District

Party: Republican

City: Elburn

Age: 66

Previous offices held: Precinct Committee Person, Village Trustee, Village President

Q&A

What is your view on the role of tariffs in the American economy? Do you support the president’s policies on setting tariffs on goods from other countries?

Tariffs can be an important tool of economic and national security policy, but they should be used strategically. I support using tariffs to confront unfair trade practices, protect critical American industries, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and prevent foreign competitors, particularly those benefiting from government subsidies or market manipulation, from undercutting American workers.

I support the President’s use of tariffs when they advance those objectives and create leverage for fairer trade. At the same time, tariffs should not become an end in themselves. Policymakers must consider their impact on American manufacturers, farmers, small businesses, and consumers, especially when companies depend on materials or components that are not readily available in the United States.

Our goal should be fair and reciprocal trade, stronger domestic supply chains, and more American jobs. Tariffs are one tool to achieve that goal, and they should be targeted, regularly evaluated, and adjusted when they are doing more harm to American businesses and families than to the foreign competitors they are intended to address.

What should Congress do to protect Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid? Will Congress act in time to prevent significant cuts in Social Security benefits?

Social Security and Medicare are promises Americans have paid into throughout their working lives, and Congress must protect those promises. I oppose sudden benefit cuts for current retirees and those approaching retirement.

But protecting these programs requires action now, not waiting until they reach a crisis. Congress should pursue bipartisan reforms that strengthen Social Security’s long-term finances, encourage economic and workforce growth, reduce fraud and improper payments, and give younger workers confidence that the program will be there for them.

For Medicare and Medicaid, we should focus on lowering the actual cost of health care, not simply reducing benefits. That means greater price transparency, prescription drug competition, PBM reform, preventive care, technology and telehealth, and aggressive efforts to eliminate fraud and waste.

Congress still has time to prevent significant Social Security cuts, but the window is closing. The longer Washington waits, the fewer choices we will have and the more painful those choices will become.

How do you rate the state of health care in America? In particular, what are your views on the Affordable Care Act and the concept of Medicare for All?

America has some of the best doctors, hospitals, medical technology, and innovation in the world, but our health care system remains too expensive, too complicated, and too difficult for many families to navigate.

The Affordable Care Act expanded access to coverage and established protections that Americans value, particularly for people with pre-existing conditions. Rather than simply repealing it, Congress should preserve what works and reform what does not, with a focus on affordability, competition, choice, and reducing administrative costs.

I do not support Medicare for All if it means eliminating private insurance and moving everyone into a single government-run system. Americans should have more choices, not fewer.

I support greater price transparency, PBM reform, prescription drug competition, expanded telehealth, preventive care, and responsible use of AI and technology. The goal should be straightforward: better health outcomes, lower costs, more competition, and patients, not government or insurance companies, at the center of health care decisions.

How would you describe the working relationships in the U.S. House today? What can be done to promote more effective government in Congress, and what will you do personally to work toward this goal?

The U.S. House has become too divided and too focused on partisan conflict rather than solving problems.

Strong disagreements are part of representative government, but they should not prevent members from working together when there is common ground.

Congress can become more effective by restoring regular order, strengthening the committee process, giving members adequate time to understand legislation before voting, and focusing more attention on achievable solutions rather than political messaging.

As a mayor, I have learned that governing requires listening, building relationships, and working with people who do not always agree with you. You can stand firmly on your principles while still treating others with respect and finding areas where you can work together.

I would bring that same approach to Congress. I will work with members of either party when it benefits my district and the country, while remaining accountable to the people I represent. Good government should be measured by results, not by who gets the credit.

Do you believe the nation's election system and those of the individual states are secure and fair? If not, what must be done to improve them?

Americans must have confidence that every eligible U.S. citizen can vote, every lawful vote is counted, and election results are accurate and transparent. Our election system has substantial safeguards, but standards and procedures vary among state and local jurisdictions.

Election fraud does occur, and individuals have been prosecuted and convicted for double voting, fraudulent registrations, ballot fraud, and illegal voting. These cases demonstrate why strong safeguards and enforcement matter, while evidence is required to determine whether fraud affected the outcome of any particular election.

We should strengthen election integrity through accurate voter rolls, secure and verifiable voting systems, paper records, post-election audits, cybersecurity, bipartisan observation, and strong chain-of-custody procedures.

Election laws should be clear, consistently enforced, and established before voting begins. The goal is not partisan advantage, but a system where eligible U.S. citizens can vote and Americans can trust the results.

If elected, what will you do to help make Congress more effective?

Congress needs to focus less on partisan theater and more on delivering measurable results. If elected, I will bring the same results-oriented approach I used in business, the military, and local government.

I will work across party lines on issues where we can find common ground and judge legislation on its merits, not simply on who introduced it. I will push for bills to address one primary subject, provide members adequate time to read legislation before voting, and demand clear cost estimates and measurable objectives for major programs.

I will support regular oversight of federal agencies and programs, including performance reviews that identify waste, duplication, fraud, and programs that are not producing results. I will also advocate for sunset reviews of federal programs so Congress must periodically evaluate whether they should continue.

Finally, I will publish clear priorities for my office and report back to constituents on our progress. Congress should operate with accountability: set objectives, measure results, fix what is not working, and be transparent about the outcome.