Stephanie Trussell: 2026 candidate Illinois House District 42

Bio

Office sought: House District 42

Party: Republican

City: Lisle

Age: 61

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing the state in the next four years, and how should they be addressed?

Taxes, Education and Safety.

How would you assess the General Assembly's handling, to date, of the various proposals surrounding a Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights? What proposals would you have been willing to support and in what ways, if any, might you have approached it differently?

Before the Bears bought Arlington Park it should have been settled. That team is an institution that represents so much NFL history.

If the Mayor of Chicago and our Governor had any private industry management experience, they could have sealed the deal. I believe they arrogantly thought the Bears would never leave. McCormick Place would be a great location.

Now roughly three years into the elimination of cash bail in Illinois as part of the SAFE-T Act, how would you assess the success or failure of the criminal justice reform measure? What changes, if any, would you support?

SAFE-T Act has done the opposite, we are less safe because it’s harder to retain criminals behind bars until their court dates. Violent repeat offenders are roaming the streets and once they do something really egregious, like kill a police then they’re finally held. Repeal!

Illinois homeowners face one of the highest relative property tax burdens in the country. What specific proposals could you offer to ease the burden on state residents?

We have the HIGHEST in the nation. We must cap property tax, 1% on residential, 2% Rental/Farmland and 3% Commercial.

Gov. JB Pritzker recently paused a state initiative granting incentives to data center developers, and residents statewide have concerns about how such developments are affecting their access to water, utility rates, and the environment. How should the state approach data centers going forward?

Look at Elk Grove Village and other communities who currently have data centers. Data centers are good neighbors when they are properly located and operate without draining resources like water and power.

Illinois' “sanctuary” policies concerning immigration have made it a target for the Trump administration and critics who say they encourage criminal behavior. How do you feel about those policies, and how, if at all, would you change them?

We must eliminate the sanctuary policies in Illinois. The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments were written for people like me, descendants of enslaved Americans, not for people who have entered our country illegally.

Resources are being drained from hard working people to accommodate migrants. We are spending money we don’t have.

Many women in the legislature complain about a culture of sexual harassment in Springfield. Do you see evidence of this and, if so, what should be done about it?

A State Rep recently resigned so it must be an issue. I’m sure they are trained on appropriate behavior so they must not be enforcing the guidelines. They must have ZERO tolerance and make an example of those who violate the rules.

Are you satisfied with the state's existing ethics policies for senators and representatives? If so, what about the policies should reassure Illinoisans that elected leaders abide by high standards? If not, what changes need to be made?

Political corruption seems to be part of the culture, we even chuckle about how many of our politicians that have served time in prison. The punishment is harsh enough. Show the bad guys that we mean business and throw the book at them.

Part of the orientation for elected officials should include a showing of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective legislator?

Four years ago I traveled to all 102 counties as a statewide candidate. I fell deeper in love with the best state in the union. I understand that 3rd, 4th generation farmers and manufacturers can’t flee when their last kid graduates from high school. Why should they have to?

I’m dedicated to making Illinois the state where residents of Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri drive to for cheaper gas and groceries.

I look forward to an era of companies lining up to open their businesses in Illinois.

I want to make Illinois the shining star of the Midwest.