Pamela Denise Long: 2026 candidate for U.S. Senate

Bio

Office sought: U.S. Senate

City: Edwardsville

Age: 53

Occupation: Strategy Consultant & Implementation Specialist

Previous offices held:

Q&A

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

Leading the health insurance redesign to cut costs and improve quality of care including health equity, trauma-informed care, prevention of abuse and exploitation, and implementing best practices to improve fetal-maternal health outcomes. I'll will start working on this Day One, including addressing the planned reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). I will continue to fight for Americans of all ages and ability levels to receive quality healthcare in a way that increases choice via competition, secures personal ownership of insurance policies, facilitates investment in wellness, moves toward pay-for-performance, and doesn’t bankrupt households nor our federal budget.

I support reinstatement of quality short-term, limited-duration insurance plans for those who want them, expansion of tax-free health-savings accounts (HSAs) for all Americans, and medical savings accounts (MSAs) for older adults. HSAs/MSAs are owned by the person, are inheritable, and the money can be converted into retirement funds if not utilized.

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?

Iran was not a direct physical threat to the US landmass, however it was perceived as a threat to national interests. We need to look more closely at our relationships in the Eastern hemisphere and the extent to which our commitments conflict with our diplomacy and leadership in the world. The bombing of ships needs to be evaluated to alignment with international law. The incursion into Venezuela appears to be more complex than what is in the public narrative as there are concerns about BRICS and nuclear proliferation among its allies. A President has some authority for unilateral actions, including using the military for short-duration campaigns as long as they comply with the War Power Act requiring him to consult congress (even if only the Speaker of the House) beforehand, and then properly brief Congress within 48-72 hours afterwards. Congress has the authority to levy tarrifs.

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?

The separation of powers and checks/balances must be maintained to maintain law and order. The executive was never meant to standalone, but to preside over the implementation of the laws of Congress. Congress members must fulfill their duties to balance power and hold all officials within its jurisdiction accountable to codes of conduct and fulfillment of essential duties, regardless of party affilitation.

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

We need a moratorium on both mass legal and illegal immigration. The current laws of Congress must be fully implemented; this includes only admitting those who will not become a public charge, implementing original intent of the 14th amendment and its clauses (I've published model legislation in the form of a Birthright Citizenship Original Intent Clarification Act of 2027); Congress should hold hearings about what due process looks like for the 10-20. million illegal aliens allowed into the nation by Biden and previous administrations, we must be able to distinguish law enforcement from bad actors via no face coverings, those who attack or harm federal immigration officers for diligently carrying out their duties of interior enforcement must be held accountable.

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?

Bust up health insurance monopolies. In Illinois, one company provides the lion's share of insurance plans. It's unrealistic to expect our current legislators to embrace and properly steward Medical for All, and I do not support that. Private ownership of affordable, guaranteed renewable policies is the way to go. Data shows that robust competition among insurance providers lowers costs for consumers. I also support the reinstatement of quality short-term, limited-duration insurance plans for those who want them, expansion of tax-free health-savings accounts (HSAs) for all Americans, and medical savings accounts (MSAs) for older adults. HSAs/MSAs are owned by the person, are inheritable, and the money can be converted into retirement funds if not utilized.

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?

We have to be objective and honest about our interests in the Middle East. We must implement a just perspective of critique and expectations for both sides, and the officials who make decisions about and set narrative about the conflict. We cannot support ongoing violent conflict and we must acknowledge the ways grievance has arisen because the Western world (a la Balfour) acted on that region of the world to establish the Israeli country. At the same time, the “decolonization” push around the globe would affect all nations that formed after settlement; that seems untenable and unrealistic.