Matthew Conroy: 2026 candidate for 5th Congressional District

Bio

Office sought: 5th Congressional District

City: Chicago

Age: 37

Occupation: Learning & Development Specialist

Previous offices held: N/A

Q&A

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

Healthcare is my top issue—because no one should have to choose between their health and their livelihood. I will fight for universal healthcare so every American can see a doctor, fill prescriptions, and get care without fear of medical debt or bankruptcy.

I will do this by passing Medicare for All, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage for everyone with no premiums, copays, or deductibles, including medical, dental, vision, mental health, and prescription drugs. I will invest in rural and underserved communities by expanding telehealth, mobile clinics, and community health centers. I will address the doctor and nurse shortage by increasing training and residency slots and forgiving student debt for providers who serve in high-need areas. I will lower drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices, capping insulin at $25, and closing patent loopholes. Finally, I will expand preventive, maternal, and mental healthcare—treating healthcare as a lifelong investment, not an emergency response.

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 President Trump’s unilateral and reckless foreign policy. The bombing of Iran, attacks on Venezuelan vessels, and the seizure of Venezuela’s president represent a dangerous abuse of executive power and a clear violation of constitutional governance.

What occurred in January 2026 was not law enforcement—it was a unilateral U.S. military operation carried out without congressional authorization. The Constitution is explicit: Congress, not the president alone, decides when the United States uses military force.

These actions also set a dangerous international precedent. If the U.S. claims the right to abduct the leader of a sovereign nation, we invite other countries to do the same to our elected officials—something Americans would never accept.

The attacks on Venezuelan ships and the bombing of Iran raise serious international law concerns. Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States, and our military should not be used to fight wars for other nations’ interests.

I believe in a foreign policy grounded in diplomacy, international law, congressional oversight, and restraint—not unilateral force that endangers global stability and American lives.

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, I am not satisfied with this direction. The expansion of executive power—especially on tariffs and foreign policy—has hurt working families and undermined constitutional checks and balances.

On tariffs, the reality is clear: American consumers pay the price. Broad, unilateral tariffs function as a hidden tax, driving up costs and making an already unaffordable economy worse. These policies are not diplomacy or sound economic strategy—they are blunt tools used for political leverage rather than the public good.

The same abuse of power appears in foreign policy. President Trump has repeatedly acted without congressional authorization, escalating conflicts and conducting foreign policy that benefits wealthy donors instead of serving national security or international law.

Congress must reassert its authority by using the power of the purse, reclaiming its war powers, and enforcing real oversight. When a president governs by unilateral decree and exceeds constitutional limits, it demands accountability.

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

U.S. border policy must be firm, fair, and humane. Border enforcement alone is not a solution—without comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship, it’s just a Band-Aid on a broken system. Our economy depends on immigration; immigrants power entire industries and help our economy grow.

At the border, we need effective enforcement to prevent unlawful crossings, but we must also uphold our values by treating asylum seekers humanely and honoring the right to seek refuge from violence, persecution, and cartel-driven instability. America is a nation of immigrants, and we should extend the same opportunity our ancestors sought to those fleeing danger today.

If elected, I will expand the number of immigration judges and asylum officers to process cases quickly and fairly, end the backlog that leaves millions living in fear, and create a clear, earned pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who contribute to our communities. Border security and human dignity are not opposing goals—we can and must do both.

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 is to ensure that every American has access to high-quality healthcare at the lowest possible cost. Healthcare is an essential public service, not a privilege, and no one should face financial ruin simply for getting sick.

In the near term, Congress must strengthen the Affordable Care Act by making the expanded ACA tax subsidies permanent to prevent premiums from skyrocketing and to keep coverage affordable for millions of families. But the ACA alone is not enough.

Long term, we must lay the foundation for a universal healthcare system, such as Medicare for All, that guarantees coverage for every American. A single-payer system would improve outcomes, reduce administrative waste, and save families hundreds of billions of dollars each year—while ensuring no one has to worry about medical debt when seeking routine or lifesaving care.

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 just and lasting peace rooted in human rights, international law, and equal dignity for Israelis and Palestinians. The United States must stop enabling a genocide and start using its leverage to protect civilian life.

That begins with ending U.S. military aid to Israel. Continuing to supply weapons—against the will of a clear majority of Americans—makes our government complicit in Israel’s genocide and diverts taxpayer dollars from urgent needs at home.

The U.S. should support international accountability, including ICC investigations and arrest warrants related to war crimes, and oppose illegal settlements through sanctions and enforcement of existing law. If we claim moral leadership, we must apply the same standards to our allies as to our adversaries.

America should press for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a political solution that guarantees freedom, security, and self-determination for Palestinians, while ensuring safety for Israeli civilians. Real peace requires accountability, not blank checks.