Kevin B. Morrison: 2026 candidate for the 8th Congressional District

Bio

Party: Democratic

Office sought: 8th Congressional District

City: Mount Prospect

Age: 36

Occupation: Cook County Commissioner (15th District)

Previous offices held: Cook County Commissioner, 15th District (elected 2018; reelected 2022)

Q&A

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

The top issue in IL-08 is affordability and economic security: families feel squeezed by housing costs, healthcare bills, childcare expenses and everyday prices, even when they are working hard.

As a county commissioner, I have already delivered on this front by leading the efforts that created Cook County’s brand new Department of Mental and Behavioral Health, eliminating a county wide tax, creating a nationally recognized program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs start new small businesses, and in supporting our Modular Homes Pilot.

My approach is practical and pro-worker: lower costs by letting Medicare negotiate more prescription drugs, cracking down on price-gouging and anti-competitive consolidation, and expanding ACA subsidies and access to care, especially mental health.

I’ll fight to grow good-paying jobs by investing in infrastructure, workforce training and modern manufacturing, while making it easier for small businesses to access capital and navigate federal programs. And I’ll push tax fairness, including restoring meaningful SALT relief and closing loopholes that reward the well-connected over the people who keep our economy running.

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. I oppose reckless actions that risk dragging the country into conflict without clear objectives, lawful authority, or an exit plan, all without seeking Congressional approval.

The Constitution vests war-making powers in Congress for a reason: major uses of force require transparency, debate and accountability. I support a strong national defense and decisive action when Americans and our allies are under threat, but strength also means discipline, strengthening our alliances, and diplomacy, not unilateral improvisation that risks escalating crises and destabilizing nations.

I would pursue a foreign policy that rebuilds credibility with partners, uses targeted sanctions and multilateral pressure where appropriate, and reserves military action for truly necessary circumstances consistent with U.S. and international law.

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. We need to rebalance power back toward Congress. The current Congress has kneecapped its authority, and handed it over to the Executive branch. This is why returning control of Congress to Democrats is imperative to act as a check on the President.

Concerning war powers, Congress should reassert its authority through stronger War Powers enforcement and tighter limits on open-ended authorizations.

On tariffs, a President should not be able to implement tariffs solely based on political fiat. These tariffs have caused housing, technology, and grocery prices to rise, all at a time where our families and small businesses need relief. Congressional approval should be required for the implementation of tariffs.

And lastly on executive orders and emergency authorizations, we should require time limits, robust reporting, and meaningful oversight so “emergency” powers don’t become a permanent workaround to the democratic process. We need a functioning Congress that implements laws, and the over use of executive orders creates instability and uncertainty as every time a new party takes control in the White House, so much work is undone, and is an extremely wasteful use of tax dollars.

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

We need a border policy that is secure, orderly and humane. That means investing in modern ports of entry, technology and staffing to stop illegal trafficking, while allowing for more efficiency with our trade partners and a better flow of legal commerce.

Our asylum system is broken, overwhelmed and unfair to everyone involved. We need to restructure our asylum system to ensure faster processing, collecting information to ensure individuals meet the criteria necessary to file for asylum, and that court dates are not years away. I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for long-term, law-abiding undocumented residents who pass background checks and meet requirements, paired with smart enforcement that targets genuine threats rather than families.

We should also expand legal pathways and update visa programs to match economic reality, so our system is lawful by design, not chaotic by neglect.

Finally, we must fully fund immigration courts and case management so cases are resolved promptly and due process is real, not theoretical. I have already taken leadership on this front by supporting the creation of Cook County’s Immigration Court.

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?

Government has a responsibility to ensure every American can access affordable, quality care. As a commissioner, I have already taken leadership on this front by creating Cook County’s first Department of Mental and Behavioral Health.

In Congress we should strengthen and expand the ACA by permanently guaranteeing coverage for preexisting conditions, reinstituting subsidies to make healthcare more affordable, and increasing insurer accountability so networks are meaningful and costs are transparent. We also need to reduce out-of-pocket costs by driving down prescription drug prices and investing in community health centers and school-based care. On day one I will take action to reverse cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP.

I will also fight to strengthen home and community-based services so seniors and people with disabilities can get care at home. My record includes advancing behavioral health access locally, and in Congress I will treat mental health as healthcare. We are the richest country in the world, and the only industrialized nation without universal healthcare, and that is why in Congress I will fight to make sure that health care is affordable and accessible to all.

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 rooted in security, dignity and equal human rights: a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state, as part of a negotiated two-state outcome. The U.S. should work to keep ceasefires intact, support the release of hostages and surge humanitarian assistance to civilians. We must invest in serious diplomacy with regional partners to create peace and stability in the region, and use our power to avoid future conflict and needless loss of life.

The United States should place pressure on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to reach a permanent peaceful solution, and this should be done with International cooperation. The international community must come together, alongside our leadership, to rebuild and promote lasting peace between both Israelis and Palestinians.

And we must also confront antisemitism and Islamophobia at home and abroad, because peace requires rejecting hatred in all forms.