Dan Tully: 2026 candidate for 8th Congressional District

Bio

Office sought: 8th Congressional District

City: Carol Stream

Age: 35

Occupation: Lawyer

Previous offices held: N/A

Q&A

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

My Trump Accountability Plan protects the institutions we need to deliver real solutions. Article I: Exerting Congressional Power, focuses on restoring balance. Congress must hold ICE accountable, reassert its constitutional war powers, and reclaim authority over tariffs. These powers belong to the legislative branch, and it is time Congress used them.

Article II: Limiting Presidential Power, includes five reforms that should apply no matter who occupies the Oval Office. First, the Attorney General should be elected, not appointed. Second, Congress must limit abuse of the pardon power, including suspending pardon eligibility during impeachment proceedings. Third, Congress should adopt an aggressive reading of its impeachment authority to hold civil officers accountable when the DOJ fails to act. Fourth, Congress must use its inherent contempt power against executive officials who direct unlawful actions.

Article III: Reforming Supreme Court Power, calls for a binding ethics code with full financial transparency and mandatory recusals, along with 18-year term limits before justices transition to senior status.

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 a unilateral foreign policy where one person decides when America goes to war.

The Constitution is clear: Congress has the power to declare war. When a president bombs Iran, strikes Venezuelan ships, or undertakes operations that amount to regime change without Congressional authorization, that is a direct erosion of our system of checks and balances.

These decisions carry enormous consequences for our troops, our alliances, and our national security. They require debate, transparency, and a vote in Congress. Anything less sidelines the American people and concentrates too much power in the executive branch.

We can be strong on national security without abandoning the rule of law. In fact, our strength depends on it.

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 the direction we’re heading.

Over the last several years, presidents of both parties have steadily expanded executive power on foreign policy, tariffs, and sweeping executive orders. Congress has too often stood by while authority that belongs to the legislative branch drifted into the Oval Office.

That’s not what the Constitution envisions, and it’s not healthy for a democracy.

On foreign policy, Congress must reassert its war powers and require clear authorization before military force is used. On tariffs, we need to reclaim Congress’ constitutional authority over trade and taxation so one person cannot unilaterally reshape the economy.

And on executive orders, stronger oversight and statutory guardrails are necessary to prevent abuse.

This isn’t about one president. It’s about restoring balance. Our system works best when ambition checks ambition, not when Congress willingly hands off its responsibilities.

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

The identity of America is rooted in receiving people from around the world. Descended from immigrants, I know that immigration is the lifeblood of this country, and I will always stand up for immigrants’ rights under the U.S. Constitution.

We need comprehensive reform to our immigration systems. While we do need to know who is coming in and out of this country, security must be improved in a humane way that puts safety, ethics, and compassion first. This includes creating a path to citizenship for those already here that doesn’t take years to achieve. We need similar pathways to allow DACA recipients and Dreamers access to citizenship.

Right now, the Trump Administration is emboldening ICE, deploying the National Guard to our cities, and militarizing local police departments. This is a farce, and we must stand up to Trump’s blatant xenophobia and racism. Anonymous kidnappings under the ICE auspices are reprehensible, immoral, and illegal. I will push for laws requiring that all federal law enforcement officers produce identification when asked, banning face coverings for federal law enforcement, and stopping raids on farms, factories, restaurants, and other workplaces.

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?

Healthcare is a human right. I support policies such as Medicare for All that offer universal healthcare care for all citizens, and as these plans give the government leverage to bring down costs of prescription drugs and routine tests and procedures. We must also restore Medicaid to the fullest extent possible to ensure those who need care are covered.

While everyone in our country should be covered by a universal healthcare system, we should also allow for commercial availability of private supplemental options for those who choose to pay out-of-pocket for their care.

I will advocate for investing in expanded access to preventive medicine and healthcare access, and I will support robust funding for medical research, including at the NIH and at university campuses across the country, to ensure the health of generations to come.

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 grounded in security, dignity, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel has a right to exist and to defend its people from terrorism. Palestinians also have a right to live in safety, with freedom and political and economic opportunity. A durable peace requires two states living side by side, with secure and recognized borders, and a future where neither people lives under constant threat.

The United States should support regional diplomacy that brings Arab partners to the table and creates long-term security guarantees for Israel while laying the groundwork for Palestinian self-governance free from corruption and extremist control.

American support must align with both our security interests and our values. That means defending Israel’s security, opposing terrorism, rejecting settlement expansion that undermines a two-state outcome, and insisting that civilian lives are protected. Lasting peace will not come from managing the conflict. It requires sustained diplomatic leadership aimed at a negotiated two-state solution.