Jenny Levin: 2026 candidate Illinois House District 51

Bio

Office sought: Illinois House District 51

Party: Democrat

City: Palatine

Age: 36

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?

Budget and tax system — We need constitutional tax reform to take the burden of funding our state off of the backs of working families. Those who have benefited most from our economy have a responsibility to pay their fair share and ensure its survival.

Repairing our healthcare system. — Although the state cannot fully compensate for losses resulting from federal cuts, we can strengthen our access to resources offered. For one example, the state should invest in preventative medicine options such assisting Nurse Practitioners to pursue their own practices for family medicine. These options decrease medical costs across the board as our community will be better able to maintain good health rather than delay care.

Affordable housing — The state should work with local government to ease the burdens of providing housing. This would include state incentives to offset the increasing costs caused by tariffs as well as working with municipalities to maintain a balance of regulation and zoning that accounts for safety guidelines to be effective without prolonging and delaying construction.

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?

Underlying the General Assembly’s deliberations have been a promise not to fund the Bears' move with taxpayer money. I fully support that position. Underneath that is the reluctance of the Chicago caucus to support the Bears moving out of Chicago, which has apparently been resolved. I have two criteria for supporting the Bears move; a willingness to fund infrastructure support as the State would do in any business move; and that the surrounding communities see a demonstrable net benefit from the move as well as a clear plan for addressing infrastructure and community impact.

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?

Most reports show that cashless bail in Illinois is working overall when followed as intended, but needs some improvements. Thousands of defendants have been released pending trial, allowing them to maintain their family relations, employment and contribute to society. The system is supposed to enable judges to hold defendants who are accused of or have a history of violence. It is my understanding that some judges have not consistently interpreted the statute, and in cases where they have released defendants with ankle monitoring, the departments managing the program are vastly understaffed. I would like to provide more resources and information to said departments and systems to empower these judges to act within the recommendations of the SAFE-T Act and to increase staffing for the monitored release program.

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?

The largest portion of the property tax is for schools. This results from the state not yet fully funding schools, forcing districts to make up the shortfall. Although the evidence-based funding formula is bringing slow improvement, I would support increasing the minimum annual increase to $500 million/year. As the contribution is increased, school districts should be encouraged to reduce their property taxes. Other steps, such as vertical consolidations of school districts, and reduction in the number of other local government entities can also reduce property taxes.

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?

The siting of data centers should be based on the same criteria as for siting the Bears stadium, that they should show a net benefit for the community where they are developed, and that those communities should have a say in the process. Additionally they should be required to support their own green energy sources and use self-contained water systems, so as not to affect residential utility rates. They should not receive special property tax incentives, since the increased revenue from their location can help reduce property taxes for citizens. And impacted communities must be involved in the setting siting conditions. In short, the state should lay out criteria and any financial incentives for siting, and the local communities should have the final say in the siting decisions. These legislative efforts also need to be continually discussed and reevaluated as our technology continues to develop. There is no quick fix or end to these conversations as it will continue to be an ongoing development.

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?

Less than 14% of immigrants arrested or targeted for deportation in Trump’s first year possessed charges or convictions for violent behavior according to a CBS review of DHS documentation. This means that federal efforts have not only failed to protect against those actively committing violent acts, but we have also lost thousands of deportees who were making contributions to our communities, both in service and taxes. Most have been removed without their Constitutional right to due process. I agree that it is appropriate to deport those convicted of violent criminal acts, once given due process. I also support providing pathways to citizenship to those who are contributing to the welfare of our country. Immigrants are a net benefit to our community. Targeting them and the states that welcome them is bad for our communities, arguably unconstitutional in the way it has been pursued over the past year, and not acceptable.

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?

Unfortunately individual acts of sexual harassment happens in most workplaces. Such is a sad testament these days of our national culture under the current President that protects and fails to act against privileged individuals. Recent events in Illinois have initiated conversations and a realization of our own need to improve how we approach to these situations. I would support these changes through strengthening the process for reporting incidents of all harassment and enhancing the role of the Legislative Investigator General in researching claims. My experience in emergency medicine working with victims of sexual and physical assault has educated me in the importance of a trauma based approach to these investigations. The burden of responsibility should not be placed on the shoulders of those reporting the incidents. The process of reporting and investigating said claims should be clear and enforceable so that all parties involved know what to expect.

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?

I would recommend strengthening the LIG office, making the LIG full time and making the office independent from legislative control. Transparency is a key in ethical practice so I would recommend all LIG reports be made public after notification to affected parties, requiring disclosure of all conflicts of interest, and recusal when such exists. Additionally I would recommend prohibiting elected officials to work as lobbyists, even to other jurisdictions until two years after leaving office.

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

If I am able to win in November, I would be the first registered nurse ever elected into the Illinois House. My experience in emergency rooms and on the ambulance, as well as my experience training healthcare workers and first responders, allows me to provide a unique, hands-on perspective on many issues, including but not limited to our healthcare system, gun violence, and the effects of financial insecurity. My Masters Degree in Legal Studies in Healthcare Law, Policy, and Management enables me to put my experience into effective policy. In 2024 I served as president of the Palatine chapter of the Illinois Jaycees, during which time we gained national recognition for our community programming and leadership development. In these experiences as well as the way I have built my grassroots campaign from scratch, I have demonstrated my leadership abilities, ability to listen and collaborate with others and commitment to my community. These qualities and experiences are fed by a drive to help others, which is why I am seeking the honor of serving the 51st District in the General Assembly.