State Democrats ready to step up for Illinois

There's no doubt about it: though we've made progress in our state and our country, there's much more we can do to meet the challenges Illinoisans face every day.

With the 2022 midterm elections a year away, voters across Illinois need to know one thing: Democrats have delivered - and will continue to deliver - real results for Illinois families on the biggest issues facing our communities. Illinois Democrats are investing in clean energy and training our workforce in next-generation green jobs. We're addressing long standing inequities and lifting up communities that have been historically left behind. We're lowering healthcare costs while protecting a woman's right to make her own choices about care. We're protecting the access to the ballot box and ensuring everyone's vote counts.

From the direct aid to Illinois families and small businesses in the American Rescue Plan to the billions in new investment coming to Illinois from the recently-passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal to the more than 500,000 jobs supported by the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan at the state level, Democrats are providing real relief, real support, and real improvements to our communities. We know there's much more to do, but Illinois Democrats are coming through on the promises we've made at every level of government, from local elected leaders to our federal delegation in Washington, D.C.

This crucial progress for Illinois families is why I'm so excited to be leading our party in 2022. I believe we can lead the nation in our policies and our politics. Since taking over as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois in March, we've moved our entire party to become more inclusive, more transparent, and more active. That means bringing more people into the party while soliciting feedback from all corners of our state.

The message I've heard is loud and clear: let's get to work, because we can't take anything for granted. With a year before the midterm elections, the Democratic Party of Illinois is ramping up its campaign plan to make sure we keep Illinois blue in 2022. We're adding data and analytics capacity to make sure all Democrats up and down the ticket have the information they need to target key voters. We're expanding our communications capabilities to talk to swing voters about Democratic successes while making sure our base stays fired up.

We're adding in new digital strategies to meet voters where they are, while supporting old-fashioned boots on the ground organizing work to ensure we can get the right message to the right person at the right time,

The Democratic Party of Illinois has undergone a massive transformation in 2021, and big change can take time. But with a year to go, we're hitting the ground running, supporting all Democratic nominees through the finish line next year. This work starts with Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth at the top of the ticket and continues with our Democratic statewide elected officials, federal delegation, General Assembly members, State Supreme Court nominees, and local leaders.

I urge all Democrats, from voters to volunteers, activists to elected officials, to join me and the Democratic team as we fight for our communities, our state, and our country. Together, we can continue to deliver real results for the people of Illinois.

• U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, of Chicago, represents the 2nd District of Congress and is chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.