Illinois — 1st District

Jonathan Jackson

Supports gun control and community policing

Jackson advocates addressing public safety by reducing the prevalence of illegal firearms through tracing programs and legislative limits on unlawful gun access. He supports federal funding for community-focused policing and local youth programs to address root causes of violent crime.

• Supports legislation to end unlawful access to firearms and supports gun tracing programs.
• Advocates for federal funding for youth programs and improved community policing.
• Highlights that Chicago leads the nation in firearms entered into the federal gun tracing system.

“Jonathan will address gun violence by working to bring funds for youth programs and better community policing. He will strongly support legislation to end unlawful access to guns.”

“We are not going to significantly reduce crime and violence in the 1st district until we get more guns off the street.”

Christian Maxwell

Supports law enforcement and victim protection

Maxwell supports strengthening law enforcement resources, combating organized crime networks, and increasing police funding alongside crisis training. Her platform emphasizes strict accountability for violent offenders while creating youth mentorship initiatives.

• Proposed the Retail and Community Safety Enforcement Act (RCSEA) to dismantle organized crime networks.
• Proposed the Law Enforcement Protection and Advancement Act (LEPAA) for police funding and mental health crisis training.
• Proposed a Community Policing Equity Fund for youth mentorship, targeting a 20% reduction in violent crime in pilot neighborhoods.
• Opposes federal gun control targeting law-abiding citizens while supporting strict enforcement against repeat violent offenders.

“Safer streets through strong law enforcement support balanced with community-focused prevention programs.”

“I will fight to restore law and order, protect our communities, and hold leaders accountable for putting politics over public safety.”

Jonathan Jackson

Supports high-tech workforce training and small business growth

Jackson advocates for expanding economic opportunity through small business support and high-tech workforce training programs in technical and community colleges. In Congress, he has voted against major Republican tax and budget reconciliation packages.

• Voted Nay on the 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1 / One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.
• Voted Nay on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024.
• Advocates for high-tech worker training through community colleges in response to automation and AI.

“Jonathan supports the growth of small businesses and industries that create and sustain good-paying jobs.”

“Jonathan L. Jackson, a former Professor at Chicago State, will lead efforts directed at increasing high-tech worker training through community and technical colleges because many of the new jobs will be in technology and related fields.”

Christian Maxwell

Supports lower taxes and spending cuts

Maxwell advocates for lowering federal tax burdens on families, property owners, and small businesses to combat inflation. Her platform includes establishing revitalized economic zones in high-unemployment areas and offering incentives for workforce training.

• Proposed the Essential Goods Tax Relief Act to combat inflation.
• Proposed tax deferment programs for small landlords and IL-01 Economic Revitalization Zones providing federal tax breaks.
• Seeks to create 5,000 new jobs by 2028 through workforce training incentives and micro-grants for urban entrepreneurs.

“I will push for fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and smarter budgeting to put money back into your pockets.”

“I am deeply invested in fiscal responsibility and economic opportunity. Illinoisans are burdened by high taxes and government mismanagement.”

Jonathan Jackson

Supports public school funding and early childhood education

Jackson emphasizes increasing federal funding for under-resourced public K-12 schools, junior colleges, and early childhood development programs. In the House, he has voted against federal restrictions on transgender participation in school athletic programs.

• Supports closing education gaps in K-12 public schools, junior colleges, and higher education.
• Promotes early childhood education funding based on research regarding early brain development.
• Voted Nay on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28).

“Jonathan will seek funding to close existing education gaps and advocate for policies that are fair to all children.”

“Jackson is a strong supporter of early childhood education because research has demonstrated that improving education during a child’s early, formative years is critical to a child’s brain development.”

Christian Maxwell

Supports school choice and parental rights

Maxwell advocates for parental rights in public education, curriculum transparency, and school choice expansion through vouchers prioritizing low-income families. She proposes specific federal grants to support tutoring pods and underperforming school programs.

• Proposed the Parent-Led Tutoring Cooperative Grant providing vouchers prioritizing low-income families.
• Proposed the After-School Excellence Fund to bring STEM, arts, and vocational programs to underperforming schools.
• Supports federal parental rights legislation tying education funding to curriculum transparency and consent standards.

“Families should be in control of their children’s education and well-being — not the government. I will advocate for parents’ rights, quality education, and policies that strengthen families rather than undermine them.”

“Empowering parents with school choice and closing achievement gaps without undermining public schools.”

Jonathan Jackson

Supports Medicare for All and reproductive rights

Jackson strongly endorses universal healthcare coverage through Medicare for All and the codification of federal reproductive rights. He advocates strengthening the Affordable Care Act and expanding funding for community and school-based health centers.

• Endorses Medicare for All and the Women's Health Protection Act to safeguard reproductive freedoms.
• Supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expanding funding for community and school-based health centers.

“Strong advocacy for Medicare for All reflects a broader push for universal health coverage and addressing disparities in the U.S. healthcare system.”

“A strong advocate for women's health and reproductive rights, Congressman Jonathan Jackson supports legislation aimed at ensuring comprehensive healthcare access.”

Christian Maxwell

Supports maternal healthcare and patient-centered reform

Maxwell emphasizes maternal health outcomes, childcare support, and market-focused healthcare access for underserved communities while holding pro-life views. Her platform includes grants to reduce maternal mortality and increase transparency in medical care.

• Proposed the Urban Birth Equity Innovation Fund and the Birth Center Choice & Transparency Act.
• Proposed the Childcare Stability Block Act and Affordable Healthcare Access Grants for clinics in underserved areas.
• Supports pro-life policies while advancing patient-centered care for C-sections, gestational diabetes, and menopause.

“Dignity for mothers and families through maternal care, childcare support, and affordable healthcare access.”

“Goal: Reduce maternal mortality by 25%.”

Jonathan Jackson

Supports housing as a fundamental human right

Jackson supports federal legislation establishing housing as a fundamental human right. His platform emphasizes expanded rental assistance, down payment assistance for first-time buyers, and transit-oriented development.

• Endorses the People's Housing platform sponsored by Rep. Jesús 'Chuy' García.
• Supports increasing affordable housing, rental assistance, and down payment assistance in Chicagoland.
• Promotes transit-oriented development to position affordable housing near public transit.

“Jonathan L. Jackson supports the People’s Housing platform, legislation in Congress that will provide a progressive housing framework that declares housing as a fundamental human right.”

“Jonathan will work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to increase affordable housing in the Chicagoland region.”

Christian Maxwell

Supports property tax relief and buyer assistance

Maxwell advocates for promoting homeownership by addressing property tax pressures, reforming federal mortgage guidelines, and creating pathways to convert student debt into home equity. She supports anti-displacement measures and tax deferments for small landlords.

• Proposes student debt-to-homeownership pathways and credit adjustments for student loan principal.
• Supports tax deferment programs for small landlords and anti-displacement policies.
• Advocates for HUD and FHA reforms to increase access for working families.

“I support policies that help families build stability and wealth through ownership.”

“Government should not make it harder for working families to buy homes, stay in their neighborhoods, or build equity.”

Jonathan Jackson

Opposes restrictive border and detention legislation

Jackson consistently votes against Republican border enforcement and immigration restriction bills in the House. His voting record includes opposing mandatory detention expansion and strict border security mandates.

• Voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) regarding mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants arrested for theft.
• Voted Nay on the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2).
• Was recorded as Not Voting on H.R. 875 regarding DUI deportation grounds.

“Jonathan will support strong Voting Rights legislation that leaves no voter behind”

Christian Maxwell

Supports border security and lawful citizenship pathways

Maxwell advocates for strict border security, enhanced benefit verification, and opposing sanctuary city policies. She supports sustainable citizenship pathways specifically for immigrants who adopt American culture, language, and customs.

• Opposes excessive sanctuary policies and prioritizes citizens for jobs and resources.
• Supports legal pathways to citizenship tied to cultural, language, and custom adoption.
• Focuses on immigration enforcement against criminal offenders and protecting benefit integrity.

“I will work to create or support legislation that creates sustainable pathways to citizenships for individuals who will work to adopt American culture, language and customs.”

“I will oppose excessive sanctuary policies while emphasizing citizen priorities in jobs and resources.”

Jonathan Jackson

Supports the Green New Deal

Jackson strongly endorses the Green New Deal to combat climate change while advancing environmental justice and worker protections. In Congress, he has voted against Republican measures designed to increase domestic fossil fuel production.

• Endorses the Green New Deal prioritizing environmental justice, workers' rights, and community ownership.
• Voted Nay on the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1).
• Voted Nay on H.J.Res. 30 regarding Department of Labor ESG investment rules.

“Jonathan L. Jackson supports the Green New deal plan that emphasizes environmental and social justice and acknowledges how historically oppressed groups are more likely to be affected by climate change.”

“Protecting the Environment for generations to come must be more of a priority.”

Christian Maxwell

Supports block-level flood mitigation oversight

Maxwell focuses on local infrastructure resilience, specifically advocating for strict oversight and public tracking of federal flood mitigation spending. She also proposes climate-resilient grants for urban agriculture and family farming.

• Demands block-level flood accountability and public tracking dashboards for sewer and water spending.
• Supports direct household flood mitigation grants and HUD/FEMA grant audits.
• Proposed the Food Freedom and Agriculture Equity Act featuring climate-resilient grants for urban growing.

“Flooding and sewer backups have damaged homes while federal and local dollars often fail to reach the blocks that need them most.”

“I will use congressional oversight, HUD/FEMA grant conditions, inspector general audits, appropriations requests, and public reporting requirements to track flood dollars from Washington to the block level.”

Jonathan Jackson

Supports federal voting rights expansion

Jackson actively advocates for sweeping federal voting rights protections and election administration reform. He opposes Republican legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal election registration.

• Supports the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
• Voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections.
• Voted Yea on the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) and Nay on the Biden impeachment inquiry (H.Res. 918).

“Active championing of voting rights aligns with a historic push for electoral fairness, exemplified by key legislative milestones such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965...”

“Jonathan will support strong Voting Rights legislation that leaves no voter behind”

Christian Maxwell

Supports government accountability and taxpayer oversight

Maxwell prioritizes government transparency, oversight hearings, and strict tracking of federal appropriations from spending to outcome. She advocates for public dashboards and audits to expose waste and fraud.

• Advocates for public dashboards, contractor disclosures, and non-profit transparency.
• Pledges to conduct oversight through hearings, letters, and inspector general referrals.
• Opposes blank checks for government programs failing to deliver measurable results.

“I believe federal dollars should be tracked from appropriation to impact. Taxpayers deserve to know where the money went, who received it, and whether it solved the problem.”

Jonathan Jackson

Serves on House Agriculture Committee

Jackson serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, including subcommittees on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, Commodity Markets, and Rural Development. In Congress, he has voted against defense authorization spending bills containing Republican policy riders.

• Serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the Commodity Markets Digital Assets and Rural Development subcommittee.
• Voted Nay on NDAA FY 2024 (H.R. 2670) and NDAA FY 2025 (H.R. 8070).

“Subcommittees: Commodity Markets Digital Assets and Rural Development; Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture”

Christian Maxwell

Supports veteran agricultural and workforce integration

Maxwell proposes targeted legislative initiatives to assist military veterans transitioning to civilian careers in agriculture and technical fields. Her platform links veteran transition programs with support for urban farming and family agriculture.

• Proposed the Vet-to-Ag Accelerator to assist veterans entering agriculture.
• Proposed the Skills-to-Cert Fast-Track and Veteran Innovation Voucher.
• Proposed the Food Freedom and Agriculture Equity Act providing tools for family farming and urban growing.

“Honoring service with programs that help 1,000+ veterans transition to civilian careers annually.”

“The Vet-to-Ag Accelerator helps veterans enter agriculture, Skills-to-Cert Fast-Track speeds civilian certifications, and the Veteran Innovation Voucher supports veteran inventions.”

Jonathan Jackson

Supports regulatory clarity for digital assets and crypto

Jackson advocates for clear federal regulatory frameworks for digital assets to expand finance and tech participation among minority communities. In Congress, he voted in favor of bipartisan legislation regulating payment stablecoins.

• Endorses the Digital Commodity Exchange Act (H.R. 7614, Rep. Ro Khanna) to provide transparency and clarity for crypto innovations.
• Voted Yea on the GENIUS Act (S. 1582) creating a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.
• Highlights blockchain adoption as an inclusive tool for wealth generation among Black and Latino youth.

“Therefore, a regulatory framework like the Digital Commodity Exchange Act (DCEA) (H.R.7614), sponsored by Cong. Ro Khanna, is inherently good for the space as it will improve the transparency of these “Wild West” innovations...”

“People of color, Black and Latino youth should participate in the modern wealth generation of new blockchain technology, including digital currency.”