Illinois — 16th District

Paul Nolley

Supports revival of manufacturing and union jobs

Nolley focuses on restoring blue-collar manufacturing careers and strengthening workers' rights to raise wages for working families. He pledges to champion local manufacturers that invest in their communities and promote collective bargaining while rejecting corporate PAC money.

• Pass pro-worker legislation to facilitate collective bargaining.
• Expand modern manufacturing and champion local manufacturers investing in communities.
• Refuse big-money corporate PAC dollars.

“We must champion local manufacturers that invest in their people and communities, and expand modern manufacturing as a viable career path — not just for the executives but for the welders, machinists, and line workers.”

Darin LaHood

Advocates spending cuts and deregulation

LaHood calls to rein in government spending to address the national debt, which he notes is over $30 trillion. He advocates removing regulatory barriers, cutting red tape, and simplifying the tax code to foster business growth and job creation.

• Reduce the national debt through federal spending controls.
• Eliminate costly regulations and simplify the tax code.
• Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.

“For far too long the Federal Government has not been living within its means. Our national debt is $30 trillion and growing and we continue to have a government that spends, ...”

Paul Nolley

Supports expanding Medicare to all Americans

Nolley advocates for protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid against budget cuts. He supports expanding Medicare to cover all medically necessary care for every American with no premiums, copays, or deductibles.

• Protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from spending cuts.
• Expand Medicare to cover all Americans for medically necessary care without premiums, copays, or deductibles.
• Utilize Medicare's purchasing power to negotiate lower prescription drug costs.

“we need to expand Medicare to cover all medically necessary care and make it available to every American, regardless of age, with no premiums, copays, or deductibles .”

Darin LaHood

Opposes Obamacare and supports market-based reform

LaHood criticizes the Affordable Care Act as government overreach and supports replacing it with a market-based approach to health care delivery. He advocates policies that provide choice without saddling businesses or government with excessive mandates.

• Replace the Affordable Care Act with a market-based healthcare system.
• Oppose federal healthcare mandates on families and employers.

“It is vital we replace ObamaCare with a market-based approach to the delivery of health care, as it is vital to give people a true choice in health care and a policy that ensures neither businesses nor government is saddled with a program that overreaches.”

Paul Nolley

Supports family farms and right-to-repair

Nolley pledges to preserve independent family farms by combating corporate consolidation, right-to-repair restrictions, and Big Ag's political influence. He advocates common-sense policies to strengthen local farming and open agricultural career paths for young people.

• Oppose corporate consolidation and Big Ag influence over federal policy.
• Support right-to-repair access for independent farmers.
• Provide pathways for young people to pursue agricultural careers.

“Corporate consolidation, right-to-repair restrictions, and Big Ag's influence over Washington have created a system designed to bleed them dry.”

Darin LaHood

Supports district agricultural producers

LaHood highlights the 16th District's position as the ninth largest agricultural district in the nation for corn and soybean production. He considers the farming community vital to Central Illinois and the national economy.

• Promote federal policies benefiting district corn and soybean producers.
• Utilize position on the House Ways and Means Committee to support effective trade policies for agriculture.

“Illinois’ 16th District is the 9th largest agriculture district in the country for corn and soybean production. The farming community is not only the heart of Central Illinois, but also ...”

Paul Nolley

Supports women's rights and equality

Nolley promises to stand up for women's rights and protect marginalized groups across the country. He emphasizes equality, dignity, and safety as fundamental pillars of his platform.

• Defend women's rights and equality.
• Protect marginalized populations including LGBTQ+ youth, seniors, and people with disabilities.

“I will stand up for women’s rights and fight alongside those who’ve been pushed to the margins, like people with disabilities, seniors, children, survivors, and LGBTQ+ youth.”

Darin LaHood

Opposes abortion and identifies as pro-life

LaHood states that he is 100 percent pro-life and vows to oppose policies regarding abortion providers. He views protecting unborn life as a key legislative priority.

• Positions himself as 100 percent pro-life.
• Opposes funding and policies supporting abortion providers.

“I am is 100 percent pro-life. In Congress, I will continues to be a strong voice for the voiceless, combating the radical Left’s support for abortion radicals and abortion providers ...”

Paul Nolley

Supports banning congressional stock trading

Nolley identifies ethics reform as a cornerstone of his platform, calling to ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks. He pledges to end pay-to-play politics and reject corporate PAC contributions.

• Ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks.
• Reject corporate PAC money.
• Reduce the influence of lobbyists and money in politics.

“We need to put a stop to the corrupting influence of money in politics and ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks.”

Darin LaHood

Signed term limits and transparency pledges

LaHood has taken steps regarding ethics and government integrity, including signing the U.S. Term Limits pledge and voting for transparency legislation like the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

• Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge.
• Voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) and the SAVE Act (H.R. 22).

Paul Nolley

Supports environmental protections and clean energy union jobs

Nolley advocates for practical environmental solutions that safeguard air, water, land, and wildlife while holding polluters accountable. He supports creating well-paying union jobs in the clean energy sector to build economic security.

• Hold environmental polluters accountable.
• Create good-paying union jobs in clean energy.
• Protect natural resources without hurting workers, farmers, or small businesses.

“By holding polluters accountable and creating good-paying union jobs in clean energy, we can protect our communities and build economic security for everyone.”

Darin LaHood

Supports domestic energy production and permitting reform

LaHood voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to expand oil, natural gas, and coal production and reduce pipeline permitting restrictions. He also voted against environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) rules for retirement plans.

• Voted for H.R. 1 (Lower Energy Costs Act) to boost domestic oil, gas, and coal output.
• Voted to nullify Department of Labor rules permitting ESG criteria in ERISA retirement investments.

Paul Nolley

Supports paid family leave and child tax credit expansion

Nolley proposes pro-family policies aimed at easing financial pressures on working parents. His platform includes enacting Paid Family Leave, expanding affordable childcare access, and increasing the Child Tax Credit.

• Pass Paid Family Leave legislation.
• Expand access to high-quality, affordable childcare.
• Increase the Child Tax Credit.

“We need to bring relief to working families by passing Paid Family Leave legislation, expanding access to high-quality, affordable childcare, and increasing the Child Tax Credit.”

Darin LaHood

Voted for family tax relief legislation

LaHood supported federal tax relief measures in Congress aimed at adjusting credits and exemptions for American families and workers.

• Voted for H.R. 7024 (Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024).

Paul Nolley

Supports fully funding and rebuilding the VA

Nolley calls for comprehensive investments to modernize physical infrastructure and digital systems at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He emphasizes cutting wait times, eliminating red tape, and holding VA leadership accountable.

• Rebuild and modernize physical and system infrastructure at the VA.
• Reduce wait times and bureaucratic red tape for veterans.
• Invest in leadership development within the VA system.

“We need to rebuild and strengthen VA infrastructure, both physical and its systems, and invest in the next generation of its leaders.”

Darin LaHood

Voted for military construction and VA appropriations

LaHood supported FY2026 continuing appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and voted for national defense authorization legislation.

• Voted for H.R. 5371 (Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026).
• Voted for National Defense Authorization Acts for FY2024 and FY2025.

Darin LaHood

Opposes new gun control measures

LaHood firmly supports the constitutional right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. He opposes unproven gun control proposals that target law-abiding citizens.

• Protect law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights.
• Oppose unproven gun control measures.

“I firmly believes that it is our constitutional right to bear arms and it shall not be infringed. I do not support unproven gun control measures targeted at law abiding ...”