We can get past this president. We can rebuild our institutions, assure free and fair elections, preserve our democracy, and codify strong, enforceable penalties against future wannabe authoritarian presidents, MAGA or Republican or Democrat, who try to steal and overturn elections, flout norms, break laws, and ignore the Constitution itself and Congress' preeminent Article I representative role in US government. This president is getting away with it; we can't let future presidents. Presidents often push the boundaries of their authority, but now, with a lapdog Congress and the Supreme Court's ideological activism, the playbook is bigger and more dangerous.

We can restore the Constitutional role of Congress. As John Quincy Adams said (yes, the Quincy El Station guy) on returning to the US House as an elected representative after serving as president, secretary of state, senator, and minister (ambassador) roles: "Here, sir, the people rule." My former boss, Claude Pepper (D-FL), was also one of the few members of the House who had previously served in the Senate.

We can improve life in the 7th starting in January 2027: At the same time, starting in January 2027, we can move quickly to improve the 7th District economy, education, SNAP and Medicaid safety net, health care coverage, environment, and public safety with federal cooperation, pilot programs, and funding. We can keep Chicago a great place to live and work, create the jobs of the future in climate and tech, and keep and grow our manufacturing base. Our educational institutions and hospitals are the best anywhere, and in Chicago employ 58,000 directly and 137,000 indirectly. UIC supports 97,000 jobs statewide including direct and indirect alumni created jobs. All IL-7 universities support jobs totalling 150,000-200,000 statewide.

I will do everything in my power to get the 120th Congress to help you. This current 119th is the least productive Congress in decades. And what it has done has hurt everyday Chicagoland voters' costs for nearly everything, including for food, housing, energy, and health care. It's also hurt their careers, the climate, the economy, all our futures, including theirs and their kids'.