For full details on my campaign, please visit dylanforillinois.com.

I’m tired of watching the continuous attacks on democracy, and I want to do something about it. I’m tired of watching our elected politicians (Republican and Democrat) do nothing. I don’t know about you, but I feel left behind by this society.

We are on the brink of a constitutional crisis. Some might say we’re already there. Still, our elected officials continue to do nothing. Wouldn’t it be crazy if our elected representatives actually worked for their constituents?

The current administration full of millionaires and billionaires continues to dismantle our democracy at an alarming rate – all while continuing to enrich themselves. The US government possesses plenty of inefficiencies and bureaucracy, but Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency are using a chainsaw (his words), rather than a scalpel. They’re stealing from us and asking us to say thank you.

We all deserve elected representatives who understand what we're going through and we need to get big money out of politics. We need to fight back against oligarchy and kleptocracy.

For those who do not know me, my name is Dylan Thomas Blaha and I’m running for United States Congress in Illinois’ 13th District. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D) currently serves as our elected voice in the U.S. House of Representatives, and I intend to defeat her in the Democratic Primary in the spring of 2026.

Why I decided to run

Like I said above, the number one reason I decided to run is because I’m sick and tired of feeling left behind by our society. Additionally, I’m not a politician, and I believe I possess the type of life and work experience that’s lacking in Congress.

I’ve served my country for over 12 years in the United States Army, and I want to continue my service by fighting for the people of District 13 and beyond. I’ve also worked as a biochemist for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and I will fight for education and scientific progress in society.

I believe in democracy, freedom, opportunity and equality for all. To achieve this, we need change, and we need it now. Too many politicians, both Republican and Democrat, take money from big donors, lobbyists and super PACs, who they are more loyal to than the constituents they serve.

Representative Nikki Budzinski’s top donors include law firms, lobbyists, and super PACs. She ran on a platform of getting "dark money" out of politics, but it now looks like she's fallen victim to the same disease.

Why I will be different

I will follow the path of other progressive leaders and only accept grassroots donations. I will also never allow money to influence my legislative decisions. This is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

If I’m elected as the District 13 Representative, I will fight to make America livable for all its citizens.

I believe in universal healthcare, saving the environment, and giving all children the best opportunities to succeed in life. Most importantly, I believe it’s time to get big money out of politics. I will fight against the greed and recklessness of the ruling class. I will fight against oligarchy.

If you take nothing else away from what I say today, I want you to know that I will fight for the rights of every American, regardless of who you are, where you’re from or what you believe in.

I don’t cower in the face of bullies – I stand up to them.

The Path Forward

Campaigns do cost money, and mine will be no different. I appreciate any amount you can give, whether its $1, $5, or $20. Your donations won’t be used for political tactics like spammy texts or slanderous advertisements. Instead, we will use our campaign funds to start helping district 13 communities through mutual aid and community outreach events.

Also, we will need plenty of volunteers to fight against the oligarchy. It will take all of us to fight for the civil and economic rights of every American.

Thank you all. If you’d like to hear more about my campaign, please visit dylanforillinois.com. If you’d like to donate to my campaign and support our fight against oligarchy, please visit our ActBlue page.

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