By: Diane Benajmin

I know people who regretted voting early. The next month will produce a lot of information that isn’t yet available. Foreign governments will be interfering in national elections. 40 days is ridiculous and only meant to bank votes so one side knows how many votes they need to produce before election day.

I’ve seen very little coverage of what Paul Nolley, who is running against Darin Lahood, believes – so I looked for it. The article below is just a Q&A. I suggest reading the whole thing before you vote “D” because that’s how you always vote.

My comments are in ()

https://news.wttw.com/elections/voters-guide/2026-primary/paul-nolley?shem=isphe,

Excerpts:

What is one unique challenge your district faces and how do you plan to address it?  

Many parts of this district were once industrial powerhouses, but the decades-long process of deindustrialization has left many people with fewer opportunities to build meaningful careers with good wages and benefits. It is an issue that carries bipartisan responsibility, but my opponent’s support of the current administration’s policies has led to continued declines in manufacturing jobs in communities like Rockford and Peoria.

(Trump is bring manufacturing back to America while Democrat policies in Illinois have caused many to move to lower tax states that value business. Manufacturing jobs are increasing, Illinois policies discourage it.)

What do you think federal immigration reform should look like? 

Our immigration system needs a full overhaul, one that can gain bipartisan support and meets the needs of our local economies while ensuring immigrants are treated fairly and bad-faith employers are held accountable. Immigration has been a foundational part of our nation’s success since its founding, but it is now in complete chaos, with leaders of both parties responsible for where we are. We cannot have open borders, but we also cannot accept a paramilitary-style force of masked federal agents terrorizing immigrant communities throughout the country.

(Leaders of both parties aren’t to blame, only one party opened the border. ICE is doing the job Congress gave them with laws they passed. If democrats hadn’t created this problem ICE wouldn’t be the problem.)

How should Congress address the rising costs of health care?  

America spends far more on healthcare, faces significantly worse outcomes, and has fewer providers than other wealthy nations—and our costs continue to rise with no end in sight. In order to decrease costs and increase flexibility, access, and freedom, we need to move to a Medicare for All system. 

(Obamacare was supposed to decrease costs, it didn’t. Medicare For All won’t decrease costs but it will eliminate healthcare. Canada is the best example, their citizens come here for care they can’t get because doctors aren’t available for months. They will offer MAID though, Medical Assistance In Dying. In 2022 MAID was the 5th leading cause of death.)

(Nolley either doesn’t know or doesn’t want you to know about Trump RX. Drug prices have been dramatically lowered, Google it.)

What approach would you take on tax policy and what is your top priority?  

I believe that income tax rates for working-class and middle-class people should be reduced, while tax rates for the ultra-rich and large corporations should be increased. Income inequality is at its highest point, and the number of billionaires in the country has increased sixtyfold over the last 50 years. Meanwhile, more than half of Americans still live paycheck to paycheck, families’ disposable income continues to decline, prices are way up, and people are losing faith that the system works for them. Federal tax policy is one of the few ways that we, as everyday Americans, have the ability to reverse these trends.

(The Big Beautiful Bill did reduce taxes, no democrats voted for it. It eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, Illinois is still taxing both. The latest report from the Census Bureau for 2025 shows the poverty rate at historic lows and incomes rising.)

How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?

Read this section yourself. Nolley doesn’t understand Democrats are EXPECTED to vote as told or they will face consequences.

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Do I like Darin Lahood? His office was VERY helpful when I had to deal with IRS and Social Security Administration problems. I’ve never met him, but the alternative would never get my vote