Robert Peters for Congress
(D, IL-2)
Before running for state-level office, Robert spent years with The People’s Lobby as our Political Director. As State Senator for the 13th District and a leading voice in the Illinois General Assembly, he has been a leader in reimagining public safety. He was the chief sponsor of the SAFE-T Act and the Pretrial Fairness Act, landmark legislation that ended money bond, invests in community-based alternatives to incarceration, and transforms police accountability and transparency. Robert also co-sponsored the Illinois FAIR Act, which overhauls the state’s public defense system by creating an independent State Public Defender Commission and Office of the State Public Defender.
Robert has consistently championed a progressive vision for Illinois that centers safety, dignity, and economic justice.
Sunjay Kumar for State Representative (D, IL-13)
Sunjay Kumar has been a progressive champion going back a decade to his time organizing with The People’s Lobby’s preceding organization, IIRON.
His commitment to the progressive community is deep and inspiring: as a community organizer, Sunjay has led campaigns advocating for public safety for all, immigrant and LGBTQ rights, and racial justice, and as a community leader with Asian American Midwest Progressives, he worked to elect progressives at the state and local levels. He will be an excellent co-governance partner, and we look forward to working with Sunjay for many years to come.
Ben McAdams for State Senate (D, IL-24)
While in college, double majoring in finance and economics, Ben became involved with local activism and went on to become a community organizer after graduation. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben began law school at DePaul University’s College of Law. In law school he focused his studies on Public Interest Law, becoming a member of the school’s Society for Asylum and Immigration Law (SAIL), and earning an award for the highest grade in his Civil Rights Law class. While at DePaul, Ben worked for several legal non-profit organizations including the National Immigrant Justice Center, and Citizen Advocacy Center. Ben’s track record shows that he shares The People’s Lobby’s values, and we look forward to working with him in the Statehouse.
Jessica Vasquez for Cook County Board of Commissioners, District 8
Jessica Vasquez has dedicated her career to advancing equity through public service and grassroots advocacy. Born and raised in Belmont Cragin, she was appointed 8th District Cook County Commissioner in May 2025. Jessica has over 13 years of experience working at community nonprofits and local government. She has helped secure affordable housing developments, manage participatory infrastructure projects, and helped win progressive policies such as Chicago’s One Fair Wage ordinance and a ban on civil arrests at Cook County Courthouses.
As Commissioner, Jessica focuses on healthcare access, property tax relief, and expanding county resources. She holds degrees from DePaul University and the University of Chicago and lives in Logan Square with her partner and rescue cat.
Wesam Shahed for Cook County Board of Commissioners, District 6
Wesam Shahed, a first-generation Palestinian-American born and raised in Chicagoland, has dedicated his career to fighting for fairness and justice. He began as a Cook County prosecutor, later advised State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on criminal justice reform, and now serves as Senior Legislative Counsel to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, working every day to make government deliver for working families.
Named to the Arab American Foundation’s 30 Under 30 and a TED speaker on justice and accountability, Wesam is also a grassroots organizer who has mobilized voters across the South Suburbs. He’s committed to fixing our broken property tax system, reducing the cost of living, and building a county that works for all of us—not just the wealthy few.