1. What experience will you bring that has prepared you to be a strong Member of Congress?
I am the only candidate in this race with hands-on experience managing people, budgets, and public programs as an elected official. At 19, I ran against a 16-year incumbent for Cook County Commissioner and earned nearly 15,000 votes, then was elected to the Skokie School Board, becoming the first Gen Z elected official in the country. Over seven years in office, I’ve been part of implementing inclusive meal programs, fought for equitable school funding, and worked across communities, all experience I’ll bring to Congress to deliver results for working families.
2. Do you have a connection to the Asian American community in the 9th District? If so, can you share about that connection?
As an Asian American myself and a lifelong resident of this district, my connection to the Asian American community is lived and longstanding. I grew up in our public schools, attended Northwestern University, and for over a decade have worked alongside Asian American families through tutoring, community organizing, and nonprofit partnerships across IL-09. I am not newly introducing myself to this community through a campaign. I am continuing relationships built over a lifetime of shared work, trust, and service here at home.
3. What is your number one priority if elected?
Unaffordability is the number one issue facing families in IL-09. From groceries to transit to housing, costs keep rising, and I will work to lower them by fighting for raising wages, expanding affordable housing, and repealing harmful tariffs that act as a hidden tax on working families. My focus will be making everyday life more affordable and stable for the people I represent.
4. If elected, how will you address the rising costs of groceries, utility bills, housing and other essential needs?
I will fight to lower costs by expanding affordable housing, preventing private equity firms from buying up homes, and investing in transit and energy affordability so families can get to work and keep their bills manageable. I will also work to repeal harmful tariffs that raise prices on food and goods, strengthen unions and wages, and expand federal programs that reduce utility and childcare costs. Congress has tools to ease the cost-of-living crisis, and I will use them.
5. What will you do to ensure every person has access to quality and affordable healthcare?
I will fight for Medicare for All as the long-term solution while advancing immediate steps people can feel now: restoring and expanding ACA funding and subsidies, passing a strong public option, lowering prescription drug prices, and expanding Medicaid. I will protect coverage for pre-existing conditions, cap out-of-pocket costs, and invest in community health centers, maternal health, and mental-health care. No one should have to go into debt, delay treatment, or ration medication because of cost.
6. Do you support a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants? If yes, what will you do to make the pathway a reality?
Yes. I support a broad pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants including Dreamers, TPS holders, essential workers, and long-term residents. I will work to pass comprehensive reform, expand legal counsel, increase immigration judges so cases are processed fairly and quickly, and eliminate discriminatory country caps and visa backlogs.
7. How would you increase language access to federal offices such as unemployment and social security, particularly for Asian American immigrants?
No one should be denied services because of language. I will require federal agencies to provide translations for key programs like Social Security, unemployment, food assistance, and voting materials, and I will ensure my district offices provide multilingual casework and outreach. Access to government services must reflect the languages people actually speak.
8. How would you address the issues of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and CBP? Do you support abolishing ICE?
Yes. I support abolishing ICE and replacing it with a humane immigration system rooted in due process, transparency, and constitutional limits. I will work to end mass raids, shut down abusive detention centers and expand community-based alternatives, increase access to legal representation, and hire more immigration judges and court staff so cases are heard fairly and promptly. Congress must use its oversight powers to investigate abuses across DHS, ICE, and CBP and hold officials accountable, while ensuring any enforcement respects civil rights, family unity, and human dignity.
9. Gun control has been an intractable issue in Congress. What would you do to move the issue forward?
My generation grew up with lockdown drills and the fear of school shootings, so inaction is not acceptable. I support an assault weapons ban, universal background checks, safe storage laws, red-flag protections, and waiting periods, and I would push to close loopholes and fund community-based violence prevention and mental-health response programs. Congress must treat gun violence as a public-safety crisis and act so our classrooms, neighborhoods, and places of worship are safe.