Hi, my name is Raul Gonzalez, I am a proud United States citizen and I would love to run for the office of Illinois Representative in the 67th District! I grew up in the Rockford area and no matter where life has taken me, I’ve always been proud to call it home. I was out there, marching on the streets with all of you during the biggest protest in US history: the “No Kings” rally. We protested our President who wasted taxpayer money on a self-glorifying military parade for his birthday, while actively stripping away our civil rights. It was amazing to see our community come together from both sides of the aisle for a righteous cause. I left the protest feeling energized and hopeful for a brighter future! We need people who actually represent and fight for the working class. This is our chance to run for office and vote out the establishment Democrats and Republicans, for the interests of their billionaire donors that want to keep the status quo in order to continue to profit off our labor! This is our chance to make our vote matter, make our voices heard, and demand better from our government. I’m here to tell you that you matter, your struggle matters, and that it’s not Democrats versus Republicans: it’s the working class against the billionare oligarchs. Vote for social progress, integrity, and to keep our democracy alive in all states, not just Illinois. Rockford is nicknamed “Screw City” because it was a major manufacturing hub that produced screws, nuts, and bolts during the 20th century and in particular during World War II, where Rockford was an essential supplier in the war effort to fight fascism overseas. Let’s put Rockford back on the map and on the frontlines of the war on Freedom, Truth, and Justice for all!
District 67
America
Deserves
Better
✶
America Deserves Better ✶
Campaign Points:
Fight For Immigrants
65% of people being arrested by ICE have no prior criminal convictions of any kind. They are being detained in terrible conditions with some people disappearing and never being heard from again. American citizens are being rounded up in these raids and having their constitutional rights violated resulting in chaos. These are people with roots in the community who work hard for a better life for their families, just like you and I. This recent bill that was just passed and dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill” allocates a substantial amount of money to increase the budget for ICE, potentially totaling up to 170 billion dollars. Let’s cut their funding and use that money for infrastructure or healthcare instead! I fully support the TRUST act and I will never work together with Homeland Security in our city. ICE is not welcome in Rockford and I will fight to keep us a sanctuary county!
Support Unions and Worker Rights
When COVID crippled the country and tanked the economy, the value of the everyday worker was finally recognized. Promises were made of better wages and working conditions but when the pandemic was over and things went back to normal, we forgot about the power of our workforce. Those that were once called “essential workers” are still out there today living paycheck to paycheck and they deserve better! Our teachers, grocery store clerks, retail workers, nurses, farm workers, truck drivers, childcare workers, mechanics, warehouse workers, and so many more deserve a better quality of life. We should also protect the right for workers to unionize their workplace and support the unions that are already out there!
Strong Advocate For Green Energy
Climate change is an existential threat to humanity. There’s no denying our reliance on fossil fuels has substantially warmed the planet resulting in devastating natural disasters. If Rockford wants to continue to be the Forest City we must address climate change in a meaningful way! Green energy will not only help offset carbon emissions but it will also create new jobs and lower your energy bills over time! For example, the Illinois Shines Solar Incentive is a wonderful program that offers rebates and tax deductions for installing solar panels onto your home. This program is set to end in November of 2025 and I fully support any legislation that extends it. I also believe we should rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and once again join the fight to save our planet with our allies around the world!
Set Term And Age Limits For Politicians
No publicly elected official over the age of 70 should be able to hold office, including Supreme Court Justices. There should be no lifelong appointments and politicians should live out the consequences of the policies that they support. We want those that represent us to be close to our age and of our generation to make way for progressive ideals. Becoming a politician should never be considered a retirement plan!
Universal Healthcare For All
The United States Of America is the only high income country that does not guarantee health coverage for its citizens. We spend the most money on healthcare than any other developed nation, yet the quality we receive is rated among the worst in the world. No U.S. citizen should go without medicine or proper treatment because they are unable to afford it- plain and simple. Let’s give people a choice between private or government insurance so that Americans can go to the doctor without leaving with medical bills that they can’t afford to pay. We can end the monopoly on healthcare and drive prices down with better options provided for us by the government and I vow to vote for any bill supporting this cause!
Becoming A Global Leader Once Again
If elected as your State Representative, I promise to never put up a vote towards more funding for Israel. The United States should never support the genocide of innocent civilians on the Gaza strip and it’s unconscionable that we continue to do so. I believe we should recognize Palestine as a State and demand that Benjamin Netanyahu be arrested for war crimes. Vladimir Putin should also never be welcome onto US soil ever again without being immediately arrested. We must support Ukraine in it’s efforts to fight against the invasion of Russia. Rockford has a sister city relationship with Brovary, a suburb of Kiev, since 1995. We have hosted families torn apart by the war in the region and have offered support through a relief fund and care packages which is fantastic and something we should continue to do. Free Palestine!
On a parting note- I believe we need a complete overhaul of our current system. More everyday citizens should run for office to truly represent the will of the people. I go to work, pay taxes, pay bills, do housework, just like you. I’m not a millionare looking to grow my wealth or a lifelong politician hoping to expand my influence and power. I genuinely believe that the government should work for the people to make our lives easier. I have a GoFundMe that I will use towards advertisements and my current goal is to get 1,200 signatures from democratic voters in my district to run in the primaries. If you live in District 67 and believe in what I’m doing here, I need you to sign my petition when I see you and spread the word that a progressive democrat is running for office in Rockford! Thank you for your support, and I’ll see you out there!
Contact: RaulForRockford@gmail.com