What did we learn from the Illinois Primary?

Is our progressive, populist movement enough to defeat American fascism and oligarchy?

It’s been a little over one week since the Illinois primary election. For most of us, last Tuesday did not work out how we hoped it would.

When the numbers started to roll in around 7 pm on that fateful evening, I was surrounded by many of our dedicated volunteers, who poured hours into our campaign. The first reported tallies felt like a gut punch. By 7:40 pm that evening, a reporter told me several outlets called the race.

Many of us felt shock, grief, and disappointment in those moments. Our campaign had been fighting to deliver change for working people, and this time, we fell short.

We weren’t the only ones to fall short. People like Kat Abughazaleh and Junaid Ahmed lost their races, too. Across the state, many progressive candidates fell. It left a lot of us wondering, where do we go from here? Is our movement actually moving America in a better direction?

Where do we go from here?

Throughout our campaign, it was incredible to meet with so many constituents across our district.

I’ve spent the last few days pondering this question. I’ve experienced a wide range of emotions while doing so.

Taking down an incumbent is never easy. Joey Ruzevich, Matt Conroy, Morgan Coghill and I all knew we faced an uphill battle. Despite limited fundraising, we all earned a sizable percentage of the vote, especially for our first time running.

In all of the open races, money from AIPAC, crypto, AI, Meta and DraftKings propped up right-wing democrats. They did this because they know how popular our progressive policies truly are.

These special interest groups and corporations used the same playbook in state races, as well. One of the few candidates who overcame this spending was Demi Palecek. Demi, who was endorsed by David Hogg’s Leaders We Deserve Political Action Committee (PAC), overwhelmingly defeated her four opponents in a resounding victory.

After an inspiring campaign that raised over $3 million, Kat Abughazaleh fell short in IL-9. Kat did things no other Congressional candidate has done before; she took mutual aid and fundraising to a different level. For example, instead of calling donors, she raised tons of money through Twitch streams.

So I ask again, where do we go from here?

I know it might not feel like it, but our campaigns moved the needle in a better direction. At the same time, it showed us all the work we have left to do.

Policies that center the working class are the answer. I firmly believe that. The groups who spent millions of dollars in the Illinois primary clearly agree; however, they now believe they have a winning formula for the next 45 primaries.

We must prove them wrong.

I’ve said it many times, but it’s not about electing as many Democrats as possible. It’s about electing the right leaders who will fight for the working class in Washington.

I am hopeful for the future, and I hope you are too. The conversations we have along the way are moving us in a better direction.

In the short term, we must continue organizing to protect our communities. If you believe in progressive policies, I ask that you support a progressive candidate near you.

Corporate, establishment democrats helped us reach this dark moment in American history. We now see them continue to enable Trump’s fascism.

Let them know we won’t be silent any longer. Let them know we are not going back.

We are forging ahead in our fight for better future for all Americans.

Where do I go from here?

Several people have asked me whether or not I will run for Congress again. My answer, for now, is: it depends.

I truly enjoyed running for Congress. While it proved both physically and mentally demanding, every conversation I had along the way made it worth it. Even when I disagreed with others, I appreciated the opportunities to learn, grow, and hone our message.

As a lifelong member of the working class, my focus immediately shifts to paying my bills, while spending more time with friends and family.

However, my burning desire to advance our movement has not diminished. I will do everything I can to help us collectively defeat American oligarchy and fascism.

Part of that involves writing Democratic Reformation. I plan to write 4-5 posts per week about current events and politics, because we need as many leftist voices as possible uplifting our movement. I will also continue to make daily content on social media.

I have a few additional, exciting announcements to make in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

Thank you to all of you who continue to join me on this journey.

In Solidarity,

Dylan