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Illinois Senate District 14

The Illinois State Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly. Alongside the Illinois House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Illinois state government and works alongside the governor of Illinois to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Illinois State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

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    Emil Jones, III
    (Dem)

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    Ahmed Karrar
    (Dem)

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    Brian Skala
    (Rep)

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    Kenny Williams
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

Please describe your educational background, professional experience, and public service experience. Why are you seeking this office, and how have your experiences prepared you to serve?

If elected, what will be your top three priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and why are these issues most important to you?

What is your approach to Illinois’s budget and long‑term fiscal health? Are there specific areas where you believe the state should invest more or spend more efficiently?

How should Illinois plan for long-term challenges such as climate resilience, transportation, and infrastructure modernization?

How do you believe the state should balance public safety, criminal justice reform, and community support services? What changes, if any, would you support?

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Campaign Mailing Address PO Box 436839
Chicago, IL 60643
Campaign Phone 773-789-8504
Campaign Website http://www.karrarforil.com
Campaign Instagram URL http://www.instagram.com/karrarforil/
Campaign Facebook URL http://www.facebook.com/KarrarforIL
I hold a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan–Flint. I’ve worked as a community development advisor directing millions into struggling Midwest communities and as a nonprofit attorney and organizer serving vulnerable communities of color.

I’m seeking this office to restore trust in government and deliver results for working families. My experience advancing equitable investment, advocating for vulnerable families, and engaging residents in civic life has prepared me to lead with integrity and accountability.
My campaign focuses on addressing the long-standing neglect of working people and restoring trust in government. Illinois’ history of corruption has fueled cynicism and weakened confidence in our institutions, creating an environment ripe for division and apathy.

To meet this moment, I’m fighting to invest directly in working families and our most vulnerable, including children and seniors. That means universal childcare to lower costs and grow our economy, protecting Medicaid and reproductive rights from Donald Trump’s attacks, and replacing our flat tax with a graduated income tax so the wealthy pay their fair share and we can meet our pension obligations responsibly while strengthening the services families rely on.
My approach to Illinois’s budget starts with protecting working families during an affordability crisis. We should prioritize identifying progressive revenue sources so we are not balancing the budget on the backs of those already struggling, particularly after the wealthy benefited from the largest transfer of wealth in modern history through Donald Trump’s recent tax package.

I believe improving efficiency should be a priority regardless of political party, but it must be done thoughtfully and without cutting essential services. We should reevaluate corporate tax incentives and subsidies that are not delivering promised jobs or growth and redirect those resources toward investments that strengthen long-term fiscal health.
Illinois should build on CEJA and the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act with bold next-step investments. That means identifying progressive revenues to fund climate resilience, clean energy, and flood control without shifting costs onto working families. Parts of my district have long faced environmental injustice and chronic flooding, and those residents deserve targeted protection. I also support accelerating decarbonization and holding high-impact industries like data centers accountable.

As your next State Senator, I look forward to having the chance to bring labor, industry, agriculture, and environmental leaders together to deliver pro-worker solutions that protect public health and strengthen our communities.
Public safety, criminal justice reform, and community support are deeply interconnected. Lasting safety requires thoughtful, community-informed public safety strategies alongside investment in prevention that stops crime before it starts. One area I would prioritize is expanding youth programs, given their proven success and broad support across law enforcement, families, and community leaders.

I would also work to break down silos by bringing together community leaders, public safety officials, and educators to better coordinate resources and strengthen prevention efforts rooted in accountability and opportunity.
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