Election Day is Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Kevin Ryan, a Marine Corps veteran and public school Teacher in Chicago, IL, launched his bid for the U. S. Senate in Illinois. He is running to fill the U. S. Senate seat currently held by Dick Durbin, who announced he would not seek re-election in 2026. On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Ryan spoke at the Carroll County Democratic Fundraiser in Savanna, IL.
His military service brought him to Afghanistan, Africa, Europe, the Pacific, and the Pentagon. He previously worked for the U. S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. Candidate Ryan earned degrees from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and the University of Oxford in England.
Donald Trump’s return to office spurred him to run for office. “The status quo has critically failed,” Ryan said at the fundraiser. “We need new leaders who show up; you cannot lead from behind a news camera.” Kevin is running to take money out of politics, by setting the example. You must be of the people, to be for the people.” He added, “How can you be of the people when you spend one-third of your time with the wealthy 1%, who fund nearly 80% of all campaigns?”
He asserted that money in politics is the “great crack in the foundation of our democracy,” and that is a “legal form of corruption.” He says he is running to end it. Ryan believes the only way to take big money out of politics is to elect people who reject big money in politics.
For example, instead of raising and spending millions of dollars on TV ads, Kevin bought an old school bus. He converted it into his mobile campaign headquarters, on a quest to redefine modern campaigning–by visiting all 102 Counties of Illinois.
“I do more than talk about campaign finance reform,” Kevin asserted, “I walk the walk.” With a budget of just around $40,000, Candidate Ryan has visited 73 Counties so far, talking with voters, and earning ballot signatures in each County he visits. His campaign said they have already eclipsed the minimum required 5000 signatures to get on the ballot, by a few thousand. And they have reached over 2 million people via social media.
“Without spending a penny, 2 million people have seen my face and heard my message. When your message works, you don’t need to buy ads to push it on people. My message sells itself.”
In closing he stated, “We need to do more than just elect Democrats. We must elect bold Democrats with the temerity and vision to realize the ideals of our democracy. I am a “New Deal” Democrat, from a new generation–tempered by war, pandemic, and financial crises. I am ready to lead our party and our Country through the stormy Present to the brighter Future that can be, if only we dare to create it.”
Read more about Kevin Ryan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.ryan.102019.