Robin Kelly — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in Illinois, 2026

Representative Robin Kelly supports comprehensive immigration reform, including the American Dream and Promise Act to grant DACA recipients permanent resident status. She advocates for both secure borders and an overhaul of the existing immigration system. Kelly also leads a letter with the Democratic Women's Caucus demanding the release and investigation of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women detained by ICE.

“America is a nation of immigrants; it always has been and always will be. I’m proud of my heritage, including ancestors from Cameroon, Ireland and Ukraine. While our nation has a proud immigrant heritage, our current immigration system is not working. Today, I support the American Dream and Promise Act which would grant DACA recipients, or DREAMers, permanent resident status. DREAMers arrived in the United States as children and have known no other country as home. I fully support all DREAMers. — Robin Kelly, Statement on Immigration, retrieved January 7, 2026 from http://robinkelly.house.gov/issues/immigration”

Robin Kelly supports Medicare for All, advocating for lower drug costs and increased access to dental care. She introduced the WELLS Act to improve maternal healthcare by urging hospitals to develop safe discharge plans and has passed an extension for Medicaid postpartum care to one year. She believes in making the wealthy pay their fair share to fund healthcare initiatives and views a woman's right to comprehensive healthcare as sacred.

“People are paying too much for healthcare. I will never give up fighting for Americans to have access to quality care. As a member of the Medicare for All Caucus, I am working to make Medicare for All the law of the land. — Robin Kelly, Shaw Local, February 8, 2026.”

Robin Kelly advocates for investments in clean energy, including solar and wind, and battery storage technology, aiming to keep consumer energy costs low. She also supports lowering carbon emissions and meeting Paris Agreement criteria. She voted "Nay" on the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act (H.R.4758) and the Don’t Mess With My Home Appliances Act (H.R.4626) in February 2026. She also mentioned helping farmers impacted by climate change.

“We need to help our farmers who are directly experiencing the impact of climate change on their crops. We need to prioritize making investments in clean energy that keep consumer energy costs low. This includes increasing renewable energy like solar and wind and making investments in battery storage technology. I also think we should seek to lower carbon emissions and meet the criteria set in the Paris Agreement. — Robin Kelly, 2026 Election Questionnaire, Shaw Local, February 8, 2026”

Robin Kelly advocates for federal protection of abortion and reproductive rights, emphasizing that a woman's right to comprehensive healthcare is "sacred" and should be safeguarded by federal law. She asserts that reproductive rights are among the critical protections that the federal government needs to restore.

“A woman’s right to comprehensive healthcare is sacred and should be protected by federal law. — Robin Kelly, in an election questionnaire for Shaw Local, February 8, 2026.”

Robin Kelly advocates for keeping US troops out of foreign wars, stating that American tax dollars should not fund conflicts that do not advance U.S. interests or safety. She supports helping and funding Ukraine's efforts, believing this helps keep US troops from the front lines. Kelly emphasizes the need for secure borders alongside a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system. She views the U.S. and China as strategic competitors, urging continued work with allies such as Japan and South Korea to maintain competitiveness.

“I believe we should keep US troops out of these wars. Congress controls the power of the purse and we can’t have our tax dollars fighting wars that don’t advance American interests or make America safer. I believe we need to help and fund Ukraine’s efforts. It helps keep US troops from the frontline. Americans don’t want a war with Venezuela. They want access to healthcare and a more affordable way of life." - Robin Kelly, 2026 election questionnaire, Shaw Local, February 8, 2026”

Robin Kelly opposes the elimination of the Department of Education, explicitly stating "Absolutely not" when questioned on the matter. With a Ph.D. in political science, she views a good education for children as a key priority for constituents. This position indicates her support for the continued existence and role of federal involvement in educational oversight.

“Absolutely not. — Robin Kelly, Shaw Local, February 8, 2026”

Robin Kelly supports stricter gun policy, advocating for regulations that crack down on gun companies' marketing to children and setting safety standards for firearms, including recalls on defective guns. She has introduced the Responsible Firearms Marketing Act and another bill to hold the industry accountable, citing that guns are a leading cause of death for children. She is endorsed by Brady PAC and Everytown for Gun Safety and helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

“The gun industry profits off gun violence. I’m taking the fight to their pocketbooks. I’ve introduced two bills to hold the gun industry accountable. One tackles dangerous marketing, particularly to kids. The other sets basic safety standards like recalls on defective guns. (Robin Kelly, Kankakee Times, February 11, 2026)”