Nikki Budzinski
Nikki Budzinski, a Democrat and former trade union official who has represented Illinois's 13th congressional district since 2023, seeks re-election in 2026 against Republican Jeff Wilson, a Champaign County Board member.
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- Born
- March 11, 1977
- Birthplace
- Peoria, Illinois
- Education
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Nikki Budzinski was born on March 11, 1977, in Peoria, Illinois. Her paternal grandparents were both union members who worked for the Peoria School District, her grandfather as a painter and her grandmother as a teacher. Budzinski graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and held internships with U.S. Representative Dick Gephardt, U.S. Senator Paul Simon and Planned Parenthood.
Career
Budzinski worked for trade unions for most of her career, starting at the Laborers' International Union of North America and the International Association of Fire Fighters before seven years with the United Food and Commercial Workers, where she served as national political director.
During the 2018 Illinois governor's race she led J. B. Pritzker's exploratory committee, advised his campaign and then directed his transition.
After Pritzker took office in January 2019 she became his senior advisor and chaired the state's Broadband Advisory Council, leaving the governor's office in March 2020. In February 2021 she was appointed chief of staff of the Office of Management and Budget, a post she held until July 16, 2021.
Budzinski announced her bid for the redrawn 13th district in August 2021, then won the June 2022 primary over David Palmer and the November general election over Republican Regan Deering. She was re-elected in 2024 with 58.1% of the vote against Republican Joshua Loyd.
In the House she serves on the Agriculture and Veterans' Affairs committees, where she is ranking member of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, and she is Vice Chair for Policy of the New Democrat Coalition.
2026 race
Nikki Budzinski is seeking re-election in the 13th district, which stretches across central Illinois from the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area to the eastern St. Louis suburbs and includes Decatur and the state capital, Springfield.
In the March 2026 Democratic primary she defeated medical research scientist Dylan Blaha with 75.1% of the vote. Her Republican opponent is Jeff Wilson, a Champaign County Board member who won the Republican primary with 67.5% against businessman Joshua Loyd.
The general election takes place on November 3, 2026.