Democrat Paul Nolley launches campaign to unseat Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood

LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — Paul Nolley, executive director of Project First Rate, has announced his bid to unseat Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood (R) in Congress.

Nolley is running as a Democrat for Illinois’ 16th Congressional seat in 2026, to represents Northern and Central Illinois, including Rockford, Peoria, Bloomington, Harvard, and Galena.

“Our politics are broken. Too many politicians have forgotten who they work for. They work for the people, not the big corporations and donor class,” Nolley said. “I’m running because it’s time for regular people to stand up and say enough is enough. Working families have been hit hard by policies from both parties for decades, and too many people struggle to get by while corruption runs wild in Washington and the ultra-rich have watched their wealth grow to unimaginable levels.”

Nolley has served as executive director of Project First Rate, which works with union contractors and tradespeople, since 2020.

“I’m from a working-class family and grew up working at the local racetrack, in kitchens, retail, and farm fields, not around the powerful and well-connected. I’m here to provide a new vision and opportunity for residents of the 16th, and that campaign begins today,” Nolley said on Tuesday.

According to a press release, Nolley “is centered on protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; rebuilding American manufacturing and family farms; rooting out pay-to-play corruption; strengthening unions and workers’ rights; and investing in policies that make raising a family in today’s economy easier.”

Nolley is running against incumbent LaHood (R), Joe Albright (D), and John Kitover (R).