Nolley targets LaHood, prioritizing working-class concerns

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Paul Nolley, executive director of Project First Rate, kicked off his campaign to unseat Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood (R) in Congress on Thursday.

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

Nolley took to the local IBEW Hall, where he addressed a crowd of supporters. He accused LaHood of “being afraid of his constituents.”

“I’m not scared of my community, I’m not afraid to meet with people, to hold meetings and hear different voices, even those that I disagree with, and I think that the incumbent is scared to meet with his constituents,” said Nolley. “So, I’m just a regular person here to serve the people, and I’m happy to meet with and hear the voices, concerns and issues of regular people. I believe that Darin LaHood is not okay with that.”

“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 a month ago. “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 in April.

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).