Barbara HernandezServing

Barbara Hernandez

State HouseDemocrat

IL-HD-50 State House

Mexican (daughter of undocumented Mexican immigrants who were undocumented for 21 years)·Assistant Majority Leader (appointed 2023 by Speaker Chris Welch)

Why This Race Matters

Hernandez is the youngest Latina State Representative in Illinois history and chairs the Immigration & Human Rights Committee. As the daughter of formerly undocumented immigrants, she brings personal experience to immigration policy at a time of heightened federal enforcement.

Running in 2026 Democratic primary (March 17, 2026) for HD-50. Won redrawn 50th District in 2022. Assistant Majority Leader and Co-Chair of Illinois Future Caucus. District includes portions of Aurora, North Aurora, and Batavia.

Key dates to watch: Primary on March 17, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Barbara Hernandez is the youngest Latina State Representative in the Illinois House of Representatives, representing HD-50 (Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia). The daughter of undocumented Mexican immigrants, she was the first in her family to attend college. Appointed in March 2019 at age 26 to succeed her mentor Linda Chapa LaVia, she has championed immigration reform, menstrual equity, and driver's licenses for undocumented families. She serves as Assistant Majority Leader and chairs the Immigration & Human Rights Committee.

Family & Heritage

Daughter of undocumented Mexican immigrants who lived without legal status for 21 years. Born and raised in Aurora, Illinois, she was the first in her family to attend college. At age 21, she successfully petitioned for her parents' residency. Her family's personal experience with the broken immigration system drove her into politics from a young age.

Political Career

Before Politics

Chief of Staff for State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia; internship with Congressman Bill Foster (where she learned about U.S. immigration policy failures); precinct committee member at age 19; appointed to Aurora Township and City of Aurora commissions (2014); founded Facebook group "Job Opportunities" in 2012 to help Aurora residents find employment (grew to 5,000+ active members); member of Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board; founder of Aurora Youth Summit

Education

East Aurora High School (2010); A.A. Waubonsee Community College (2012); B.A. Political Science with Spanish minor, Aurora University (2014); M.P.A. Aurora University (2021)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Immigration reform and immigrant family advocacy
*Menstrual equity (passed HB156 requiring menstrual products in schools grades 4-12)
*Driver's licenses for undocumented families (passed HB3882)
*Housing affordability and homelessness
*Higher education accessibility
*Restorative justice and clean slate reforms
*Period poverty awareness

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