Serving
Avelar is the first formerly undocumented woman in the Illinois General Assembly and serves as Assistant Majority Leader. She is seeking her fourth term in a district covering Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Lockport, and parts of Joliet and Naperville.
Running in Democratic primary March 17, 2026. Won 2024 general with 58.3% of the vote. Her campaign site is votedee85.com.
Key dates to watch: Primary on March 17, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.
Dagmara "Dee" Avelar is the Illinois State Representative for House District 85, serving since 2021. Born in Quito, Ecuador, she emigrated to Bolingbrook, Illinois with her family at age 12 and grew up undocumented. A formerly undocumented DREAMer who became a U.S. citizen in 2016, she made history in 2020 as the first formerly undocumented woman sworn into the Illinois General Assembly. A lifelong community organizer, her commitment to civic engagement began as a teenager mobilizing disenfranchised voters in the southwest suburbs.
Born in Quito, Ecuador. Emigrated to Bolingbrook, Illinois with her family at age 12. Grew up undocumented; became a U.S. citizen in 2016. Her family purchased a home in Bolingbrook where she still lives today. Her mother's journey to the United States directly shaped the family's path.
New Americans Democracy Fellow (2008); Assistant Supervisor/Phonebanker at Illinois Immigrant Action (2009-2010); Family Support Hotline Coordinator (2011-2012); Citizenship Application Specialist at Instituto del Progreso Latino (2012-2014), where she assisted over 400 people in their immigration journey focusing on citizenship and DACA; Director of Programs at Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (2014-2020), where she led the state's largest naturalization initiative partnering with 59 community organizations to expand citizenship access and language equity
Bolingbrook High School (Class of 2005); B.A. Justice Studies from Northeastern Illinois University (2005-2010); M.A. Urban Planning and Policy from University of Illinois at Chicago (2018-present)
Requiring state agencies to identify languages spoken and create language access plans