Karina VillaCandidate

Karina Villa

StatewideDemocrat

IL Statewide

Age 47·Mexican·Illinois State Senator, District 25 (2021-present)

Why This Race Matters

Karina Villa is running against Margaret Croke (D, Cook County endorsement); Stephanie Kifowit (D); Holly Kim (D).

Medium

Open seat after Susana Mendoza did not seek reelection; 4-way Democratic primary; Villa positioning as most progressive anti-Trump candidate; backed by Senate President Harmon and Rep. Delia Ramirez; Croke narrowly won Cook County Democratic Party endorsement over Villa; Villa raised least money of candidates in Q4 2025 while Croke led with $500K+; statewide race with no Republican filed yet

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

About

Karina Villa is a first-generation Latina born and raised in West Chicago, Illinois to Mexican immigrant parents. Her parents Antonio and Emma Villa immigrated from Mexico as young adults, met in West Chicago, and built a life together running multiple small businesses including La Villita grocery store. Villa worked in her family's businesses from ages 13-25, witnessing firsthand the hardships of small business owners and working-class families. She is the first Latina to represent Illinois' 25th Senate District and the only licensed social worker in the Illinois State Senate.

Family & Heritage

First-generation Latina; parents Antonio and Emma Villa both immigrated from Mexico as young adults; family owned multiple small businesses including La Villita grocery store, jewelry shops, and clothing stores in West Chicago; worked as a buyer for family businesses from ages 13-25; has a younger brother

Political Career

Before Politics

School social worker for West Chicago School District 33 and Villa Park school districts (2002-2018); expanded impact across DuPage County public schools through SASED serving students with disabilities; Vice President of West Chicago District 33 Board of Education (2014-2018) managing budgets and negotiating teacher contracts

Education

B.A. Psychology and Human Services, National Louis University; M.S.W., Aurora University (2002); College of DuPage (served as President of Latino Ethnic Awareness Association)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Progressive revenue solutions including digital advertising tax and graduated income tax
*education funding through state revenue to reduce property tax burden
*fiscal transparency and accountability
*immigrant student protections
*reproductive healthcare access
*mental health services expansion
*workers' rights
*small business support

Endorsements

U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon
NASW-IL (National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter)
33rd Ward Working Families

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