IL-02: Hogg makes first endorsement of midterms

[RandySF]

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg’s group Leaders We Deserve on Thursday made its first endorsement of the 2026 cycle, backing Illinois state Sen. Robert Peters (D) in the 2nd Congressional District in the House.

The safe blue seat is held by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), who is running for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) seat in 2026.

“Senator Peters is a shining example of the type of bold, progressive leadership that our country, and our party, desperately needs at this moment,” Hogg said in a statement.

The endorsement comes two days after the DNC took the first step in possibly requiring a new election for two of its vice chairs, including Hogg, who has faced backlash for calling to primary safe seat Democrats.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5302153-dnc-endorses-illinois-senator-robert-peters/

[tritsofme]

1. I would be looking very closely at the opponent of any endorsements out of this group.

[brush]

2. WTH? Has he resigne yet? The DNC is supposed to neutal...especially its officers.

Stay nuetral or resign, Hogg, then you and your PAC can back all the candidates you want.

[Nanjeanne]

3. State Senator Peters is a great choice for Rep. Kelly's seat as she runs for Senate.

He has an interesting background - champions progressive policies and has done a lot in the state senate and stood up proudly against Kristi Noem's visit to Illinois.

https://www.senatorrobertpeters.com/]

“Today’s visit from Secretary Noem is a staged performance meant to distract from the cruelty, chaos and moral failure that have defined this administration’s approach to immigration. Let’s call this what it is: a desperate attempt to shift blame onto the very communities showing the compassion, humanity and responsibility this administration lacks in the face of a humanitarian crisis.

“Illinois is a welcoming state, built on bipartisan state immigration policy, and we say that with pride. We don’t turn our backs on people because of where they were born or what language they speak. While this administration sows fear and division, we in Illinois choose unity, dignity and hope.

“We have watched this administration weaponize immigration to score points and distract from its own inability to lead. We have watched them rip families apart, detain children and treat human beings like political pawns. Now, they want to come to our state and lecture us on how to respond. We reject that entirely.

“Illinois will not apologize for standing with immigrant communities, and we will not be bullied into abandoning the values that define us. This moment demands more than empty visits and rehearsed talking points – it demands action rooted in decency and leaders who see people, not problems.

“Here in Illinois, we choose to move forward. We will to not back down – not now, not ever.”

https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=3343]

Biography: Senator Robert Peters was born in 1985 deaf and with a massive speech impediment. His biological mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and his adopted mother and father were a social worker and a civil rights lawyer. He saw first hand the impact and devastation of the racist war on drugs. As he grew up, he admired the work his father did as a civil rights and criminal defense attorney, challenging wrongdoing by the police. This combined with the effect of the criminalization of addiction, inspired his work on criminal justice reform rooted in the safety, freedom, and wellness of all people. A defining moment for Peters was the Great Recession, as he struggled to find work after earning his B.A. in Social Sciences from Kansas State and lost his parents within a year and a half of each other. He found his power through political organizing in solidarity with a variety of organizations in Chicago fighting for justice. As a state senator, Peters has championed the end of cash bail in Illinois after years of organizing around it before becoming a Senator. He just passed legislation that expanded worker protections for Black and Latino workers in temporary employment. He has championed investments in tourism, small business development, and education. He is focused on environmental justice, racial justice, economic justice, and public safety for all. Senator Robert Peters lives on the South Side with his wife Grace.