Families across the Illinois Fourteenth Congressional District deserve a representative who shares important values of family, community, duty, and citizenship.  A representative who is willing to respect all opinions, especially those counter to her own, and seek common ground to develop our shared path forward.  Our current Representative has ignored outreach from constituents across the district. He has abandoned his promises to preserve access to care and has instead voted in lockstep with the Trump agenda at each turn.  It’s time for new leadership in IL-14, it’s time for our community to be led by independent voices and engaged citizens.

I grew up in the 14th District – this is my home.  This is the community where I learned the importance of service and earned my first Girl Scout badge.  It's where I played in my first T-ball and basketball leagues, earned my first paycheck, and graduated from a world-class public high school.  As a teenager, I was appointed to serve on a local housing commission, where I had my introduction to public policy, and worked to preserve residents’ equal access to housing without discrimination based on age, gender, and many other protected classes.  This community gave me the tools and confidence to step into the world and make a difference, and I’m proud to be back home.

I began my career as a registered nurse and worked in clinical research at the National Institutes of Health, our country’s leading institution of scientific discovery, to improve health and save lives.  I continued in public service, later working to implement health care reform and improve health care quality for millions of Americans in the private insurance market and the Medicare program.  Expanding access to health care, including preventive services, has long been a critical priority for me, and I’m ready for this fight to protect our health care.  More recently, I worked to help communities across the country prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters, bioterror threats, and public health emergencies.  I’ve seen firsthand how resilient our communities are, but I also recognize that they need strong, reliable federal, state, and local partners to be able to reach their full potential.  

::A NEW DIRECTION FOR A STRONGER NATION::

SMART POLICIES TO SUPPORT JOB GROWTH - Northern Illinois continues to experience a sluggish labor market, and we need a voice in Washington that will fight to bring additional jobs and opportunities to our community.  This area was once an economic engine in the state, and I believe we’re missing an opportunity to leverage the science and technology expertise, innovative entrepreneurs, and hardworking residents within our community.  If I run for Congress, know that I will hustle to restore our labor market so that families and workers of all ages will have strong wages and thriving careers.   

ETHICS BEFORE POLITICS - Congress has taken to cobbling together legislation in secret, making backdoor deals, and voting along ideological lines for policies that harm families in every single corner of this district.  We need a government that will operate with integrity and transparency every day, developing smart policies that will put folks back to work and accelerate our local economic recovery.  If I run for Congress, be assured that I will have your back.

::ALWAYS REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICT RATHER THAN BEING A RUBBER STAMP FOR TRUMP::

I’m deeply concerned about the direction our country is headed in.  This Congress has not stood up to Trump and his failed policies. Instead, the IL-14 is represented by a Congressman who actively avoids meeting with residents and votes against policies that would strengthen our community.  I have no confidence in his leadership, and it is time for a change.  The residents of the IL-14 deserve a leader who has a servant’s heart.  A leader who knows how to get things done in Washington, who wants to govern, is prepared to serve, and is able to bring results that will benefit communities across northern Illinois.  It’s time to pursue a new direction, one that reflects our diverse, independent, bold voices.  I am running for Congress and hope to have your support to turn around our country and strengthen our nation for the generations to come.


Show your support for this campaign by endorsing it and sharing why!

  • endorsed

    “She is exactly who we need in congress!”

  • endorsed

    “I support Lauren Underwood because she has integrity, a quality we need in our politicians!”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren is a PROVEN leader. Ever since we met in college, I knew that she would one day run for office and TRULY make a different FOR the people! I'm proud to support her!”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren has a connection to the concerns of Illinois residents. She is caring and thoughtful, a person who not only dreams of the best-but puts plans into action to leave a place better than she found it.”

  • endorsed

    “She is a generous leader and a brilliant pragmatist.”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren is dynamic, engaging, intelligent, driven, and kind. She cares deeply for this country and is willing to do the hard work needed to lead. Her strength and eagerness to run for Congress is inspiring and gives me great hope for the future. Lauren has proven to me that she is reliable, dedicated, and capable of being the BEST Representative for Illinois' 14th district. I am proud to know her and support her. Let's help her #Flipthe14th!”

  • endorsed

    “I support Lauren Underwood because the 14th deserves someone forward thinking who will stand up for our values and not put party before her constituents.”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren Underwood puts ethics before politics”

  • endorsed

    “I had the honor of serving with Lauren in Flint, Michigan in response to the Water Crisis, and her dedication to public service is inspiring. We need more people like her in Congress. Instead of fighting to change (or keep) policy, let's change the people.”

  • endorsed

    “I am proud to endorse my fellow member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Lauren is a proven leader. Lauren will also make history as the first woman and African-American to represent the Illinois 14th Congressional District. #Underwood2018 #Flipthe14”

March 27, 2018

Lauren Won the Primary Election, Added to DCCC Red to Blue Program

From Lauren's press release:

On Tuesday March 20th, Democrat Lauren Underwood of the Illinois 14th clinched the party’s nomination with a decisive victory in her home district. Underwood, the only woman and only person of color in a crowded seven-person primary, took home 57% of the vote. She received over 28,000 votes, more than all the other candidates combined. Underwood continues to build on her momentum by being named one of 34 candidates nationwide on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue Program.

“I’m proud to be my party’s nominee and excited to channel the wave of energy we’ve seen over the past months to win in November,”  Underwood remarked. “This is a campaign for anyone and everyone ready for change in Washington. I’ve never been more hopeful about the future of this community and this country.”

--

Help us keep up our momentum with a contribution today. Thank you for your continued support! 


August 10, 2017

Its Official! I'm running for Congress!

I've just announced that I'm running for Congress in Illinois 14th district. I'm running because this moment in history requires courageous leaders to fight for our values in Washington.  I can't do it without your support - will you join me? 

Thank you,

Lauren Underwood



June 28, 2017

Lets Connect!

I've recently launched a Facebook page and invite you to join me on this journey.  Looking forward to hearing from you! 

As a reminder, I'm also on Twitter and Instagram. Lets #Flipthe14th together! 

Thank you for your support,

Lauren Underwood

June 6, 2017

Thank you! With your support, we exceeded our first fundraising goal!

Incredibly grateful for the generous pledges from 400+ donors in the last 3 weeks. Thank you! 

I am inspired by the energy to #Flipthe14th and am committed to doing what it takes to build a winning campaign, including gathering additional financial commitments from supporters.  Our campaign's new goal is $50,000.  Thank you for your support to date, and please join me on Twitter and Instagram as I continue on this journey towards #Underwood2018.

-Lauren Underwood

Campaign created!

Show your support for this campaign by endorsing it and sharing why!

  • endorsed

    “She is exactly who we need in congress!”

  • endorsed

  • endorsed

    “I support Lauren Underwood because she has integrity, a quality we need in our politicians!”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren is a PROVEN leader. Ever since we met in college, I knew that she would one day run for office and TRULY make a different FOR the people! I'm proud to support her!”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren has a connection to the concerns of Illinois residents. She is caring and thoughtful, a person who not only dreams of the best-but puts plans into action to leave a place better than she found it.”

  • endorsed

  • endorsed

    “She is a generous leader and a brilliant pragmatist.”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren is dynamic, engaging, intelligent, driven, and kind. She cares deeply for this country and is willing to do the hard work needed to lead. Her strength and eagerness to run for Congress is inspiring and gives me great hope for the future. Lauren has proven to me that she is reliable, dedicated, and capable of being the BEST Representative for Illinois' 14th district. I am proud to know her and support her. Let's help her #Flipthe14th!”

  • endorsed

    “I support Lauren Underwood because the 14th deserves someone forward thinking who will stand up for our values and not put party before her constituents.”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren Underwood puts ethics before politics”

  • endorsed

    “I had the honor of serving with Lauren in Flint, Michigan in response to the Water Crisis, and her dedication to public service is inspiring. We need more people like her in Congress. Instead of fighting to change (or keep) policy, let's change the people.”

  • endorsed

    “I am proud to endorse my fellow member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Lauren is a proven leader. Lauren will also make history as the first woman and African-American to represent the Illinois 14th Congressional District. #Underwood2018 #Flipthe14”

  • endorsed

  • endorsed

    “She is the perfect candidate at the right time! Full of wisdom and passion I am confident Lauren will be a fulcrum of positive change.”

  • endorsed

    “Lauren's history demonstrates her hard work, kindness, intelligence, and service to the community. I'm proud to support her!”

  • endorsed

  • endorsed

  • endorsed

    “Lauren Underwood has my support because she is smart, hardworking, brave, and genuinely cares about people.”

  • endorsed

    “I endorse Lauren Underwood because as a fair housing advocate, I know how critical reasonable voices are and as the daughter of a nurse who worked at NIH, I know the value that experience brings.”

  • endorsed

    “I support Lauren Underwood because she is a leader with the courage and commitment necessary to make change!”