Meet Jesse Reising, 13th Congressional District candidate for Illinois
Editor's note: Early voting for the June 28 primary starts May 19. The State Journal-Register asked some candidates in contested races to answer questions related to the office they seek.
Professional background: In 2011, Reising established the Warrior-Scholar Project as a co-founder and served as its president and board chairman. From 2011-2012, he worked as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan. From 2015-2018, he worked as a federal prosecutor. From 2018-2020, he clerked for two federal judges. In 2020, he joined the Chicago Office of Kirkland & Ellis and was named a partner in 2021.
Educational background: In 2007, Reising graduated as class valedictorian from Eisenhower High School (Decatur, Illinois). In 2011, he graduated from Yale (New Haven, Connecticut) with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. In 2015, he graduated from Harvard Law School (Cambridge, Massachusetts).
More: Newcomers battle over open seat in Illinois' 13th Congressional District
Family background: Reising is a sixth-generation son of Decatur whose family arrived there on horseback in the 1830s. His mother has been a nurse in the area her whole career and his dad worked at ADM in Decatur.
Agriculture is one of downstate Illinois' biggest industries. What key changes would you seek in federal ag policy to benefit Illinois farmers?
My great-grandfather was a tenant farmer near Clinton, Illinois, and my uncle owns a small farm near Champaign, Illinois. I know the value of hard work and the importance of our farmers to our nation’s health and economy. I will fight to ensure that farmers have the financial stability to put food on their own tables in addition to ours. When I’m elected to Congress, I will advocate for the permanent reversal of the summertime ban on E15 fuel. Illinois is one of the largest producers of corn in the nation and a permanent lift would provide an important boost to our farmers. The record high inflation has hit our farmers particularly hard. The price of fertilizer has skyrocketed, and they continue to face labor shortages and supply chain problems. I’ll work to rein in the federal spending and will support negotiating trade agreements that benefit our farmers and American industry.
Toxic political polarization has permeated the landscape. How will you work to heal the divide?
The political landscape in Washington is toxic and frankly, Americans are sick of it. Consistent polling on Americans' perception of Congress and their approval of the President are low. Many in Washington choose to focus more of their time on promoting their public image and serving their own interests rather than legislating. When I’m elected, I’ll place a strong emphasis on constituent services, whether it be helping a veteran navigate their VA benefits or collaborating with local and state partners to address constituent concerns.
It’s becoming harder to find common ground in Washington, but one area I intend to work across the aisle on is veterans' issues. This is one issue that should not be partisan. We owe it to those who have served and risked their lives for our security.
In 2020, a record 45,222 people died from gun injuries in the U.S. including suicide and murder, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. What, if anything, should be done to control guns?
The spike in violent crime and the rise in self-inflicted violence of the last two years is tragic, but responsible, law-abiding gun owners should not be penalized based on the actions of those who use guns to break the law or cause harm. As a former federal prosecutor, I know how harmful “defund the police” rhetoric has been to our law enforcement. Let's address this spike by putting a stop to the hateful sentiment, and ensure our police are given the tools they need to fight crime in an effective way. A key part to address both self-inflicted harm and criminal violence is proper attention to mental health. The stigma around mental health has been improving but it hasn’t happened nearly as quickly as we need it to. Leaders at the federal, state, and local levels who work to enact and enforce these strategies will see safer communities.
Contact Andrew Adams: aadams1@gannett.com; (312)-291-1417; twitter.com/drewjayadams.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois primary election: Jesse Reising, 13th Congressional District
