Austin Mink

Austin Mink was born in Waukegan, Illinois. He graduated from Zion Benton Township High School and attended the College of Lake County. His career experience includes working as a filmmaker.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Austin James Mink. I’m from Winthrop Harbor Illinois—a small town in Northern Chicagoland. I come from a working-class family, a family of union workers. I am a filmmaker. I’m not the traditional person who would run for US Senate, I come from a modest living not one of wealth, I come from a family that’s struggled, I lost my father when I was only twenty-two years old, who was a tough thing for us as it was all so sudden, I have dealt with a lot of loss in my life, my family has experienced a lot of loss and grief, it changes your perspective on life and I believe it’s made me so much more compassionate and understanding of everyone, it’s made me strive to want to reach out and help as many people as I can, that’s why I’m running for US Senate not for vanity but because of my desire to help others and my commitment to public service. I’m an outsider in this race but that only makes me more determined to get to work to introduce myself and to learn so much more about the state of Illinois, the state I’ve lived in and have loved for all 31 years of my life so far. I’m the youngest person in the race at 31, 33 at swearing-in if elected. I’d also be the first openly bisexual-pansexual US Senator from Illinois if elected which would mark a historic first for the state.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The most caring and compassionate. Would be the first to co-sponsor Medicare For All as a US Senator from Illinois. We need universal healthcare. We need compassionate reform. No half measures. No flirting on the edges of a broken system. The healthcare system in America is broken and it desperately needs transformative change and a leader that will fight tirelessly to bring about that change. I believe healthcare is a fundamental human right.The candidate for anyone skeptical of the establishment. There’s a lot of money in this primary. I believe in ending the flow of dark money in our elections. I believe voters should decide not the oligarchy. I will fight tooth and nail against the oligarchy. I believe in a dynamic progressive wealth tax like in the OLIGARCH ACT that waxes and wanes with respect to where disparities lie. People don’t want another billionaire proxy in the US Senate. Illinois will need a fighter for the working class full stop. I will protect all Illinoisans from oligarchic greed and big money. I believe in fairness, transparency, and equality.I am a left-libertarian. The candidate that appeals to all political landscapes in Illinois, I’m not just the candidate for democrats, I’m the candidate for independents, moderates, and anti-MAGA Republicans. I believe bipartisanship is important but you shouldn’t abandon your morals and values for the sake of bipartisanship, that’s the opposite of leadership to me. I plan to be a leader as a US Senator but just a follower. I’m not just going to be an empty suit. I plan to go to work to make a difference. We need to end mass warrantless surveillance. We need to repeal bad post-911 laws that have eroded civil liberties such as the PATRIOT ACT. Civil liberties need to be protected now more than ever. I’ll fight against authoritarianism.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am extremely passionate about being a legislator. I have many bills I’d like to introduce if elected, one being repealing the patriot act and Fisa which have eroded civil liberties, a bill enhancing digital privacy laws, and a bill restoring section 230 to its pre-2018 form with alternative trafficking methods to mitigate concerns. Bills ensuring we completely enforce the Leahy Law and that the US doesn’t support gross human rights violations abroad, I will co-sponsor and support an arms embargo against Israel which is using our military assistance for genocidal war crimes in the guise of combating Hamas, its collective punishment period and it must end. I plan to stand up for the rule of law both domestically and abroad.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I don't want to leave anyone out, there’s so many people I look up to, I don’t want to give a disservice to them so I’ll simply leave it at many.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Noam Chomsky, read and listen to anything he’s said or written, he has shaped my views a great deal as an influential left libertarian.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Empathy

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To protect the citizens of the United States of America.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Someone who’d always fight for what’s right. Someone that would never compromise to lead people willingly to their graves. Someone who was the real deal.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was about five when the tragic shooting of Columbine happened and was about seven when 9/11 happened, those are two pretty massive events that shook our nation at its core, both unbelievably tragic, though I don’t remember exact memories of those events such as where I was or doing, I’ve lived through a lot of history, not all of it bad but not all of it good either.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Personal assistant, was a temporary job position for a summer when I was 19 years old.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I can’t choose. It’s like asking what your favorite movie is; it has no answer, as answering such a question greatly minimizes the rich tapestry and history of literature and the arts.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I don’t know off the top of my head so I took a personality quiz and got Jack Dawson from Titanic. Makes sense, I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Nothing comes to mind at this exact moments but I get songs stuck in my head all the time so one will come around at any moment, ask me on a specific date, it’s a case-by-case basis.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

A lot of struggles that many working people and families go through like worrying about putting food on the table, like many Illinoisans my family has relied on SNAP benefits to help afford food at the end of the day, I understand firsthand on broken our healthcare system is, the issue of lack of prescription affordability, I’ve experienced it, that’s what makes me so much more compassionate and empathic to all Illinoisans because I’m just one of you, I’ve been out the other side and I will protect the other side from people that have never been on that other side themselves.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Authoritarianism.

We’re seeing people introduce legislation to put people in prison for up to twenty years for engaging their First Amendment rights and using the most flimsy of allegations to do so, I’m seeing very slippery slopes, if not rectified we could be heading into a very scary and dangerous place, we need to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans now more than ever. We’re seeing attacks on free speech like never before to appease special interests, interests that aren’t of the interest of the American people, things that are the exact opposite of what’s in the interest of the American people, things that in reality are making us all less safe.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits. I will co sponsor the resolution to oppose term limits for Congress; six years (three terms) for the House and twelve years (two terms) for the Senate. That will increase productivity, I don’t believe Congress should be a lifetime appointment, I think it should be about serving your country, being as effective as possible to leave a mark then pass the torch.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Many. For one, the most important is confirming or denying nominees from the presidential cabinet, sub cabinet, to judicial nominations, that’s what gives the US Senate it’s edge is those additional responsibilities.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe anyone can be a legislator but it takes special talent to be good at it. It’s beneficial absolutely but I don’t believe it’s a requirement especially when there are so many barriers that keep ordinary people from getting into office which is something I hope to break. I believe it’s important to be an outsider, to stand up and say you won’t give up on the country and state you love that you’ll do everything day in and day out to help every Illinoisan from the metropolitan to the rural downstates, everyone should be represented, I believe it’ll take a outsider to win to do the right thing by everyone in this fantastic state of Illinois.

What do you think of the filibuster?

Abolish it.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I’m a pretty big fan of that Bernie Sanders fella. In all seriousness, no, I plan to be my own person in the US Senate, there’s been many great senators who’ve done incredible things but I plan to do my own thing, I don’t have one particular influence or model, I believe you should find your own way, bring your own uniqueness to the table.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Where do polar bears keep their money? A snowbank.

Bears without Bees are just Ears.

Okay, I’ll show myself out.

How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?

Examine if they’ll serve the American people above all else. That their loyality remains to the citizens of this great nation.

What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?

Legislative relationships based on doing what’s right and what helps every American in this country, what will lift people out of poverty, what will make life less difficult, to ease burdens, to lower costs, to make the environment healthier to ensure the burden doesn’t fall on the future generation.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Should never compromise if it hurts anyone in this country. We should always fight for what’s right for this country, what keeps our communities safe, I won’t sell out the citizenry of this nation, I won’t abandon protecting the civil liberties of Americans, I won’t sell out the health of our environment, our children’s futures, some things are better with a balanced approach absolutely, but there are things we all agree should be fought for and protected without a ounce of compromise, to me, that’s what it means to be a true leader, what separates leaders from followers. Compromise in policymaking depends on what is being compromised for, it’s a case-by-case basis but on the big picture, no, I don’t think it’s overall favorable if it throws anyone under the bus and where we are as a country right now, we shouldn’t compromise on anything, these are times where we’ll need a fighter to stand up against ever-increasing authoritarianism and billionaires that want to cut programs people rely on to survive for a tax break to their friends in the 1%.

How should the U.S. Senate use its investigative powers?

To weed out corruption full stop all across the board. It’s that simple.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

None yet but we’re actively seeking endorsements from progressive groups and politicians.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees to their Cabinet?

Do they serve the American people over special interests. Will they stand up to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans. Will they work to make the lives of the American people better or will they make it worse, do they have integrity or are they corrupt cronies.

What committees interest you?

I aim to be as effective as possible on whatever committees I’m assigned to if elected. Based on my expertise, for speculation only, I think I’d be most effective on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. All of these are committees I believe I’d thrive in the most and the best fit for representing the interests of Illinois in the United States Senate.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Better if there was more of both.

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Austin Mink did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.