Junaid Ahmed

Ahmed received a bachelor's degree in computer science from DePaul University and a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago. He worked in professional services from 2000 to 2007 and in information technology consulting from 2007 to 2021.[1]

Junaid Ahmed did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteAhmed's campaign website stated the following:Standing Up to Donald TrumpFrom making groceries more expensive to defunding Head Start and disrupting meals for our seniors, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are tearing down everything we care about to give the wealthy a tax break. While some Democrats are standing up and fighting back, others are giving in and letting Trump have his way. We need an outspoken progressive fighter in Congress who will stand up to Trump and Musk and defend everything we care about:Fight to restore and expand funding for federal programs that support early childhood education, senior nutrition, and veterans’ care.Defend our immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, and communities of color from Donald Trump’s vile attacks. Tax cuts for working families, not the massive windfall for the millionaires and billionaires Trump and Musk are trying to jam through Congress.  Voting rights, election day as a national holiday, and big money out of politics to protect our freedoms and keep Trump from undermining our democracy. Protecting Social Security and MedicareSocial security and Medicare are not just critical lifesaving programs, they are promises we made to our seniors that must be protected. In their effort to tear down government to give the wealthy a tax break, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are looking to make devastating cuts to these programs. Send me to Congress, and I will do everything in my power to stand in their way and expand the benefits our seniors deserve: Protect Social Security by ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share to avoid insolvency.Expand Medicare coverage for home care, housing, and compensation for family caregivers, so our seniors can age with dignity. Lower the costs of prescription drugs so our seniors and all Americans can get the care they need.Peace in Gaza and Palestinian Self-DeterminationFundamental rights are non-negotiable, and the sacredness of human life should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy. What is happening in Gaza is a genocide and human rights organizations – from Amnesty International, to Human Rights Watch, United Nations experts, and the Israeli organization B’Tselem – have made that clear. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed, communities have been destroyed, and children are starving. We must bring an end to this suffering and enforce international law through:   An immediate ceasefire with full humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and due process and release for political prisoners.Declaring a comprehensive arms embargo and the ending of all military aid to Israel, demonstrating the U.S. stands with our fellow democracies in enforcing international law.Realizing the self determination of the Palestinian people and an end to the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.Through a multinational effort, ensure equal protections and Right of Return for Palestinians under international law.Comprehensive strategies to tackle Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-Palestinian discrimination here at home and across the globe.Healthcare is a Human RightHealthcare is a human right for all, never a privilege to be reserved for the wealthy few. It is time to expand health care to all in need and take on big pharma to bring down prescription drug prices. As Donald Trump threatens to upend healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, we must fight back and push forward:Expand Medicaid to cover all Americans who do not have health insurance. No cuts to Medicaid for the 80 million seniors, people with disabilities, and children who would be devastated by Trump’s plan. Increase funding to Planned Parenthood and women’s health clinics in states like Illinois where abortion is legal that are providing critical care to more women than ever before. Leverage Medicare’s buying power to bring down prescription drug prices for everyone. A Green, Clean, and Healthy FutureIt is time to build our clean energy future, train workers for jobs in the green energy economy, and ensure all of our families have safe drinking water and clean air. As Donald Trump guts the Environmental Protection Agency and rolls back clean air and water protections, I will fight for the future our children deserve:A path to 100% clean energy to end the climate crisis and preserve our planet for future generations.  Stronger clean air and water protections because Donald Trump and wealthy corporations shouldn’t be allowed to put our children’s safety at risk. More clean energy jobs in our district and the training workers need to fill them.Infrastructure funding to build 21st century transit, EV charging, and broadband to create jobs and get our people where they need to go. Building an Economy that Works for All of UsWorking families deserve a raise. It is that simple. As families struggle with the affordability crisis, we have an obligation to raise wages, bring down costs, and make sure Illinoisans can afford the essentials. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are raising prices, starting costly trade wars, and leading us straight into a recession. We must fight back with:  Ending reckless tariff wars that raise costs on working families. Requiring Congress to approve actions that raise prices on groceries, gas, and essentials.Raising the nationwide minimum wage to a living wage and eliminating the sub-min wage with future increases tied to regional inflation because no American should be working full time and living in poverty.Well-paying jobs in growing industries in our district while ensuring our students and workers have the skills they need to fill them. Affordable childcare and universal preschool because our children deserve the best possible start and working families deserve the help they need.More infrastructure funding for all modes of transportation to put people to work building up our communities. Ending Russia’s War on UkraineThe Russian invasion of Ukraine is a violation of international law and an assault on the sovereignty of a democratic nation. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, millions displaced, and critical infrastructure destroyed. We must stand firmly for peace, justice, and the protection of human life by pursuing policies rooted in diplomacy, accountability, and human rights. We must take action to achieve:An immediate ceasefire and the opening of robust peace negotiations with the aim of preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and protecting civilian lives.Full humanitarian aid and refugee support, ensuring safe passage, medical supplies, and food security.Accountability for Russia and ensuring the Russian government aids in rebuilding destroyed communities in Ukraine.Investing in Quality EducationAs a dad to four beautiful children, I know there is no more important investment we can make than in our schools. We need to increase funding for public education at the federal level, make college affordable, and cancel crushing student loan debt. Instead of prioritizing our children, Donald Trump is gutting the Department of Education and slashing programs our students rely on to get ahead. In Congress, I will stand up for our kids and fight for: Increasing funding for our public schools to get our students the resources they deserve and bring down local property taxes. Free community college for working families and affordable higher education for all of our families. Canceling student loan debt to free our young people from the crushing burden and help them build careers and contribute to our economy. Expanding funding to vocational schools and apprenticeships so all students have a path to a career. Equality for AllDiversity is our strength, and this nation succeeds when we recognize and cherish that. Every resident of the 8th Congressional District deserves to know that their representative in Congress will fight for them no matter who they are or where they come from. With Donald Trump exploiting our differences and demonizing vulnerable communities, this has never been more important. As your Congressman, I will stand firm in the fight to: Adopt equal pay for equal work through the Paycheck Fairness Act.Create a pathway to citizenship for the millions of Americans who call this country home. As a child of immigrants, I will never shy away from using my story to fight for compassion for our immigrant families. Pass the Equality Act and protect LGBTQ community. Protecting equal rights and standing up to those who seek to rollback our civil liberties. Pass legislation enshrining a woman’s right to an abortion into federal law and fully fund Planned Parenthood, Title X, and the WIC program that protect women’s rights and support their decision to start a family. Safe and Thriving CommunitiesAll of our families deserve to live in safe, thriving communities free from violence. We must rid our streets of the scourge of gun violence and fix our broken criminal justice system. But we can’t stop there. We must bring true investment into our communities, so Illinoisans have hope and real opportunity. I will fight for: Commonsense gun safety measures including an assault weapons ban, expanding background checks, and implementing red-flag legislation. Banning for-profit prisons, ending three strikes laws and mandatory minimums, and expanding funding for re-entry programs.True investment in communities that have faced historic disinvestment. — Junaid Ahmed's campaign website (February 11, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a husband, father, and community activist running for Congress in the Illinois 8th District to transform our country so it actually works for everyday people, not corporations and special interest groups. The proud son of immigrants, I sought to achieve the American Dream they sacrificed for. However – during my time in community college, DuPaul University, the University of Chicago, and while building my small business – I saw the growing impact of corporations and Wall Street funneling more and more money to politicians in Washington. In response, I began to organize, protest, and advocate for systemic change. After spending years volunteering to elect politicians who turned their backs on the American people, I am stepping up to run against them. Unlike my opponent, I refuse to take money from corporate PACs and special interests. I firmly believe money doesn’t win elections. People do. I am running for Congress to put power back in the hands of communities and end corporate influence in Washington. I will fight to keep the American Dream alive for all of us, not sell our future to the highest bidder.

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?

Illinois’ 8th district deserves someone who will demand more for their constituents, and represent everyone, not just the wealthy. Unfortunately, we are being represented by a political class who are more interested in representing the needs of their corporate donors and special interest groups than in representing the needs of the hard working families of the 8th district. To deliver real change for our district we must get money out of politics, end Citizens United, and vote corporate candidates out of office.I have always believed that public service is a personal duty, whether or not you are a member of government. My activism has shown me the issues that everyday Americans face, and has given me the tools I need to enact policies that will actually help people.I believe that economic justice, healthcare, and education are basic human rights. Tuition-free education, Medicare for All, and a federal jobs program are policies that are supported by the vast majority of voters on both sides of the aisle and yet year after year, working people continue to struggle with no relief offered from our representatives.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

We need to ensure that healthcare is provided as a basic human right, create equity of the workforce through guaranteeing a living wage, and work towards creating a single standard of human rights across the globe.

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

Our Revolution by Bernie Sanders

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

I have always been an advocate for my community, working every weekend for decades to make sure my neighbors have enough food on the table at the end of the day. I understand that these acts of service are only treating the symptoms of the failures of our political system. I see stepping up and running for Congress as the next step of my community service — it’s time to go to Washington to fix our broken socioeconomic system.

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

My first job as a teenager was at a department store, Woolworth. I worked there for a year and a half. It was an experience that showed me what it is like to work a “low-skilled” minimum wage job, and what I learned is that there is no such thing as unskilled labor.

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

We are currently losing our democracy due to corporate interests controlling our policies and politicians while working people are left behind. While billionaires get tax breaks and double their wealth during a global pandemic, working families are seeing their wages get cut and are faced with giant medical and student loan bills.

We need a new breed of politicians who are willing to reign in the greed of corporations who pay less in taxes than our essential workers, like nurses and teachers.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I met a recent college graduate who had over $76,000 in student debt. She would need a Master’s degree to find a job in her industry, meaning she would have to take on a lot more debt before she could earn money. That kind of student debt is completely unacceptable.

Her father was retired and had Medicare. Her mother had recently lost her job and was in her mid-50’s, meaning finding a new job would be difficult. Because of this, her and her daughters were without insurance. In the richest country on Earth, losing your job should never mean losing your healthcare.

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

I have decades of experience in business negotiation, and I understand that compromise is a process of give and take. In order for everyone to believe in us and our movement, we must find common ground. What we should really be asking is to what extent we should be compromising.