Ryan Vetticad

Ryan Vetticad was born in Des Plaines, Illinois. He earned a high school diploma from Barrington High School in 2019, a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2021, and a master's degree from The University of Chicago in 2023. His career experience includes working as a lifeguard, mechanic, server, and a kindergarten teacher. Vetticad was an ROTC cadet during his tenure at the University of Illinois. Following his graduation, he worked as a high school teacher in Salzburg, Austria, with the Fulbright Program. Upon receiving his master's degree, he served in the Department of Justice's National Security Division in the Counterterrorism Section. Vetticad held this role until May 2025, citing the new Donald Trump administration as his reason for resignation.[1]

Ryan Vetticad did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteVetticad's campaign website stated the following:Democratic ReformIf we want a government that works for everyday people, we have to start by changing how it operates. I’m not interested in vague promises—I’m talking about real, doable changes that make our democracy more fair and more functional.Campaign Finance Reform: - Set real limits on how much candidates can spend. 2 million in Congressional races. - Overturn the Supreme Court Decision of Citizens United so corporations and billionaires can’t buy our elections with dark money.Ban Congressional Stock Trading: Elected officials shouldn’t be profiting off the same policies they help write. This one’s a no-brainer.Monthly In-Person Town Halls: I'll hold an in-person town hall in the district every month I’m in office. Whether it’s answering questions or helping with constituent services, I’ll make sure everyone in the Eighth District has access to me in a way that’s convenient for them. You deserve to personally know your representative and I want to personally know you.Affordability / Healthcare / Social SecurityIf you feel like you're working harder just to fall further behind, you're not imagining it. The system is stacked—and we need to level the playing field.Prescription Drug Transparency: Drug companies shouldn’t be allowed to hide what things actually cost. Americans pay up to 3x more for medicine than people in other countries. That has to change.Reverse Ongoing Tariffs: The recent tariffs have raised the price of everything from groceries to diapers. They’ve cost families an extra $1,200 a year on average. Let’s lift the ones that hurt consumers.Lower Property Taxes: Illinois families are paying some of the highest property taxes in the country. We need school funding reform and smarter budgeting to bring relief.Medicare for All: Every American deserves healthcare, period. No one should go bankrupt over medical bills. A single-payer option would reduce costs, expand access, and eliminate surprise bills—while still allowing people to choose private insurance if they prefer. This is about giving everyone peace of mind and a fair choice, not taking options away. A single-payer system would drastically cut health care costs for families while ensuring everyone is covered. No co-pays, no surprise bills, no stress.Expand Social Security: Social Security is one of the most successful programs in American history. It’s a commitment to workers that after a lifetime of contributions, they’ll have a foundation to retire on. We need to ensure it remains strong and reliable for the next generation by protecting benefits and making smart, responsible updates that reflect today’s economy.This isn’t about handouts—it’s about fairness. People just want a shot to get ahead without being crushed by the basics.Gun Violence PreventionWe all deserve to feel safe in our schools, neighborhoods, and public spaces. That shouldn’t be a partisan statement—it’s just common sense. Here’s what I’ll push for:Comprehensive Background Checks: No more loopholes. If you’re buying a gun, you go through a background check—period.Mandatory Waiting Periods: These save lives. Waiting periods reduce suicides and prevent spur-of-the-moment violence.Mandatory Gun Safety Training: If we require training to drive a car, we should require it to own a firearm.Close Gun Show and Ghost Gun Loopholes: No untraceable weapons, no backdoor sales. Every purchase should follow the same rules.We can protect the Second Amendment and still act to save lives. It's not either-or.— Ryan Vetticad's campaign website (February 12, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.