Kina Collins, a longtime community organizer and progressive voice from Austin, has announced her candidacy for Illinois’ 7th Congressional District.
Collins has previously challenged Rep. Danny Davis, the retiring incumbent, in two primary races and is now entering the contest for an open seat. The primary will take place March 17, 2026.
She emphasizes grassroots organizing, building a working-class economy and championing issues like voting rights, healthcare and housing. Her campaign, she said, is committed to rejecting corporate PAC money and advocating for policies that reflect the district’s diverse communities.
“I’m back in the race on a mandate from the people who supported my campaign in previous election cycles. But the impetus for my run this time is not just that we need new leadership. We need someone who will not only challenge the chaos from the Republican Party in Washington D.C., but also push the party to support an economy built from the ground up, reject big money in politics and truly serve as a champion of the people,” Collins said.
Her political coalition began the effort to win the congressional seat nearly five years ago, noticing a slowdown in organizing and overall inactivity in the district.
“Over these past few primaries, I’ve worked not just with the hope of winning the seat in Illinois’ 7th District, but also with the goal of organizing politically, building a base and raising name recognition for the moment when Rep. Davis would step down,” Collins said.
She grew concerned that the Democratic Party was not listening to working-class residents in neighborhoods like her own in Austin and feared that Trump-era Republicans could regain power if the party failed to respond.
Inflation and the high cost of living are other issues that Collins is addressing, as she advocates for building an economy from the ground up that includes affordable healthcare for all.
Investment in a green economy to create good-paying, union jobs with livable wages for communities like Austin, which have been affected by environmental injustices and severely impacted by flooding is another core message she wants voters to associate with her campaign.
“”We are a campaign that wants to stress the importance of building an economy from the ground up. That means people in our district, especially in communities like Austin, should have access to healthcare, housing and a livable wage. They should be able to manage the cost of living without being pushed out of their community because they can’t afford it,” Collins said.
She said: “We fight for housing as a human right. We also oppose endless wars across the globe, including in the Middle East and Europe and believe that money should be invested back into the people of Illinois’ 7th Congressional District to improve their quality of life, rather than serving as a blank check to continue these conflicts.”
Collins is also taking a firm stance on the abolition of ICE, saying that U. S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security should not receive any federal funding until humane practices are implemented and a true pathway to citizenship, including a clean Dream Act, is established.
Collins also wants voters to associate her campaign with protecting voting rights, ensuring everyone can participate in democracy, and championing democratic values.
“I think people are concerned and it’s a valid concern that our voting rights could be stripped from us. We want to let people know that I will be a champion for our democracy and for protecting our fundamental right to vote,” Collins said.
Voters are urged by Collins to be leery of attacks against candidates, especially in the open primary for Illinois’ 7th District. She emphasizes that candidates should focus on strengthening the party rather than targeting one another.
“The issues we’re fighting are not just internal; there are also significant external issues that we should be addressing together. We want to run a clean campaign, and we hope everyone else does the same,” Collins said.
