Foster draws 2020 primary challenge from Will County Board member

Will County Board member Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, will announce this weekend that she is running to challenge U.S. Rep. Bill Foster in the 2020 election.

The self-described progressive Democrat said she started considering a primary challenge against Foster after meeting with him several months ago to persuade him to support a Medicare for All health care system, according to a news release. The effort was a part of Our Revolution, a progressive political group that grew out of the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign.

"Everyone felt that this was the right time to replace Foster with a more vocal leader who is putting forward an agenda that benefits the middle class, not wealthy elites," Ventura said.

The single mother of twin daughters and business director was elected to the Will County Board to represent District 9 in 2018.

"It is just too much inaction on major issues like climate change, meaningful health care reform, wealth inequality, and campaign finance reforms," Ventura said.

Ventura will announce her candidacy at two locations on Saturday, at the Chicago Street and Van Buren Street Plaza in downtown Joliet at 10 a.m. and at the Stolp Island Gazebo in Aurora at 2 p.m. After the announcement events, she will campaign at the annual Plainfield Fest in downtown Plainfield from 5 to 6 p.m.