Our Revolution endorses three Will County area candidates

The progressive political group Our Revolution endorsed multiple Illinois candidates over the weekend, including three running in Will County.

The group announced its endorsement of Congressional candidates Marie Newman and Rachel Ventura and Illinois House candidate Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, according to a news release.

Newman, a La Grange businesswoman, is challenging U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs, in the 3rd Congressional District. Ventura, a Will County Board member, is challenging U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, in the 11th District.

Both have argued their opponents' stances are not progressive enough for the modern Democratic party.

Avelar, a Bolingbrook resident, is running unopposed in the Illinois 85th House District after the incumbent, State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, decided to run for the Illinois Senate.

Our Revolution’s Illinois group said its endorsed candidates that “represent the most forward-thinking and progressive leaders from Chicago and the collar counties.”

“We’re building local political powerhouses to elect progressive candidates up and down the ballot and to fight for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and good jobs for all in every city across the nation,” said Joseph Geevarghese, the group’s executive director.

The group said its members and candidates care deeply about issues like unaffordable health care costs, mass incarceration, climate change, student debt and immigration.

“It’s no easy task,” said Suzanna Ibarra, a co-chair of Our Revolution Illinois and a Joliet resident. “But we are loud. We are persistent and we are powerful."

Our Revolution was inspired by the 2016 presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, who advocated for more progressive policies, like universal health care and free public college.

Group members from across Illinois held a summit over the weekend in Chicago to announce their endorsements. They also want to consolidate their efforts across the state where they have about 30,000 members. Our Revolution also has 600 local chapters nationwide.