Bryan Maxwell believes he knows why Democrats lost the White House.

"30% of Biden 2020 voters say that the main reason that they stayed home in 2024 was because of the US support for Israel. And a year later the party still hasn’t made any changes in that policy. I talk to people on the ground, talk to people in our communities. This is a major reason why long time supporters of the party, door knockers, canvassers, have left the  party and aren’t coming back until there’s some meaningful change on this policy."

Maxwell is asking for the Illinois Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2026. He introduces himself as the anti-war candidate. He says instead of being involved in wars overseas all the time, the government should redirect some of the military budget into social services.

The federal shutdown is because Congress hasn’t passed a budget at all.

Maxwell says the Senate’s filibuster rule needs to go.

It is worth it. I think Democrats digging in their heels to protect health care because we’ve seen Republicans are really trying to claw back health care from people in this country. I believe healthcare is a human right so I think that’s worth fighting for. But we need to find some other form of passing budgets in this country that doesn’t put federal workers used as a hostage based on as a bargain ship.

Maxwell grew up in North Carolina and now lives in Champaign-Urbana. He’s an agricultural engineer.

You can listen to Rick Koshko’s radio story by clicking below:

You can listen to Rick Koshko’s interview with Bryan Maxwell by clicking below:

This story is part of a series from a Senate candidate media day hosted by the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, Illinois Press Association, and UIS Public Affairs Reporting Program. Multiple Republican and Democratic candidates were invited.