This endorsement season, we met with dozens of ambitious people from all across Illinois who believe they have what it takes to play a role in government.

Politics these days is often an ugly business, but our conversations revealed something more complicated and more encouraging. Candidates came ready to talk seriously about the most pressing issues of the day, even when their philosophies differed dramatically from ours. Most encouragingly, there was much common ground.

We found ourselves nodding in agreement when progressive Democrats Jazmin Robinson and Anabel Mendoza, both running in the 7th Congressional District, spoke passionately about the toxic influence of money in politics, arguing that when politicians become beholden to special interests, their focus shifts away from the people. 

We heard Democrats express openness to amending the TRUST Act, Illinois’ sanctuary law, to allow cooperation with law enforcement so violent criminals could be deported, a reasonable approach that deserves bipartisan support.

We heard Republicans speak candidly about the need to work across the aisle. Judy Bowlby, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Mary Miller in the 15th Congressional District’s Republican primary, told us, “I know how to work with people and listen to people,” describing herself as a moderate who understands the importance of cooperation. In the Democratic primary for that same seat, candidate Paul Davis struck much the same chord. Though he differed from Bowlby on some of the issues, he clearly understood his district and the economic pressures facing voters there, and he, too, emphasized the importance of working across party lines.

What a breath of fresh air from downstate.

Many younger progressive candidates already serving in local offices — such as Yasmeen Bankole, Hanover Park trustee and a progressive candidate running for Congress in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District — spoke thoughtfully about public service and the responsibilities of governing. They are learning the mechanics of government even as they aspire to higher office, and their seriousness about the work is encouraging. 

We also heard repeated emphasis on economic growth. Candidates across the political spectrum recognized the competition Illinois faces — not only between Chicago and its suburbs, but with neighboring states such as Indiana. They spoke about the need to create conditions that allow businesses to invest and communities to thrive. 

That there are so many candidates in these congressional races speaks to the pent-up demand here. We have a talented bench of up-and-comers who for too long have been denied a shot. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, 9th Congressional District, and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, 7th Congressional District, each held their seats for nearly three decades. More than 20 candidates are vying for these seats. Competitive primary races like these give voters more choices and, ideally, produce stronger public servants. 

Some candidates defied common ideological expectations. Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner, who describes himself as an admirer of President Donald Trump, told us he supports creating a pathway to citizenship for hardworking immigrants who entered the country illegally. Darren Bailey, the Republican nominee for governor in 2022, has returned to the political arena with a more measured and generous approach, shaped by personal loss and electoral defeat, and a renewed focus on listening to voters across the state, but specifically in the Chicago area he criticized sharply during his previous gubernatorial campaign. 

These conversations stood in sharp contrast to the tone of many campaign ads, which often emphasize division and conflict: Exhibit A is Juliana Stratton’s disappointing decision to build an entire ad around a crude epithet that not only hits its target, but, if you follow the logic, most everyone in Illinois who voted for him. Sure, she’s trying to win a Democratic primary. But still. In the fall, Democrats will run against Donald Trump’s toxic rhetorical cruelty. That ad won’t help. 

Away from the cameras, thankfully, many candidates (including Stratton) spoke more thoughtfully as problem-solvers, acknowledging difficult trade-offs and the need to deliberate and compromise. 

None of this is to suggest that serious disagreements do not exist. They do, and they reflect fundamentally different views about the proper role of government. But our conversations served as a reminder that politics is not defined solely by its loudest voices or its most frequent sound bites. Many candidates understand that governing requires listening, persuasion and a willingness to engage with people who see the world differently. Voters rarely see that side of politics, but we saw it around our table. And it deserves more attention than the outrage that dominates the public square.

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