Native candidate announces run for Illinois congressional seat
Anthony Tamez, 25, announced his candidacy for Illinois’ Fifth Congressional District earlier this month, according to ICT. Tamez, who is Key First Nation Oji-Cree/Saulteaux and Sicangu Lakota, currently serves on the Chicago Police District Council for District 17, a seat he won in 2023. He was the second Native person elected to office in Illinois.
If elected, Tamez, a Democrat, would become the first Gen Z Afro-Indigenous member of Congress. He said his campaign will prioritize cannabis equity, data privacy legislation, health equity and protections of Native sovereignty and treaty rights. Tamez’s official campaign launch is scheduled for Aug. 22, with the Democratic primary set for March 17, 2026, according to ICT.
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