Key Policies

To address the pandemic, Durbin believes there must be bipartisan efforts to control the spread of the virus, get bills passed to provide relief to the American people -- such as the CARES Act -- and then address the economy. He prioritizes safety before the opening of business and schools completely, especially advocating for increased testing.He also believes more federal funding should go to help assist families with unemployment costs and childcare. To help the economy, he advocates for an infrastructure package for small businesses and families.

Durbin’s main national policies include affordable healthcare, gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform and immigration reform. He introduced the DREAM Act in 2001, which protects children who were brought to the U.S. by immigrant parents at a young age; the program allows them to apply for residency after a background check and obtain their high school diploma. This program would later be turned into the DACA Act under President Barack Obama in 2012. Durbin voted for the Affordable Care Act and has introduced legislation to allow multiple Medicare enrollment options for families, with a goal of making healthcare more affordable for Illinois residents. In efforts to stop gun violence, Durbin wants to institute the expansion of background checks and efforts to close the gun loophole. He also believes Illinois must invest in the communities hardest hit by gun violence in order to combat gun violence at its source. Durbin recently introduced legislation that would invest in clean energy businesses and projects, and include a payment program for taxpayers and farmers to allow for the transition to clean energy. On his website, Durbin mentions that he is in favor of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and states that he does not agree with President Trump’s handling of the pandemic.

Mark Curran Jr.

Key Policies

In regards to COVID-19, Curran believes the priority should be reopening the country and is open to policy regarding herd immunity (as long as there are enough hospital beds) or isolating the most vulnerable. He states he is satisfied with President Trump’s handling of the pandemic but that Trump could have done more to create consensus between Americans, and believes that instead of stimulus funding, Illinois should open the economy to help small businesses. He also states that, “The number of cases means nothing; obviously more testing means more positives.”

Curran’s platform emphasizes pro-life and pro-law enforcement policies, and working to keep manufacturing jobs in America. He believes life begins at conception and advocates that the unborn must be protected. As a former sheriff, he supports police and heavily advocates for the protection of civil liberties and freedoms. He believes in a pro-capitalism, hands off government approach to businesses and markets. In regards to immigration, Curran supports some bipartisan legislation, such as the implementation of DACA, but also supports increased border protection. He does believe climate change is a global issue, and that it is best that the U.S. begins using cleaner energy as the world demand increases. While he supports the 2nd Amendment, he believes some legislation could be created to help keep guns out of the hands of those with severe mental illness and the dangerous.