Rep. Kam Buckner has represented this South Side district since 2019. He’s being challenged by Kenya Franklin, a media consultant on political campaigns.
Franklin is well versed on the issues, and we appreciated many of her positions, such as supporting a constitutional amendment on pensions to allow for sensible reforms in the name of reducing property taxes.
But we think Buckner has been an able representative for his district. We were surprised at his support in the fall for a tax on unrealized investment gains of wealthy Illinoisans in order to fund a bailout of the Chicago area’s transit systems. Thankfully, that proposal quickly died, and we hope not to see its return.
But, overall, Kam Buckner is one of Springfield’s smartest and most effective lawmakers, and he gets our endorsement.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois primary election here.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
