Dr. Pamela Long Enters Illinois Senate Race With Bid

Our Daily Show Interview! Dr Pamela Denise Long (R) Candidate for US Senate- IL

EDWARDSVILLE — Dr. Pamela Denise Long, a former Newsweek columnist and conservative political commentator, officially filed her nominating papers recently to run for U.S. Senate in Illinois. Long aims to become the first Republican to win statewide office in Illinois since 2014 and, if successful, would be the first legacy Black American Republican woman elected to the Senate from the state.

Long, a downstate resident and occupational therapist, launched her campaign in May and has since traveled extensively across Illinois, covering more than 40,000 miles to connect with voters in all 102 counties. “I think most people want to vote for someone they know,” she said in a recent interview on CJ Nasello’s 'Our Daily Show.' “People need to see you and understand what you are about. I think people appreciate seeing you.”

Long submitted approximately 6,000 signatures in an uncontested filing, signaling early momentum for her 2026 campaign. She emphasized her intention to compete across all regions of Illinois, including Chicago and its collar counties, areas traditionally challenging for Republican candidates.

“A lot of people keep saying a Republican can’t win statewide in Illinois,” Long said. “But when I walk into a Chicago forum with known local figures and a sitting member of Congress and 1 in 10 Black voters in that room say, ‘I could vote for her,’ that tells me something very different: All of Illinois is receptive to my approach.”

Long outlined four core priorities for her campaign: enhancing public safety with a focus on repeat offenders and community stability; lowering household costs by cutting regulations and taxes; promoting Americans-first economic growth through apprenticeships and stricter hiring practices; and adhering to originalist principles in government policy and funding.

In addition to her campaign activities, Long has engaged nationally through behind-the-scenes work and conversations with figures in the Trump circle, focusing on issues such as border security and hiring American workers. She said, “I want people of Illinois to thrive and Americans to go first,” while acknowledging potential differences with state leadership on immigration.

Addressing healthcare, Long emphasized the need for affordable options and support for health savings accounts, particularly for older Americans. She also expressed a desire to slow the pace of government and maintain open communication with constituents.

Long criticized Illinois’ rising property taxes, crime rates, and inconsistent criminal justice policies, framing her campaign as a response to what she describes as “cancel culture,” gender ideology, and mass immigration challenges. She identifies as a 7th-generation American and Republican since the Obama era, motivated to run after being asked by Illinoisans to address illegal immigration in Chicago.

Long’s campaign strategy focuses on building support in collar counties with practical Republican messaging, expanding downstate through economic and veteran-focused initiatives, and increasing the Republican voter base in Chicago by engaging directly with communities and offering fiscally sound solutions.

“My filing isn’t just paperwork,” Long said. “It’s a promise to compete for every Illinois voter — even the ones everyone says a conservative-Republican can’t reach. No American gets left behind in the work that I do and that is why we are best positioned to not just carry the Republican Primary in March, but to win this blue state come November.”

Long invites Illinois residents to participate in her campaign by donating, volunteering, and hosting community roundtables, emphasizing her commitment to representing “all of us” in the U.S. Senate.

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