10 Democrats and six Republicans in Illinois are vying to succeed incumbent U.S. Senator Dick Durbin after he retires at the end of his term.
Illinois Public Media’s The 21st Show is interviewing the candidates and asking them about their views. This week, Brian Mackey sat down with Awisi Quartey Bustos, a Democrat with experience in nonprofits, the private sector and as a state of Illinois employee.
Bustos worked as an aide for Durbin for five years in the Quad Cities. She is a former senior policy advisor for the Illinois Department of Human Services with additional experience in the private sector.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Purdue University and a law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Bustos worked as an intern for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and recently was executive director of the Illinois Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs.
Bustos’ father was a diplomat, which meant her childhood took her all over the world. As a first-generation Ghanaian American, she said she feels “a beautiful connection to Illinois.”
“The map of Ghana actually looks and shapes very similarly to Illinois. So sometimes, when I look at why I love this state so much, I think I found, you know, my home away from home here,” she said. “And what brought me to Illinois was my quest to have impact, to follow in my father’s footsteps as an international dignitary and civil servant.”
Interview Highlights
On federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reform
“There needs to be an adherence to the rights of US citizens. Currently, this militarization of that department is in complete contradiction and violation [of] its intended purpose, and also to what is allowed and prescribed by the Constitution. And so Congress really needs to go back to the drawing board and ensure that individuals who are hired to serve and protect are actually serving and protecting, and that immigration reform and policies should be adhering to constitutional checks and balances and the right level of appropriate behaviors that are dignified of public servants, because that is what they are. They’re public servants.
On why she’s running for U.S. Senate as a first-time candidate and not seeking another position:
“Asking me that question would be equivalent to asking me, ‘why am I not a surgeon or a carpenter?’ It’s not a question of something is above or beneath me or high or low. It’s a question of what your passions are, what your specific, unique skill sets are, and how you feel you can serve your country and your state … yeah, you need senators who have an understanding of foreign policy, as well as the intricacies of downstate Illinois and Chicago and what makes this country unique. So that’s what I bring to the table, a different kind of experience.”
On providing a check to presidential power following the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro:
“Ultimately, you don’t get to violate other people’s rights sovereignty because you have a singular opinion. whatever could be said about Maduro, lot of ppl could say same about Trump, if roles were reversed, answer is no, then it’s no all around.”
On creating artificial intelligence policy:
“Some of these data centers and the amount of water that’s required, the amount of energy and emissions and weight on the planet, And ensure that also AI protects the right to privacy, and information of people and children especially, and ensuring AI isn’t replacing human labor.”