For more than a century, Illinois’ 13th congressional district was held by Republicans. Since Illinois redistricted following the 2020 census, it has been gerrymandered to create a more Democratic-leaning seat.
Republican Jeff Wilson hopes to break through that creative map-making. Wilson is a former member of the Champaign County Board and a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and had a career in nuclear power generation.
Wilson made his case to IPM’s Brian Mackey on The 21st Show. The two discussed how industries have been impacted by President Trump’s tariffs, energy, and why he feels providing healthcare is not the federal government’s responsibility.
Wilson is running against Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who seeks a third term and also sat down with the 21st Show.
Interview Highlights
On how tariffs impact industries in the 13th district
“It helps the steel — the steel industry in Granite City. It does that, but I did say it adversely affects agriculture. It does that. There’s just no doubt about that. But I still am convinced on the main, on the big picture, It’s an overall net positive for The United States and I would like to see agriculture not be hit at all, frankly, but definitely not hit as hard as it is.”
On his goals for increasing energy production
“With my energy background, military background, I want to shore up the benefits and all the different [programs] that could help our veterans. And then also we talk about energy. We need more energy right here in Illinois — even though 50% of our energy is from nuclear, 50% — yet we’re still seen to be structurally deficit in energy and we sell it to other places. So we just need more energy. We need more energy, more nuclear power plants, more coal plants that work 24 hours a day, and grid stability, grid modernization here in Illinois.”
On government support for healthcare and reducing costs
“I 100% agree that healthcare is needed, but I also 100% look at our own responsibility to take care of our own lives, whether it’s from a job or it’s healthcare or it’s family. It is not the federal government’s role to take care of every issue that affects our lives. It’s not like [Mayor Zohran] Mamdani in New York, where ‘here I’m the government, I’m here to save you.’ I mean, that’s like [President] Reagan said, ‘the worst thing you would ever have to hear is, I’m the government, I’m here to help you’.
And our structure of our government as structured in a federalist society is, there’s limitations on what the federal government can do. Anything that’s not articulated for the federal government belongs to the states and to the people. So I would like to see the states themselves step up to the plate to take care of the people in their jurisdiction.”
On Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
“There’s no way that a guy — regardless of what he thinks he is — should be competing in a female sport, or be in a female locker room, female safe space, or female prison. There’s just no way. So let’s just go back to biology. You’re either a male or you’re a female, biologically. And there is a substantial difference between a male chromosome[‘s] muscular structure, skeletal structure compared to a female. It just is what it is. So let’s talk about fairness. [Your] concern — maybe the underlying concern of your question — is what’s fair, right and just.”