Litesa is running for Congress because she believes the people of our district deserve a government that works, for all of us.

Litesa is running for Congress because she believes the people of our district deserve a government that works, for all of us.

MEET LITESA

Litesa Wallace has spent her career fighting hard for Illinois working families. She has been a fearless, effective advocate for our communities. Now she is running for Congress because she believes the people of our district deserve a government that works — for all of us.

Litesa was born in Illinois and grew up in a union household. As the daughter of a postal worker and a police officer, she knows firsthand how strong unions built and sustained the middle class.

Her parents worked hard to make sure she got a good education, and they were fiercely proud when she graduated from Western Illinois University and became the first in her family to earn a college diploma.

Her son, Isaiah, was born while Litesa was putting herself through graduate school at Northern Illinois University. As a single mom, she often struggled to make ends meet, but she persevered and went on to earn an Ed.D. in educational psychology.

She started out as a counselor, working with people in Rockford who were dealing with mental illness, abuse, and addiction. Realizing that she could have a greater impact on her community by working in government, she joined State Rep. Charles Jefferson’s office as Chief of Staff. In 2014, she was chosen to replace him in the General Assembly. She went on to win re-election for two more terms.

In 2018, Litesa ran for Lieutenant Governor and traveled all over Illinois, talking with working people across our state and hearing from them about the issues that are most important to them and their families. Since then, she’s kept on working to improve the lives of people in Illinois, serving as a leader of Rockford’s efforts to end homelessness and advocating for cleaner, more sustainable energy for people across Illinois. 

Litesa is running for Congress because she believes the people of our district deserve a government that works, for all of us.

Now Litesa is running for Congress, where she will stand up for the hard-working people of Illinois’ 17th district. With your support, she will join the national fight for affordable childcare, expanded health care, accessible college and job training programs, and an economic recovery that creates real prosperity, for all of us.