Multi-State Policy Debates
Candidates in Illinois, Florida and Virginia Clash Over Taxes, Energy and Elections
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Key Points
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The Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 38th Senate District proposes discounting tolls for Illinois residents, extending Metra service to DeKalb and exploring a Metra line to Ottawa. She also supports reducing the property-tax growth cap under PTELL from 5% to 2.5% and backfilling school-related revenue through a graduated income-tax system.
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The Republican candidate for Illinois’ 45th Senate District says data centers should provide their own baseload power—potentially from natural gas, nuclear or coal—and argues that Springfield should restore the full 10% Local Government Distributive Fund allocation while cutting waste and unfunded mandates.
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Will County Board candidate Sherry Newquist warned that current Illinois law could result in as much as 25% of a township’s land being converted to solar development, an outcome she said lawmakers may not have anticipated. She called for landowners, developers, the state and townships to negotiate changes to the law.
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Will County Board District 5 candidate Dave Oxley listed construction of a Caton Farm Road bridge over the river into Lockport, maintaining a balanced county budget and improving the landfill’s gas plant as his top priorities. He also proposed a dedicated data-center zoning classification with clear countywide standards.
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Virginia Rep. Jennifer McClellan said Democrats would seek to restore enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and reverse Medicaid cuts before they take effect, arguing that the Republican health-care law would amount to a “death by a thousand cuts.”
Candidates running across Illinois, Florida and Virginia are staking out sharply different positions on taxes, energy and elections ahead of 2026. In Illinois, Democratic and Republican contenders are clashing over property taxes, data-center regulation and clean-energy mandates. Shaw Local shows that candidates agree on one thing: voters want relief from rising costs and stronger say in local decisions.
Illinois Democrats Push Property-Tax Caps and Transit Expansion
In Illinois' 38th State Senate District, Democrat Sue Rezin is proposing to cut the property-tax growth cap in half—from 5% to 2.5%—and backfill lost school revenue with a graduated income tax Shaw Local. She also wants to discount tolls for Illinois drivers and extend Chicago's Metra train service to DeKalb County and Ottawa. Her plan targets immediate relief: lower property taxes, cheaper healthcare, and reduced utility costs.
Republicans Champion Local Control Over Data Centers
Republican candidates are pushing back against large data centers eating up public resources. The GOP candidate for Illinois' 45th Senate District argues data centers should provide their own power—using natural gas, nuclear or coal plants—rather than drawing from the grid Shaw Local. Will County Board candidate Dave Oxley proposed a dedicated zoning classification with county-wide standards for data centers. Both emphasize local control and transparency over sprawl.
Solar Farms Spark Debate Over Farmland Preservation
Illinois solar-development law is sparking alarm among rural leaders. Will County Board candidate Sherry Newquist warned that current state rules could allow as much as 25% of a township's land to convert to solar farms Shaw Local. She says lawmakers may not have intended that outcome and called for landowners, developers, the state and townships to renegotiate the law. The dispute highlights tension between clean energy and farmland protection.
Florida and Virginia Voters Face Sharply Different Choices
In Florida, candidates divide sharply over voting rules. Some back stricter citizenship proof and fewer photo-ID options, citing election security. Others warn these rules will block eligible voters and invite political abuse Shaw Local. Florida candidates also clash on property-tax relief and vaccine exemptions—Democrats worry cuts hurt schools; Republicans back taxpayer relief and personal choice. In Virginia, Rep. Jennifer McClellan is centering her campaign on ending tariffs, reversing Medicaid cuts and requiring data centers to pay their own infrastructure costs.
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