Ensuring workers rights was a key topic April 25, when Litesa Wallace, Democratic candidate for the 17th Congressional District, visited the West Central Illinois Labor Council.

In particular, it’s vital that Congress passes the PRO Act — the Protecting the Right to Organize Act — which modernizes U.S. labor law, she said.

Throughout her remarks, Wallace stressed family, with a mother who was hearing-impaired until she qualified for government assistance and a hearing aid, and for growing up in a union household.

“I’ll never forget after she got help she called me and said, “The birds sound so pretty!”

The 43-year-old Illinois native, daughter of a postal worker and a union police officer, is running in the June 28 Democratic primary in a crowded field including Jonathan Logemann, Jacqueline McGowan, Angie Normoyle, Eric Sorensen and Marsha Williams for the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Moline), who is not running for re-election. On the Republican ballot are Charlie Helmick and Esther Joy King.

Despite political polarization and frequent gridlock on Capitol Hill, Wallace said she’s willing and able to work across the aisle.

“I believe I will be able to get things done in Washington. There’s a way to work through the strife,” she said. “I believe that my track record of getting things done in the state legislature will hopefully allow residents to see that I’m a person who will advocate for our district.”

The Rockford resident, who graduated from Western Illinois University and earned graduate degrees at Northern Ilinois University, listed other priorities ranging from voting rights (especially the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act), expanded Medicare, and starting to deal with student debt, to homelessness, child care and supporting sustainable energy.

“Wallace brings the most political credentials to the table of any candidate in the race so far, Republican or Democrat,” wrote Jonathan Turner and Jim Niedelman in the Quad-City Times in November.

After working as a counselor, Wallace became Chief of Staff for State Rep. Charles Jefferson (D-Dist. 67), and in 2014, she was chosen to replace him. She then was elected twice to represent that district before running for Lieutenant Governor with gubernatorial candidate Daniel Biss in 2018.

The Illinois AFL-CIO has endorsed Logemann.

Wallace’s endorsements include SEIU Illinois State Council, SEIU Health Care Illinois & Indiana, Indivisible Peoria/Area, Rock Island County Board member Lauren Loftin, Roscoe Township Trustee Elizabeth Lindquist from Winnebago County, Winnebago County Citizens for Choice, and State Reps. Carol Ammons, Kam Buckner, Kelly Cassidy, Deb Conroy, Ann Williams an Kathleen Willis.