Dr. Pamela Denise Long announces bold 2026 U.S. Senate bid to reclaim Illinois' voice in Washington

Dr. Pamela Denise Long, a nationally recognized educator and principled conservative voice, today announced her candidacy for the United States Senate in Illinois. Running as a Republican, Dr. Long is positioning her campaign as a direct challenge to the entrenched political class and a call to restore integrity, public safety, and economic security for the people of Illinois. As Republicans pursue a permanent “big tent” majority in federal and state government, Long brings a rare crossover appeal to the Black American community.“I’m not a career politician, and I’m not for sale,” said Dr. Long. “I’m running because Illinois deserves more than finger pointing and lip service in Washington. We deserve a senator who will fight for families, pursue consistent criminal justice, and say what needs to be said — even when it’s not politically convenient.”Denise, who holds a Doctorate in Education and has served as a public health leader, trauma-informed consultant, and university instructor, brings a record of real-world problem solving to the race. A proud seventh-generation American and dedicated Illinoisan, she has spent her life helping working-class families, supporting parental rights, and framing common-sense reform at every level of government.Her campaign platform includes:

• Border Security & Sovereignty – Finish the wall, enforce the law, and stop policies that undercut American workers.

• Education, Not Indoctrination – Empower parents, remove radical ideology from classrooms, showcase the whole of American history, and raise academic standards.   

• Lineage-Based Investment – Target and monitor solutions for descendants of U.S. chattel slavery, not one-size-fits-all identity politics.

• Economic Growth – Replace the federal income tax with a national consumption tax and end inflationary spending. 

• Free Speech & Constitutional Rights – Defend the First and Second Amendments against political weaponization.

Born in Mississippi, Dr. Long is a first-generation college graduate, member of a 150-plus-years farming family in Illinois, and former homeschooling parent of a recent college graduate. She is known for her national commentary on outlets like Newsweek, The Hill, and Fox News, for her grassroots leadership about curbing mass immigration, her courageous debates on reining in divisive ideologies in education, and her push for accountability in use of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).“Illinois is a diverse state with shared values: faith, family, work, and a fighter’s spirit,” said Long. “Illinois Republicans are not looking for permission to be heard — we’re taking a seat at the table to deliver real results. It’s time to send someone to D.C. who owes nothing to the establishment and everything to the people.”Pamela Denise Long will begin her campaign with a statewide listening tour and weekly virtual town halls. The campaign is actively organizing in all 102 counties and plans to engage voters across every region — from Chicago to Cairo.