Polling Average
15%10%5%0%
10%
8%
5%
IL-08 Democratic nominee?
$92.7K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleCouncil Member
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationIllinois
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BackgroundVillage trustee (Hanover Park, Illinois)
Notable personal detailsYasmeen Bankole is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. She has served as a trustee for the Village of Hanover Park since 2021. She previously worked as a regional director in the office of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and has also worked for U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govnews.wttw.comchicago.suntimes.comyasmeenbankole.combsky.appen.wikipedia.orgpolymarket.comoutcomecast.comelectionline.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgamesfreelibrary.orgballotready.orgwomencount.orgapplications.kanecountyil.govdocquery.fec.govcongress.govsiba-agc.orgcms5.revize.comreddit.comacp-aep-cs-blobstore-prod-va6c2-data.adobe.iofr.wikipedia.orgyahoo.comsuburbanchicagoland.comdemocratsofmilton.comhigherheightsforamericapac.orgbhfs.comthedailystar.netdemocracycandidate.usmilkeninstitute.orgpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govvanguardngr.comhanoverparkillinois.orgamnestyusa.orgsites.google.comnationofchange.orgyesmagazine.orgajc.comwashingtonpost.comcbsnews.comamp.cnn.comfoxnews.comlinkedin.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgnoticias.foxnews.comgames-cdn.washingtonpost.comcdn.cnn.comstatic.foxnews.comdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgdonate.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgwelch.senate.govarmedservices.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while opposing tax giveaways for wealthy interests and lowering taxes for working- and middle-class Illinoisans; advocates investing in good-paying jobs and job training to put more money in workers' pockets.
Healthcare
The candidate describes healthcare as a human right and states she will sponsor the Medicare for All Act to achieve universal coverage and lower costs. She also supports strengthening Medicare and Medicaid and protecting access to lifesaving care for marginalized groups.
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Immigration & Border
Supports a pathway to citizenship, protection of birthright citizenship, streamlined immigration processing, and an end to large-scale deportations and practices that circumvent due process; emphasizes welcoming policies for immigrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports reproductive freedom and opposes national abortion bans; will fight proposals for a federal ban and work to protect existing reproductive health protections. Identifies the Dobbs decision as a loss of rights and says she will defend access to reproductive health care for constituents including military service members and Illinois residents.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports banning the sale of assault weapons and backing federal assault-weapons restrictions while also funding law enforcement, mental-health services, and local public-safety initiatives. Has introduced a local ordinance to ban assault-weapon sales and says she would support the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 as a Member of Congress.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMay 20, 2026
Yasmeen Bankole is in the news because she is a candidate in Illinois’s upcoming primary elections. The primary will decide nominees for several federal, state, and local races, including the open U.S. Senate seat and the governor’s race. The campaign is being shaped by heavy spending and major issues like crime and immigration.
fec.gov+51
Polls
IL-08 Democratic nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
IL-08 Democratic nominee?
Endorsers of Yasmeen Bankole for IL-08 Democratic nominee?
Dick Durbin
Public figure
Dick Durbin endorsed Yasmeen Bankole in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 8th Congressional District.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$464.9K
$348.7K
$232.5K
$116.2K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$464.9K
$14.8K
$450.1K
$30.0K
Source: FEC