Budzinski, Nikki

Nikki Budzinski represents Illinois's 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, she first entered Congress in 2023 following a career centered on labor advocacy and public service. Before her election, she served as the chief of staff for the Office of Management and Budget in the Biden administration and held senior advisory roles for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, where she focused on broadband access and climate jobs. Her professional background is rooted in the labor movement, having worked for the United Food and Commercial Workers and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

In the House, Budzinski serves on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. She holds a leadership role as the Ranking Member of the Technology Modernization Subcommittee, reflecting her focus on government efficiency and infrastructure. Her committee work involves oversight of farm commodities, rural development, and biotechnology, balancing the needs of her district's agricultural interests with her background in labor and economic policy.

Budzinski has sponsored legislation aimed at supporting essential workers and veterans, including the Grocery, Farm, and Food Worker Stabilization Grant Program Act and the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act. Her legislative priorities often bridge the gap between rural economic stability and worker protections. Throughout her first term, she has remained active in addressing regional infrastructure, as seen in her work on the Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act.