Raised
N/AWho funds Karina Villa?
DATA PENDING
Source: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/bernie-sanders-karina-villa-illinois-comptroller/
| Donor | Category | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez | political_committee | $50,000 | confirmed |
Chicago Tribune reporting notes Villa 'likely has the least experience in government finance matters when compared with her three Democratic opponents' — Croke (Commerce Dept finance background), Kifowit (former financial advisor, 10+ years in IL House), and Kim (Lake County Treasurer).
Source: → https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/bernie-sanders-karina-villa-illinois-comptroller/
Susana Mendoza, the outgoing Comptroller she's seeking to replace, endorsed Holly Kim (Lake County Treasurer) — not Villa.
Cook County Democrats backed Margaret Croke for comptroller — not Villa.
Karina Villa (born September 20, 1978) is a state senator and progressive Democratic candidate for Illinois Comptroller in the March 17, 2026 primary. Born and raised in West Chicago in an immigrant family, she attended Aurora University (B.A. and MSW). She began her career as a school social worker for West Chicago School District 33, then was elected to the District 33 Board of Education. She was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives (District 49) in 2018, defeating DuPage County Board member Tonia Khouri. In the November 2020 special election, she won the IL Senate 25th District seat, defeating incumbent Republican Jim Oberweis — becoming the first Latina to represent the district. She was re-elected to the Senate in 2022 and 2024. She serves as Chair of the Senate Progressive Caucus and has passed dozens of bills on health, education, labor, and equity. She entered the 2026 Comptroller race in August 2025, launching at Little Village with support from U.S. Reps. Delia Ramirez and Chuy García. She has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders (March 9, 2026), Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU, Senate President Don Harmon, and U.S. Rep. Chuy García. Entering 2026, she had ~$300,000 in her campaign fund per ISBE.
Prior office: Illinois State Senator, 25th District (2021–present); Chair, Illinois Senate Progressive Caucus. Illinois State Representative, 49th District (2019–2021). West Chicago Elementary School District 33 Board of Education (prior). School social worker, West Chicago School District 33.
Ensures schools allow students to self-administer any medication with written parental authorization.
Allows recipients of SNAP, WIC, and TANF to use benefits to purchase menstrual hygiene products.
Requires public universities and community colleges to provide free menstrual hygiene products in bathrooms.
Requires school districts to make menstrual hygiene products available and free to students.
Makes best efforts to identify for-profit companies sheltering migrant children and list them as restricted for state pension investments.
Allocates $15,000,000 to Free and Charitable Clinics for emergency services, requiring at least 70% to serve minority populations.
Maintained support for the SAFE-T Act (criminal justice reform, cashless bail) during 2022 re-election campaign despite Republican attacks.
Backed bill to repeal 2015 Illinois law prohibiting state pension fund investment in companies that boycott Israel, describing it as a free speech limitation.
Issued community warnings during an ICE raid in West Chicago in September 2025 — ran through neighborhoods shouting warnings to residents not to open doors.