Latest news with #ProjectFirstRate
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nolley targets LaHood, prioritizing working-class concerns
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Paul Nolley, executive director of Project First Rate, kicked off his campaign to unseat Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood (R) in Congress on Thursday. Nolley is running as a Democrat for Illinois' 16th Congressional seat in 2026, to represent Northern and Central Illinois, including Rockford, Peoria, Bloomington, Harvard, and Galena. Nolley took to the local IBEW Hall, where he addressed a crowd of supporters. He accused LaHood of 'being afraid of his constituents.' 'I'm not scared of my community, I'm not afraid to meet with people, to hold meetings and hear different voices, even those that I disagree with, and I think that the incumbent is scared to meet with his constituents,' said Nolley. 'So, I'm just a regular person here to serve the people, and I'm happy to meet with and hear the voices, concerns and issues of regular people. I believe that Darin LaHood is not okay with that.' 'Our politics are broken. Too many politicians have forgotten who they work for. They work for the people, not the big corporations and donor class,' Nolley said a month ago. 'I'm running because it's time for regular people to stand up and say enough is enough. Working families have been hit hard by policies from both parties for decades, and too many people struggle to get by while corruption runs wild in Washington and the ultra-rich have watched their wealth grow to unimaginable levels.' Nolley has served as executive director of Project First Rate, which works with union contractors and tradespeople, since 2020. 'I'm from a working-class family and grew up working at the local racetrack, in kitchens, retail, and farm fields, not around the powerful and well-connected. I'm here to provide a new vision and opportunity for residents of the 16th, and that campaign begins today,' Nolley said in April. According to a press release, Nolley 'is centered on protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; rebuilding American manufacturing and family farms; rooting out pay-to-play corruption; strengthening unions and workers' rights; and investing in policies that make raising a family in today's economy easier.' Nolley is running against incumbent LaHood (R), Joe Albright (D), and John Kitover (R). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democrat Paul Nolley launches campaign to unseat Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood
LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — Paul Nolley, executive director of Project First Rate, has announced his bid to unseat Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood (R) in Congress. Nolley is running as a Democrat for Illinois' 16th Congressional seat in 2026, to represents Northern and Central Illinois, including Rockford, Peoria, Bloomington, Harvard, and Galena. 'Our politics are broken. Too many politicians have forgotten who they work for. They work for the people, not the big corporations and donor class,' Nolley said. 'I'm running because it's time for regular people to stand up and say enough is enough. Working families have been hit hard by policies from both parties for decades, and too many people struggle to get by while corruption runs wild in Washington and the ultra-rich have watched their wealth grow to unimaginable levels.' Nolley has served as executive director of Project First Rate, which works with union contractors and tradespeople, since 2020. 'I'm from a working-class family and grew up working at the local racetrack, in kitchens, retail, and farm fields, not around the powerful and well-connected. I'm here to provide a new vision and opportunity for residents of the 16th, and that campaign begins today,' Nolley said on Tuesday. According to a press release, Nolley 'is centered on protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; rebuilding American manufacturing and family farms; rooting out pay-to-play corruption; strengthening unions and workers' rights; and investing in policies that make raising a family in today's economy easier.' Nolley is running against incumbent LaHood (R), Joe Albright (D), and John Kitover (R). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockford United Labor honors Workers' Memorial Day, urges safer workplaces
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Union members and advocates gathered in Rockford for Workers' Memorial Day to remember those who died on the job over the past year. The event was organized by Rockford United Labor, who represent over 25,000 workers in the area. Mayor Tom McNamara, Rep. Maurice West (D), and Sen. Steve Stadelman (D) also spoke at the event. Advocates expressed the need for more training and apprenticeships for workers, while others shared concerns about federal budget cuts and layoffs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not been cut, but advocates say it could experience ripple effects from the closure of other agencies. Paul Nolley, the executive director of Project First Rate, said, 'Protections for workers on the job, whether it's construction or other industries, need to continue to be strengthened. And what we see, unfortunately, at this point in time, is they're actually trying to roll back those protections. So we're kind of working backwards instead of making progress on the issue.' Workers' Memorial Day is held on April 28th every year to commemorate the 1917 founding of OSHA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
