Date updated: Feb 6th, 2026

Summary:
Voters need to read, see on the go, and see that Melissa Bean doesn’t share our Democratic values. While in Congress, she voted with Republicans to fund ICE, protect gun companies, and give tax cuts to the rich and powerful. Bean has always been an out of touch, establishment politician who was known as “Wall Street’s favorite Democrat.” At a time when we
need to stand up to Donald Trump, we need a progressive fighter like Junaid Ahmed in Congress.

Core goals:
● In Weeks 6-1, the most important goal is for Democratic primary voters to read that Melissa Bean doesn’t share our Democratic values and that we need a progressive fighter like Junaid Ahmed in Congress.

● Secondarily, voters as early as week 8, if resources permit, should see on YouTube (25+) that Melissa Bean doesn’t share our Democratic values and Junaid Ahmed is the fighter we need in Congress.

● Finally, if resources permit, voters should see on streaming TV and Linear TV that Melissa Bean doesn’t share our Democratic values and Junaid Ahmed is the fighter we need in Congress.

● Right now, these are the campaign’s biggest and only priorities. Other information for voters to see and read is not as effective or as helpful.

Key Targets:
● First Priority Voters who need to see information about Ahmed & Bean: Women over 50

● Second Priority Voters who need to see information about Ahmed & Bean: All voters
over 50

● Voters who need to read information about Ahmed & Bean: Democrat Primary Voters
who have voted in 1+ of the last 3 Democratic primaries

● Finally, if resources permit, young voters and AAPI voters need to turn out at a high rate
in this election

Key Citations:
● Voted to give ICE $26 Billion while she was in Congress

• HR 2360, HR 5441, HR 2764, HR 2638, HR1, HR 2892
• 2006 Funding, 2007 Funding, 2008 Funding, 2009 Funding, 2010 Funding

● Voted to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against
manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages,
injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others.

• Bill Text 
• Vote Link

● Melissa Bean is “Wall Street’s Favorite Democrat”

• Bean’s Wall Street backers rewarded her with cushy jobs as CEO of Mesirow Financial and an executive for JP Morgan Chase.
  
  

● Melissa Bean “A Democrat Bankers Bank On”

● Melissa Bean voted for extension of the Bush Tax Cuts that lowered the capital gains
tax, “Most of Bean’s fellow Democrats were disgusted by the bill. ‘Another windfall for the
wealthy while everybody else gets to work for a living,’ griped Rep. Rahm Emanuel” Link

● Rep. Melissa Bean Flip-Flops on Campaign Pledge to Oppose NAFTA Expansions,
Casts a Deciding CAFTA Vote. “The 20,000-member Northeastern Illinois Federation of
Labor had planned to honor Bean as its 2005 “Person of the Year…On August 3, the
labor federation, which includes approximately 12,000 members in Bean’s congressional
district, withdrew the award because of her CAFTA vote.” Link