Thank you all for being here tonight. My name is Junaid Ahmed, and I am running to bring your voices to Congress!

We launched our campaign less than ten hours ago and I’m already blown away by the outpouring of support. It’s clear that working families here in Schaumburg and all across our district are ready to send a progressive fighter to Washington.

My journey to this campaign starts like so many American stories – with a dream. My dad came to this country in search of a better life for our family. He worked double shifts, day and night, to provide for his family, me and my five siblings.

I was young, but I knew my dad and mom had sacrificed to bring us here. I was determined to honor that sacrifice. I started at a community college, transferred to DePaul University, and eventually earned an MBA from University of Chicago, working full time through school, but honoring a promise to my dad to finish my education. I moved up in my career and launched my own tech firm. I met my wonderful wife Shirin and had four beautiful children. Like my dad coming to this country all those years ago – everything I do, I do for them.

When my family came here, this community welcomed us. This state gave me an education. This country gave me opportunity.

I am the product of the American Dream, but I’m running for Congress because that dream is under attack.

Let me be very clear about what is happening in Washington right now: Donald Trump is tearing apart our government to give the wealthy a tax break. He is gutting the Department of Education and early childhood programs, disrupting meals for seniors, and hurting our veterans. If the Trump tax bill makes it through Congress, hundreds of thousands of families will lose access to healthcare and food in Illinois alone.

We must fight back with everything we have – and we need leaders in Congress who will do the same. Are you with me to fight back with everything we have?

But even before this President, the American dream was out of reach for far too many of our neighbors. We know their stories. Students crushed by debt. Patients one hospital bill away from wiping out their savings. Parents choosing between putting food on the table or keeping the lights on.

Here’s what I know.

When millionaires and billionaires get richer and leave less and less for everyone else,

When prices go up and wages for working families flatline,

When corporate CEOs write the rules and the rest of us play by them,

That’s not the American Dream, that’s a nightmare.

So yes, we must fight back against Donald Trump – and then we must fight for the real American Dream. Are you with me to fight for the American Dream?

The American Dream means a quality education for all of our children. My children are proud students of Barrington public schools. I will fight for every dollar for our K-12 schools and higher education institutions. And when our kids go to college, they should do so without the burden of lifelong debt. Let’s expand federal financial aid and eliminate student loan debt once and for all.

The American Dream means workers’ rights and good jobs that pay a living wage. It’s time the federal government joins Illinois and raises the minimum wage to a living wage. And as a small business owner myself, I will always fight for those who take that leap. Small businesses are the heart of our communities and our best job creators. It’s time the federal government has their back.

The American Dream means healthcare for all. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege and I will always fight to expand quality, affordable care. We need to shut down Trump’s cuts to Medicare and expand it. And let’s take on big pharma and bring down the cost of prescription drug prices.

The American Dream means seniors retiring in dignity with social security intact.

The American Dream means clean energy, safe drinking water, and healthy air.

The American Dream means a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions.

The American Dream means equal rights for our LGBTQ, immigrant, black, brown, and Asian communities.

The American Dream means true investment in all of our communities.

I know this dream may seem far off right now. Every day Donald Trump and Republicans come up with new ways to take us backwards. It is easy to feel discouraged.

But I also know how powerful we are when we come together.

In March of 2020, as the pandemic upended our world, a few of us came together to figure out how we could help. We knew the usual government services would be stretched to their limit, so we started an organization called Chi-Care to begin delivering meals to the unhoused. It started with one truck, a few guys, and some warm meals.

But then something happened. People joined in. Parents showed up with their kids. Local businesses donated meals. We got sponsorships. One truck became many. A few volunteers turned into hundreds. What started with a goal of 50 meals a week grew into an organization that has now donated 1 million meals.

That’s our power. That’s what happens when we come together.

The American Dream has never been a guarantee. It is something we have to fight for. But I know there is no fight we cannot win when we fight together.

Let’s fight for the American Dream.

Let’s take on Donald Trump.

Let’s go win this election. Thank you!