John Elleson
Republican · IL
Pastor and Republican nominee for Illinois's 9th Congressional District. He previously ran for the same congressional seat and describes his campaign as focused on family, community and public service.
Where John Elleson stands, based on their records
Supports
AI Regulation (1 record), Healthcare Affordability (1 record), Reduce Wealth Gap (1 record),
Mixed record
Environment and Public Health (1 support · 1 oppose), Immigration (2 support · 2 oppose), Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (1 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — AI Regulation
AI Regulation · 1 support
Supported regulating artificial-intelligence companies to protect children and the public from harm.
March 4, 2026Supports AI Regulation
Source: news.wttw.com
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 1 support
Supported federal action to lower health-insurance costs for middle-income families and health savings accounts as an option for younger people.
March 4, 2026Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: news.wttw.com
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support · 1 oppose
Supported most Trump administration rollbacks of Obama-era climate and pollution rules.
October 13, 2018Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Acknowledged climate change as a serious issue while opposing measures he believed would damage the economy.
October 13, 2018Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Track record — Reduce Wealth Gap
Reduce Wealth Gap · 1 support
Supported requiring higher earners to pay a fair share while balancing the federal budget.
March 4, 2026Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: news.wttw.com
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 1 support
Won the 2018 Republican primary after campaigning to expand higher-paying jobs and infrastructure investment in the Chicago area.
March 20, 2018Supports Labor Rights
Source: news.wttw.com
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 1 support
Opposed congressional redistricting outside the regular census cycle.
March 4, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: patch.com
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 2 support · 2 oppose
Supported bipartisan immigration legislation combining limited amnesty, removals and enforcement against unlawful crossings and visa overstays.
March 4, 2026Supports Immigration
Source: news.wttw.com
Supported repealing the Illinois TRUST Act to expand local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
March 4, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: patch.com
Supported border enforcement, penalties for visa overstays and broader employer use of E-Verify.
October 13, 2018Opposes Immigration
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Supported family-based legal immigration when applicants were vetted and intended to contribute.
October 13, 2018Supports Immigration
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 support
Supported requiring higher earners to pay a fair share while balancing the federal budget.
March 4, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: news.wttw.com
Supported cutting every federal program by three percent and freezing budget increases until the budget balanced.
March 4, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: patch.com
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support · 1 oppose
Supported repealing Illinois's SAFE-T Act and restoring cash bail.
March 4, 2026Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: patch.com
Supported reducing prison sentences for nonviolent offenses.
October 13, 2018Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support
Managed Teen Challenge Hawaii's drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation program.
July 29, 1999Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: govinfo.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 2 support
Supported uniform background checks before gun purchases.
October 13, 2018Supports Gun Control
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Supported banning assault weapons with narrow exceptions and stricter enforcement of existing gun laws.
October 9, 2018Supports Gun Control
Source: news.wttw.com
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 support
Supported the 2017 federal tax overhaul and advocated a flat-percentage income tax.
October 13, 2018Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 2 support
Supported prohibiting companies from buying housing when their purchases drove up housing costs.
March 4, 2026Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: patch.com
Had his counterclaims dismissed while a federal court granted partial summary judgment against him and his ministry in a trademark case.
November 21, 2006Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: govinfo.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Won the 2018 Republican primary after campaigning to expand higher-paying jobs and infrastructure investment in the Chicago area.
March 20, 2018Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: news.wttw.com
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Won the 2026 Republican nomination for Illinois's 9th Congressional District.
March 17, 2026
Source: apnews.com
Lost the 2018 general election for Illinois's 9th Congressional District with 26.51 percent of the combined Cook County and Chicago vote.
November 6, 2018
Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov
Registered a principal campaign committee for his 2018 congressional candidacy.
March 9, 2018
Source: fec.gov
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 5 records
Opposed the Mueller investigation and said Congress should not respond if President Trump fired the special counsel.
October 13, 2018
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Had the Hawaii theft case dismissed and the related arrest expunged after completing the plea-deferral period.
January 1, 2008
Source: dailyherald.com
Had his counterclaims dismissed while a federal court granted partial summary judgment against him and his ministry in a trademark case.
November 21, 2006
Source: govinfo.gov
Pleaded no contest to first-degree theft involving excess welfare and food-stamp benefits received by the rehabilitation program.
February 25, 2004
Source: govinfo.gov
Was removed from his Assemblies of God ministry and Teen Challenge Hawaii leadership positions.
July 30, 2002
Source: govinfo.gov
Past race John Elleson ran in:
- United States Representative, Congressional District 9 · November 3, 2026 · Congressional District 9, Illinois