Showing Up, Listening, and Disagreeing Respectfully
Yesterday I joined my opponent for a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, and I walked away feeling so grateful.
Thank you to everyone who came out in person, tuned in from home, submitted questions, and took the time to be part of the conversation. On a Sunday in October, when there are a hundred other things competing for your time, you chose to sit down and listen to the people asking for your vote. That matters more than you know.
So much of politics right now happens in 30-second clips and comment sections. A forum is different.
You can't hide behind a soundbite when a neighbor's question is sitting right in front of you. You have to actually answer it, and voters get to hear how each candidate thinks, not just what their mailers say.
I've spent my career as a social worker in rooms where the stakes were real and people didn't always agree. What I learned is that the hard conversations are where the real work happens. You show up, you listen closely, you speak honestly, and you stay at the table. That's how I approached yesterday, and it's how I'll approach the job.
The questions you submitted told me a lot about what's on people's minds across the district. Affordable healthcare. Women’s reproductive rights. Data centers. The Chicago Bears. These aren't abstract policy debates. They're the conversations happening at kitchen tables all over our community, and they're the reason I'm running. Families should be able to afford to live here, get the care they need, and trust that their government is working for them.
I'm grateful to my opponent for engaging in a thoughtful and civil discussion about the issues that matter to our communities. And a big thank you to the League of Women Voters for hosting such an important event. For more than a century, they've been making sure voters have the chance to hear directly from candidates, and their work is a gift to every community they serve.
This is what democracy is supposed to look like: showing up, listening, asking hard questions, disagreeing respectfully, and then making your voice heard.
So here's my ask.
No matter who you support, please vote on November 3. Our communities are stronger when more people participate. If you'd rather not wait, early voting is a great option.
But, you know… while you're there, I'd be honored if you filled in the bubble next to Carina Santa Maria for State Senate.
Thank you to everyone who continues to show up, ask questions, and be part of this campaign. We're officially in the home stretch, and I'm so proud of what we're building together. If you want to be part of these final weeks, come knock doors with us at our weekly Day of Action.
Missed the forum in-person? Watch the full forum here.
Thank you to everyone who continues to show up, speak up, and invest in the work of shaping our shared future. I’m deeply grateful to be on this journey with you.
Let’s keep going—because together, we’re stronger.
With gratitude,
Carina Santa Maria
Candidate for Illinois State Senate, District 27
