Republican public safety advocate Gianno Caldwell is considering a run for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat in 2026, amid rising national concerns over urban crime.
Earlier this month, Caldwell served as the keynote speaker at the Illinois Republican Party’s Republican Day event at the state fair, where he highlighted his long-standing commitment to law and order. Caldwell’s brother, Christian, was tragically killed in a Chicago drive-by shooting in 2022 at just 18 years old.
“I’ve been about this fight for many years in public service. I’ve worked at every level of government you can imagine, and I believe it’s time for a law-and-order U.S. Senate candidate to emerge in Illinois,” Caldwell, a Fox News contributor and founder of the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety, said.
“My brother’s legacy has become my mission to save lives,” he added. “If I can continue that work in a U.S. Senate seat, it’s worth considering for the many lives lost and the legacies that need to be furthered in Illinois and my hometown of Chicago.”
Caldwell’s hometown has come under renewed scrutiny as President Donald Trump signals plans to deploy the National Guard and federal agents to curb crime nationwide following the takeover of policing in Washington, D.C.—both cities struggling with violent crime that has tragically claimed the lives of teens and children.
“My brother’s murder made me realize the urgent need for a conversation about what’s happening in Chicago,” Caldwell said. “This affected me deeply. When I see what President Trump is doing in D.C. and his plan to extend it to other cities, I applaud it. People in Chicago have been calling for change.”
Caldwell’s comments come as some Democrats criticize the heavy law enforcement presence in the nation’s capital. “American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican,” Mayor Muriel Bowser posted on X last week.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced he will retire in 2026, opening the Senate race to new contenders on both sides.
“The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States senator. But, in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term,” Durbin, 80, said in an April video.
