A Straight Talk Blog from Rosie
Food for Thought: It’s Not About the Money—It’s About the Vote, the Work, and Who We’re Fighting For
By Rosie Brown, Alderwoman for Alton’s Ward 4 & Candidate for Illinois State Representative, District 111
The Telegraph ran a piece noting that Rep. Amy Elik outraised me last quarter—even as both of us run unopposed in the March 2026 primaries. The numbers are real: her committee reported just over $32,700 from Oct. 1–Dec. 31, while my newly formed committee filed $1,220—including support from former State Rep. Monica Bristow—and both of us remain unopposed in March. The report also flagged an Alabama-based gaming entity contributing to her campaign. Those are the facts.
Let me tell you the rest of the story—and why it should matter to every voter in District 111.
When the headlines say “unopposed,” what’s really going on?
Here’s the civics lesson we don’t hear often enough: unopposed does not mean “unimportant” or “already decided.” In many communities—Illinois and beyond—parties put forward one candidate in primaries, sometimes because the community already has a clear favorite, sometimes because potential opponents don’t want to invest in a race where the grassroots are strong, and sometimes because the other side believes it’s “not worth” spending money here. Those dynamic plays out nationwide in local primaries, from Southwest Pennsylvania to Texas counties like Grayson, where many candidates routinely run unopposed and incumbents attribute that to community trust. It may feel quiet on the ballot—but it’s loud about what neighborhoods want.
In other words: Unopposed ≠ unloved. It often means the community has already evaluated, already watched, and already chosen.
What endorsements actually do (and why mine matter)
Endorsements aren’t trophies; they’re trust signals that tell voters which candidates have shown up, done the work, and aligned with a community’s values before the ballots arrive. When organizations stake their names, they also stake their mobilizers, voter guides, door‑knockers, phone banks, and credibility.
Equality Illinois rigorously vets on LGBTQ+ equality, civil rights, and inclusion, publishing a statewide slate to help voters cut through noise. Their process weighs questionnaires, records, and community engagement so voters can trust the label when time is short. In a crowded information ecosystem, that’s invaluable.
Illinois AFL‑CIO endorsements come after a deliberative COPE process involving union delegates from across the state—followed by real mobilization to union households. Endorsees don’t just get a logo; they get workers on doors and phones, and accountability after the election. That’s a ground game, not a press release.
Madison County Democrats publicly organize precinct‑level support, voting information, and community events that amplify local issues and connect neighbors with the ballot. That infrastructure turns “interest” into turnout.
Personal PAC focuses on reproductive freedom with deep, cycle‑long vetting and voter education, publishing endorsements and guides so people can quickly identify candidates who will protect health care access in Illinois.
If you’re busy, overwhelmed, or just trying to make sense of the names, endorsements help you answer, “Who has done the homework—and who will stand up for me?” That’s the point.
A word about PACs and money in politics—what voters should know
Political Action Committees (PACs) are legal vehicles for pooling contributions to amplify certain priorities. Some represent workers and community groups (labor PACs, issue‑advocacy PACs). Others represent corporations or associations far from the communities where they donate. You’ll see transfers between committees, and you’ll see out‑of‑state contributions—like the Alabama‑based PCI Gaming Authority donation reported in connection with Rep. Elik’s filing period—because donors often invest where policy might affect them later. The point isn’t to demonize every PAC; it’s to inform voters about who is investing in whom—and why. That’s the promise of transparent campaign finance reporting in Illinois.
Here’s my bottom line as a candidate who grew up in this district’s neighborhoods and now serves them as Alderwoman: money can rent attention; it cannot buy trust. True legitimacy comes from the people who answer the door, not the PAC that writes the check.
Grassroots is hard—and that’s exactly why it’s worth it
A grassroots campaign is powered by neighbors, not big checks. It means showing up at 7 a.m. in a union hall, at 3 p.m. in a school pickup line, and at 8 p.m. in a church basement or a neighborhood meeting. It means we call back, we listen, and we fix what’s in front of us—from youth programming to park improvements to public safety concerns to job security for steel families. If you want to know where I stand, look at the work we’ve already done in Ward 4 and the priorities I’ve laid out for District 111—public safety, union jobs, clean water, infrastructure, and youth opportunity.
Does it cost money to run a campaign? Absolutely—printing, compliance, voter outreach, events, fuel—but it costs a lot more to ignore communities. Grassroots is slower, messier, and more human. That’s the point.
The uncomfortable truth about turnout—and why your single vote matters more than any donation
Too many Americans still sit out elections, especially primaries—often because voting feels complicated, inconvenient, or distant from day‑to‑day life. Research on turnout and civic barriers points to a stew of obstacles: confusing rules, time pressures, registration hurdles, and disillusionment. That’s real. But the consequences are real, too: low‑turnout primaries can effectively decide policy for everyone, long before the general election.
If you’re wondering whether one vote matters, consider this: primaries are where the margins are thinnest and the field is quietest. That’s why organizations (of every stripe) fight so hard to shape them. The less you participate, the louder other interests become. When you vote, you pull power back home.
Why this race—unopposed or not—should still move you to action
The story isn’t that an incumbent raised more than a challenger in one quarter. The story is what we do next: whether District 111 chooses a politics of outsized checks, or a politics of outsized courage from neighbors who vote, volunteer, and demand better.
Equality Illinois, the Illinois AFL‑CIO, Madison County Democrats, and Personal PAC didn’t just line up behind a name; they lined up behind a vision for this region—union dignity, voting rights, civil rights, reproductive freedom, safe neighborhoods, clean water, and a fair shot for every child. That’s not a fundraising number. That’s a promise.
Call to Action: Be the margin. Be the movement.
Volunteer: We need canvassers, phone‑bankers, texters, event hosts, storytellers, and poll‑day captains. If you’ve got two hours, you can help us register new voters, reach low‑propensity neighbors, and get first‑time voters to the polls. Every new voter you bring is worth more than any check. (Reply here and we’ll plug you in this week.)
Invest locally: If you can chip in, your $15 buys lit for a block; $50 fuels a weekend canvas; $100 prints door hangers for an entire precinct. Those aren’t abstractions; those are real voters reached seniors, shift workers, first‑timers.
Bring a friend: Early voting and vote‑by‑mail are made for busy lives. If you’re already voting, take one neighbor with you. That one ride can change the math of a primary.
Learn more, then teach one person: Don’t just read the endorsement lists—share why endorsements exist and how they’re vetted. Don’t just decry money in politics—show someone how to look up who’s funding whom in Illinois. The more informed we are, the stronger our vote becomes.
Final word
This campaign is rooted in community and ready for change. I am running to represent every family in District 111—union households, small‑business owners, caregivers, students, retirees, and everyone who believes downstate deserves the same respect and resources as anyone else in Illinois. Headlines can keep score on dollars. I’m counting something different: doors knocked, people heard, and votes cast.
If you’ve ever said, “My vote won’t matter,” let this be the year you test that theory—and prove yourself wrong. Rock this vote, District 111. The future we deserve is the future we decide—together.
Rosie Brown for Illinois State Rep — District 111
Rooted in Community. Ready for change.