Representative Nikki Budzinski, Democratic from Illinois

Nikki Budzinski

Illinois's 13th congressional district

IL-13 Midterms Intelligence

Budzinski represents a Democratic-leaning but not sleepy central/southern Illinois seat: D+16, yet still 84% competitive because it stitches together Springfield/Metro East institutional Democrats with smaller manufacturing and farm communities. A first-term member with Agriculture and Veterans’ Affairs posts, she fits the district’s profile—union-friendly, government-adjacent, and unusually veteran-heavy at 6.8%. The electorate is anchored by white working- and middle-class voters, but a sizable Black population gives Democrats their floor and shapes coalition politics.

For advocates, this is a cost-of-living and economic-security district first, with median income at $63,106 but clear strain in a seat where 17.1% use SNAP and healthcare/education accounts for 28.7% of jobs. Messages that connect agriculture, manufacturing, veterans, and public-sector stability travel best; ideological or coastal-coded appeals do not. The opening is pragmatic populism—lower costs, protect benefits, back local employers—while avoiding frames that sound anti-industry or inattentive to downstate identity.

Representative Nikki Budzinski represents Illinois's 13th congressional district, serving 747,221 constituents. The district has an estimated median household income of $63,106 and an unemployment rate of 5.8%.

Economic & Demographic Snapshot

747,221Population
↓ 4,491
$63,106Median Incomenat'l $37,585
↑ $3,327
5.8%Unemploymentnat'l 3.5%
↓ 0.3%
10.8%Poverty Ratenat'l 12.4%
↓ 0.4%
63.2%Homeownershipnat'l 65.5%
→ no change
$999Median Rentnat'l $1,163
↑ $70
2.0%Public Transitnat'l 5%
→ no change
21.0 minMean Commutenat'l 26.4 min
↓ 0.4 min

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2017-2021 vs. 2019-2023). All figures are statistical estimates with 90% confidence level.

Illinois District 13 Demographics

Median Age 37.4 (vs 38.5) · Homeownership 63.2% (vs 65.5%) · Bachelor’s+ 32.3% (vs 33.7%) · Poverty 10.8% (vs 12.4%) · Income $63,106 (vs $37,585)

Age Distribution

Near the national median age (37.4 vs 38.5 nationally). 29% of residents are in the 20–39 working-age bracket — housing affordability, student debt, and workforce messaging indexes high.

Race & Ethnicity

White residents are the largest group at 67.5%. Also significant: Black (19.2%).

* Hispanic includes respondents of any race. Racial categories include both Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Education

32.3% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, below the 33.7% national average.

Income Distribution

Median household income is $63,106, well above the $37,585 national median.

Housing

Homeownership at 63.2% (vs 65.5% nationally). Median rent is $999. Median home value is $154,500.

How People Get to Work

Car-dependent: 73.2% drive alone to work. Average commute is 21 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Data represents 5-year statistical estimates for increased reliability.

Illinois District 13 FAQ

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