Veteran lawmaker Sara Feigenholtz is running for another term in Springfield, emphasizing her LGBTQ+ advocacy and decades of service as she squares off against a political newcomer.
Feigenholtz has represented Chicago’s North Side for decades, first in the Illinois House and now in the Senate. But she faces a primary challenge from openly gay community organizer Nick Uniejewski.
While Uniejewski is making the case for new leadership, Feigenholtz points to her long record of championing LGBTQ+ rights, health care access and neighborhood priorities as reasons voters should keep her in office.
“I love this neighborhood, I love this community, and I think that no matter how long I serve, I still jump out of bed every day very, very excited to puzzle through some of the problems that we have here,” Feigenholtz told Windy City Times. “I’ve always had a very close connection to the community, and it’s only gotten deeper over time.”
LGBTQ+ record and priorities
Feigenholtz, who was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2001, said her commitment to LGBTQ+ constituents has been central throughout her career.
“I am part of the LGBTQ+ community,” Feigenholtz said of her allyship. “It’s the most spirited community and truthfully what has kept me continuing to run. The evolution, the progress and fighting for very meaningful things from the very beginning is the history that I started with, live with and continue to carry that mantle.”
Feigenholtz fought alongside Chicago LGBTQ+ and AIDS activists like Lori Cannon, Jon-Henri Damski and Danny Sotomayor for equal treatment and human rights, she noted.
Today, that fight is not over, especially for transgender people, Feigenholtz said.
“The assault on our trans community has been sort of the first and worst,” Feigenholtz said. “It’s always been a battle, but we will win and keep fighting.”
Feigenholtz noted that in Illinois, progress on trans inclusion has been hard-won, from early battles to include trans voices in the broader LGBTQ+ movement to her own efforts pressing hospitals to provide gender-affirming care.
“There was even a time where there were members of the LGB community that were reluctant to include T, and fighting for that and inclusiveness, even within the community, was our first sort of thing we had to get over. And we did,” Feigenholtz said. “Now we’re dealing with, as you know, hospitals publicly stating that because of the cuts and the threats that they are rolling back all of the services to this community.”
Over her career, Feigenholtz has also sponsored and co-sponsored numerous LGBTQ+-focused bills, including measures to expand anti-bullying protections, require LGBTQ-inclusive sexual health education and designate all-gender restrooms in Illinois. Most recently, she co-sponsored legislation updating property law to ensure same-sex couples don’t face barriers in acquiring or transferring property.
Feigenholtz also highlighted her advocacy for people living with HIV, pointing to her work on the 2021 law decriminalizing HIV transmission.
“We have to assure that all of this life saving treatment continues without a hiccup, because we know how important it is,” she said. “I’m also really concerned about what I’m hearing about cutbacks on PrEP, and we’re just very focused on making sure that the agencies that we work with know that this is our top priority, and that this cannot be cut.”
And while LGBTQ+ rights are under attack nationally, Feigenholtz said Illinois has held its ground.
“We still have the state laws that have codified transgender language. We have codified the right to choose for people in Illinois. And we’re going to be spending a lot of time in court,” she said. “All things considered with this horrible situation we’re in with Trump, we’re in Illinois.”
Broader legislative priorities
Beyond LGBTQ+ issues, Feigenholtz said one of her top priorities is fixing public transportation funding.
“Forty percent of my district is dependent on public transit,” she said. “That’s probably one of the most—and that’s why people flock to Lake View, flock to this district, is because they want to live on the lake … But a lot of them need their fears to be laid [to rest] .”
Feigenholtz said she supports a special legislative session, as called for by State Sen. Mike Simmons, to address the transit budget deficit.
“Absolutely I have been calling the leaders,” she said. “There is no, you know, it’s just, we want to get this right. This is a very complicated reform. It’s not a matter of if it’s going to happen. It’s a matter of when and it will happen.”
Feigenholtz also pointed to housing affordability as a pressing challenge.
“Housing is, you know, affordability in this neighborhood is a huge issue that I’m hearing for one,” she said. “We’re doing many, many things in Springfield, very progressive things that are hopefully going to make housing more affordable.”
Asked what sets her apart from challenger Nick Uniejewski, Feigenholtz pointed to her experience and deep community ties.
“Experience. This community is in my DNA,” she said. “I spend every waking moment puzzling through and problem solving and working with community leaders and having really honest conversations about community needs … It’s that kind of connection to community connection, that kind of constant dialogue that I have with community leaders.”