R. Cary Capparelli
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
R. Cary Capparelli
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of London, London (U.K.), PhD, -2016
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, M.A., -1977
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, M.S.J., -1975
Drake University, Des Moines, IA, B.A.J., -1974
WORK & MILITARY
OMNI-Communique Inc, President, 1977-
Novus Ordo Vineyards, President, 2006-2017
South Dakota State University, Professor of Geography, 2017-
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Board Member, Illinois International Port, 2000-2009
Public Board Member, Illinois Banking and Real Estate, 1997-1999
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
OTHER (1)
Italian American Police Association
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Family-Pac (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Family-Pac (2016)
National Right to Life Committee (2010)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (2016)
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (2016)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Pro-life position
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
Confusing question as artificial methods needs to be clarified.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Rape and incest. These two entries need to be further investigated.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.
Strongly Disagree
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1) to protect our borders to eliminate unlawful entry to keep illegal immigrants from 'stealing' from our system, i.e., as we see w/the many Somali fraud cases in Ohio and Minnesota 2) most, if not all, welfare programs, i.e., SNAP, where there is both waste and fraud 3) implemented biased healthcare, i.e., Obamacare, where there is waste and fraud 4) etc. and etc.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Two fold: 1) whereas government can not interfere with the religious decisions made in specific situations, i.e., hospital care, and 2) whereas a religious organization is prohibited from endorsing political positions
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options This answer can be expanded as well.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
No - as this becomes a confidentiality problem.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
Again, a question that can have an expansive view so: 1 - D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely (for the most part but not completely), and 2 - B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny (and for other reasons such as protecting the interests of the United States as well).
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
The U.S. relationship w/Israel, as our most reliable ally in the Middle-East, is a very important. At the same time, there are other nations in the Middle-East that require and important relationship w/the U.S., i.e., Saudi Arabia.
Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The system, per se, needs to be more specific: 1) those who do not pose a threat to American society, and 2) when necessary, those who provide a solution to a need.
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Neutral
Per se, yes but there is a need to set national standards for states to adhere to.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
For starters, especially the Confucius Institute.
VALUES
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely as such is 1) not natural, and 2_ not as God intended.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Traditional Catholicism
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
'Real' identification should be mandatory to vote in any federal, state, county, or city election.
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Multiple answers: 1) upgrade all electrical grids w/immediate effect, 2) expanded the exploitation of American's own natural resources, i.e. petroleum, and purchase same when mutually available, and 3) consider expanded nuclear energy when sensible.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
NO
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
NO
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
No doubt, I am the most conservative candidate for the Illinois U.S. Senate race seat. Others may call themselves a conservative but do not know the actual meaning or its mission. In Illinois, Republicans need to offer its primary voters the most conservative choice so that in the general election all voters will have a choice between the failed far left policies of the Democrats or proven conservative strategies to make America great again.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
As a supporter of Second Amendment rights and the mission of public safety, I also understand the importance to to further protect the public from those not qualified for gun ownership. This would include those suffering from mental health issues, non-citizens, and children.
