Demerike "Demi" Palecek

Democrat | Illinois

Demerike "Demi" Palecek websites BlueskyFacebookXYouTubeInstagramTikTok

Candidate Profile

General Assembly, District 13 Illinois General | November 3, 2026

Liberal

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Edwardsville High School, Edwardsville, HS, 2005-2009

Columbia College of Chicago, Chicago, Bachelor's - Business, 2013-2020

WORK & MILITARY

US Air Force, Enlisted Airmen - Security Forces, 2010-2012

US Army National Guard, E6 - Staff sergeant, 2013-2026

AFFILIATIONS

Democratic Party, 46th Ward Democratic President

Sandwiches for Solidarity, Co-Founder

IL Veterans for Change, Co-Chair

Illinois Women in Leadership, Alum

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

None

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

State Representative - District 13

ENDORSEMENTS

LIBERAL (10)

Planned Parenthood Illinois Action

Illinois NOW PAC National Organization for Women

Run for Something

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action

American Middle East Voters Alliance AMVOTE PAC

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

Congresswoman - Jan Schakowsky - IL9

Congressman - Danny K Davis - IL7

State Senator - Javier Loera Cervantes - SD1

State Senator - Mike Porfirio - SD11

Latino Caucus Chair - State Representative - Norma Hernandez - HD-77

OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate completed questionnaire from Chicago Sun Times in 2026.

Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Disagree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

Under any circumstance decided between a doctor and their patient. The government has no business regulating a woman's body.

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Disagree

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Strongly Agree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Strongly Disagree


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

The minimum wage must reflect the country's economic conditions. The minimum wage has not kept up with inflation or the cost of living, and thus, the American worker has suffered. We must pay livable and thriving wages.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Neutral

We need large public investments in housing, and while we must invest in innovation and the American worker, current federal law has stifled the ability of the working class to own anything, save for homes, or to create the equity that comes with private property. The goal of the billionaire class is to ensure we own nothing while turning everything into a subscription model.

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

Abolish ICE Medicare for All - Cheaper and more effective than the for-profit system, as proven by economic studies. Ending government subsidies for billionaires End the pipeline of money from public to private schools


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

That no one religion has a place informing governmental decisions.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree


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.

Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government, with no private healthcare option.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Did not answer

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Did not answer


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Did not answer


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Did not answer

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Did not answer


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Did not answer

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Did not answer

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Did not answer

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Did not answer

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Did not answer


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Did not answer


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Did not answer

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.

Did not answer


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Did not answer

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Did not answer


ABOUT YOU

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?

Did not answer

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

Did not answer

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

Did not answer


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

Did not answer

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Did not answer

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Did not answer


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

Did not answer

If you are not already receiving our updates, stay current with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.

I agree to receive text messages at the mobile number provided.