She Runs Illinois 2024! — Barbara Hernandez, candidate for IL House of Representatives, District 50
She Votes Illinois is pleased to feature Barbara Hernandez, incumbent, running for IL House of Representatives, District 50. Follow our series, She Runs Illinois 2024!, leading up to election day as we showcase and uplift the voices of Illinois women running for public office in the upcoming election, November 5, 2024.
Tell us about yourself
Hi, my name is Barbara Hernandez, I was proudly born and raised in Aurora, IL. I have lived in my district all my life (31 years). I started to get involved in politics when I was a teenager, I would volunteer for local organizations, participate in after-school activities, and eventually I was able to run for office. My parents are also a big reason why I ran for office as they were undocumented for 21 years and I wanted to help families like my parents have a safe place to live in.
What are your top three legislative priorities you intend to focus on in office?
I have focused on Higher Education, Menstrual Advocacy, and overall family health.
What standards or criteria do you use to determine effective legislation, and how do you incorporate constituent input in the policymaking process?
I tend to be very active on social media, where I explain to constituents what my job requires me to do, I tend to do small polls to get their engagement and thoughts. When it comes to bills, my team and I view all the bills to determine what are some that might be a short-term goal and what are others that might have to be a long-term goal and figure out a path to make it a reality.
What challenges do you see in addressing child marriage in Illinois, and what legislative measures do you believe are most effective in ensuring the protection of minors?
I have carried the bill many times, however, the main obstacle has been the ACLU. I believe that children should not be able to marry at 16 even with a parent’s note. I feel like students can wait until they are 18 to determine if they do want to get married or not, without any religious or cultural pressure.
What policies will you advocate for to advance women’s equality during your time in office?
I have advocated by passing policies that would give menstruators the ability to have proper hygiene products available for free. I’ve been able to pass bills that would help low-income families be able to afford prenatal vitamins and give college students access to Plan B if needed. Therefore, I will continue to support protecting women’s rights when it comes to healthcare, job growth, and family support.
What steps are you advocating for to improve accessibility, safety, and affordability of public transportation, especially for women in Illinois?
As women, we need to think about our safety when going anywhere. We are more at risk of being assaulted and we tend to avoid certain spaces we might not feel safe. I believe we need to do a better job in placing more safety procedures in public transportation, I continue to support and push for Karina’s Law to be read in the Senate and continue to provide resources for victims and how they can prevent certain situations.
Closing comments
Thank you for the opportunity to share a bit more about myself. I hope people see that I am a hard worker, determined and compassionate. I care a lot about my community and I want to continue to pass legislation on topics that people might not want to address or normalize. I want to continue to push others to have conversations and be open to hearing everyone’s thoughts.
If you would like to learn more about Barbara Hernandez and her platform or volunteer for her campaign, please check out her website at friendsofbarbarahernandez.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Reach out today and help make a difference in the upcoming 2024 election.
(The information contained in this post is provided only as general information and does not imply an endorsement by She Votes Illinois.)
