Putting People first, so everyone has a seat at the Table in House District 48.
I’m Amanda Zahorak (call me AZ for short), and I’m running to be your state representative.
I was raised right here in the 48th District, and I’m a proud product of DuPage County public schools. As long as I can remember, people have been my passion. I learned young that I was called to serve, and I’ve spent my career acting on that. I’m running to be your state representative because I want to see all of District 48 thrive.
Affordability is at the heart of what I’m fighting for. Working families shouldn’t have to choose between groceries, healthcare, and paying a utility bill. Taxes should make sense, and a paycheck should stretch further than it does today. I also believe every student deserves access to a great education, no matter their ZIP code. I’ll be a legislator who fights to make life more affordable for working families, and I’ll go to Springfield with one priority: putting people first.
I already have the experience, and now I want to take it to our state capitol. I earned a Master’s degree in public policy at Northwestern University and have spent a decade as a leader in community care at local and national nonprofits.
I served five years on the Board of Directors for GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago, and when COVID-19 hit, I stepped up to nonprofit leadership at DuPage and Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity. There I built out the advocacy arm, partnering with all levels of government and coalitions to expand access to safe, affordable housing for veterans, working families, and single-parent households.
Most recently, I worked on the executive team of an educational organization whose mission is to assess and address gaps in schools. As the Director of Communications and Advocacy, I spent time in schools week after week, speaking with administrators, teachers, and in-class mentors to understand the challenges and opportunities in the classroom.
A deep care for all people and their stories is who I am, and it’s what I’ll bring to our policy decisions in the Illinois Legislature. I’d be honored to have your vote as I put people first so that everyone has a seat at the table in House District 48.
