>> This year's midterm elections included several history-making moments, including in Illinois, where 5 new representatives are heading to the United States.

Congress.

Tonight.

We welcome 3 of the newly elected members from Illinois.

Joining us, our representative elect Donna Miller.

She won Illinois second district, defeating Republican Michael Nowak and replacing Representative Robin Kelly who served 13 years in Congress.

Representative elect Patty Garcia.

She secured Illinois 4th district against 3 other candidates.

She's formally chief of staff to the outgoing Congressman Jesus Chuy Garcia.

And representative elect LaShawn Ford.

He brought home a victory in Illinois, 7th district.

He defeated Republican Chad copy and will replace longtime Congressman Danny Davis.

Congrats to the 3 of you.

Thank you for joining us.

So a congressman-elect Ford, going to start with you, please.

You'll be succeeding.

As we mentioned, Representative Danny Davis, he's held that 7th congressional seat for 30 years.

How do you plan to fill his shoes?

I mean, I think that using his.

>> I think his legacy and continuing to build on it.

ideal.

I mean, to have a transition that I worked with during the campaign work would be for campaign for 20 years working with him as a state were ready to go to work on day one.

He endorsed you immediately.

When he announced his retirement.

How does it feel to be following in his footsteps?

>> You know, it's it's really amazing.

I mean, that's what you want from government.

You want a good transition so that you could goal.

>> And due to work on day one.

And that's what we have.

>> You also served in Illinois State House for 20 years.

How do you think that time in Springfield prepared you to take on Washington?

You know, it's interesting.

You say that because I'm very excited to be here.

I was surprised to hear governor has a plan for Congress.

I mean, our goal and my goal is really to make sure that we deliver for Illinois so good that you have.

>> All 3 of us here because although we have our own and districts, we still need to deliver for Illinois.

And I know exactly as a state legislator and I know the ladies here understand what the county needs and what district's what our state partners you need in the General Assembly.

And I look forward to fighting for them.

>> Congresswoman Elect Miller during your victory speech last night.

You refer to the second district as a microcosm of America.

How is that?

How so?

Well, the district starts in Chicago on 43rd Street and then it goes to the south suburbs all the way to Kankakee and Danville.

So we have.

>> Urban rules, suburban.

So that's what America is.

And we have farms.

There's 4500 farms in this district.

We have high rises.

We have great suburban area.

>> So when I look across the second district, this is what America looks like.

>> How do you how do you intend to serve the specific needs and that the vast needs towns like because you've got a diversity of people and perspectives.

How do you how you plan meeting all those needs wealth in needs are going to be met just because the commonality of what people feel right now, we feel affordability is at issue.

We also feel that health care is at issue that is common no matter where you are throughout the second congressional district where you are no matter where you are in all of America.

>> So when I talk that I've been up and down the district throughout this entire time and have found that people are talking about the same things that matter where they are, that they can't afford eggs.

They can't afford gas.

They can't afford to find a doctor and go to get quality health care.

So that unifies us that definitely unifies the entire district.

>> One of your major goals Congresswoman-Elect is to build an airport in south suburbs of Chicago.

Several people have tried to get that project off the ground, so to speak for but no luck so far.

What do feel like you're the right person for that job?

>> Well, I want to continue the work that's already been done in the second district is also the largest logistical hub in all of North America, which is very important that we have real.

We have transportation through trucking to have the airport would be the trifecta.

And that's what I'm looking to build.

have support from all the unions.

We have support from many of the local elected officials from mayors.

And I think now is the right time because we're 90% complete.

It.

We also have an rfq that that with the state right now looking at how facilitate building it there.

transportation.

So we have all the pieces in place.

And now I think with renewed energy and renewed focus and renewed conversation, maybe we can get it done.

Congresswoman Elect Garcia last night you became the first woman elected to represent Illinois 4th.

>> Congressional district.

What does that mean to you?

Its largest responsibility, not only the first woman represent.

>> In the history of the 4th congressional district, but also the first Mexican-American in the entire Midwest.

And so I think as I think about what's going on with the attacks on the immigrant community, the Mexican community.

It's important for me to ensure that we pay it forward and then we do work and then we deliver for the communities here and we cold like ice accountable to make sure that one people feel reflected in Congress and that their experiences are reflected not just because someone is there with your culture, but because they're bringing that experience that is needed in terms of advocacy.

>> At the beginning of your campaign, when you announced it before getting into the primary this year replace the your predecessor, Jose said it was a Garcia.

There was, you know, some some criticism for you there as you are beginning to secure the petitions to get on the ballot.

Do you feel like you've had to regain the trust of voters and that you were able to do that in order to secure this win.

>> Look, last night, 71% of the district made their voices heard and their vote heard.

71% of his them.

But for a campaign.

And I think that that speaks loudly and a testament to our campaign.

We were able to secure over 200 endorsements, including that of the next U.S.

senator, the governor.

Right.

over 50 labor unions.

And that speaks to the work that we've been doing and coalition and people are ready to have someone there that advocates for them and focuses on people, politics.

A process.

You like you're like your cohort here.

You're also replacing someone who's very well known in the district on.

Do you feel the need to balance?

>> Continuing his legacy while also establishing around look at growing up in Little Village has a daughter of immigrants and seen an immigrant out there like Congressman has was to advocating for communities.

I know that have to continue that legacy continue the work to protect our families, keeping families together, making sure we fight for a path to citizenship.

>> But it also means making sure that we continue to build a pipeline.

He's done an incredible job pipeline.

A progressive leaders across every level of office.

And, know, that's other responsibility I have to continue that have already been doing helping elect more women judges, women to the school board to state legislative roles and I'm ready for it.

We talked about affordability and health care, of course, being top of mind for voters this year, they were of Moore's priorities for each of you.

>> Congressman-elect, for come to you first.

What specific federal policies do you think you'd be looking to address to make life more affordable?

Increase health care access for Illinois?

I think we have to deal with the war that was started without congressional approval.

That's number one that's taken trillions of dollars from our budget to pay for health care, to pay for Social Security to pay for snap.

>> That's unnecessary.

discussion that we have to have to figure out how we're going to in that war.

Also, we have to figure out how we're going to bring in more revenue.

you know, we come from a state where we talk about progressive taxes.

We have to figure out how we're going to take away the tax break.

billionaires and bring revenue back in so that we can pay for health care so that we can expand the Social Security and protect SNAP benefits for states right now.

The state of Illinois on the hook for 80 million dollars.

Snap is a federal program and Trump and Republicans as pass that down to states.

That's pretty challenging for state budget.

And that's why I'm excited to be there to fight for Illinois.

Donna Miller question to you.

Well, I think we have to.

>> Healthcare is on the ballot and that's what we saw across the entire country.

People are concerned about health care.

We want to put that 1 billion dollars back into the budget for the Medicaid that was cut out.

Also, I want see an expansion of that my district is like many other districts where seniors living longer.

So we need to also have healthcare that includes hearing vision and dental care we can put that back in when we're reformulating seen what that looks like.

The other thing affects my district is the farm bill.

The farm bill has not dealt with many, many years.

So many of the farmers who are in my district are concerned about that.

They want to see specific things added into that.

And I've asked him, give me one pick what we're one pager.

What do you want to see?

How can we deal with that?

If that's going to help our farmers, not just here, but across the entire country.

>> Patty Garcia is newly elected representatives.

Have you all plan on or how did you plan on building relationships with other Congress members in Washington to get laws passed?

Some of them are going to be freshman and brand new just like you and some have been there for some time.

>> Having been a former chief of staff myself, I can say that I come in already knowing some of the staff from leadership staff from the caucuses.

I've been in the trenches with them literally trying to advance policy, making sure that we're delivering for our commute across the the country.

I've also been able to work with different members of Congress.

Commissioner Garcia was a whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

And so that enables me to develop relationships.

And as we've been on the campaign trail for the last year, continue to work with different members for support on the political side.

And so is being able to ensure that we react to beat relationships and those conversations to focus on what needs to be done.

I'm looking forward to working closely with the Congressional Progressive member of the caucus.

And so knowing that when you develop deliver an agenda that speaks to economic justice, things like Environmental Justice, Medicare, for all ensuring that we bring resources to our districts.

How different do you think it'll be going from being chief of staff to being the congressman years?

All have to learn to let go and the ability ready to trust a team.

You have had incredible as as chief of staff and plan to have an incredible team continue to serve our district get Bush on board while.

This, you know, the Democratic sweep did not come quite a shock in Illinois.

Of course, it was a blue tsunami nationwide.

>> How do you think the country might change how or now that the Democrats have some control in Congress?

You know, I hope that leadership understands that there is high demand.

I think that the people Republicans voted for Democrats, you know, and that tells us people have realized that the policies that the >> once rejected, we're good for them.

And so my hope is that we.

Swing big as Democrats.

The people have given us an opportunity.

And I know as a member of the Illinois General Assembly, when you have supermajority and majority in Senate and the majority in the House, you can do big things.

There will be no excuse why Democrats don't take care of the American people with type you know, majority that said, Donna Miller, president still MAGA Republican.

He, in fact invented How what do you think the challenges will You know, despite having control of both houses, would you think the challenge challenges will be getting the job done?

I think the challenge that will be just like you heard him say on the news earlier today that, you know, listen to the Democrats may and then might get a veto things.

I think that that conversation is not going to be well suited it because people have made their voice is clear that they don't want to hear that.

>> People want to hear what can we do to get back to work?

How are we going to do it?

How can we implement things?

And I also think that now that we're going to have over 100 women in Congress for the very first time, >> that maybe we just need some women in here to get some things to a whole right.