Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Shonique Williams, California's 41st Congressional District

America is supposedly the land of opportunity, although it doesn’t feel like that nowadays. But that opportunity is not gone. Shonique Williams (she/her), is a perfect example of that. Raised by a disadvantaged mother on welfare, Shonique was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned while trying to escape an abusive relationship. She fought against her imprisonment and was released after a year. In the aftermath, she founded an advocacy organization to help prevent the same thing that happened to her from happening to others.

This millennial progressive advocate is running on a platform centered on civil rights, with a focus on Black, Brown, and marginalized communities, alongside economic justice and making California more affordable and sustainable for everyday people. Her top priorities include affordability, sustainability, and criminal justice reform, including living wages, affordable housing expansion, Medicare for All, and universal childcare and pre K, but her wide platform includes abolishing ICE, ending mass incarceration, and protecting California’s natural environment.

Where are you based?
Los Angeles County, California

What position are you running for?
Candidate for U.S. Congress, California’s 41st Congressional District.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
My platform is rooted in a people first approach focused on civil rights, affordability, and accountability. I prioritize living wages, affordable housing expansion, Medicare for All, and universal childcare and pre K while addressing California’s rising cost of living and long term housing stability. I also support reducing the influence of corporate money in politics and ensuring government works for people instead of special interests.

What inspired you to run?
I was inspired to run because I saw a growing disconnect between people’s lived realities and political leadership. I am running to bring power back to communities and demand real accountability from government.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
I want to help lower the cost of living, strengthen housing stability, expand healthcare access, protect civil rights, and advance policies that create long term economic security for working people and families.

What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
My campaign is grounded in civil rights leadership, grassroots organizing, and the belief that people are tired of politics as usual and want leadership rooted in lived experience and community advocacy.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
I believe the most important issues right now are civil rights, affordability, healthcare access, housing instability, and criminal justice reform because these issues directly shape people’s daily lives and determine whether people are treated with dignity and fairness. I plan to address them through policies that raise wages, expand affordable housing, guarantee healthcare access, protect civil rights, and reform systems that rely on punishment instead of prevention and rehabilitation.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
I believe division is often fueled by systems that create inequality and economic insecurity, pushing people into survival mode and making it harder to build solidarity. Bridging that divide starts with addressing those root causes by improving material conditions, protecting civil rights, and creating greater stability so people are not forced to compete over basic needs.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
As a Black woman and civil rights leader, I bring lived experience navigating systems that disproportionately impact Black, Brown, and marginalized communities. That perspective shapes my commitment to policies grounded in real community needs and the everyday realities people face.

What is your motto in life?
Power to the people. Always.

Where can we find out more about you?
You can find out more about me and support my campaign via my campaign website: shoniqueforcongress.com
Facebook: ShoniqueWilliams4Congress
Instagram: shoniquewilliamsforcongress
X: ShoniqueForCA41
Bluesky: shoniquewilliams.bsky.social
Tiktok: @shonique.williams