Thank You — HOAN FOR 9

Dear Neighbors of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois –

My name is Hoan Huynh (pronounced "Hahn Win,") and I currently serve as Illinois State Representative for Illinois's 13th House District. I'm running to be your next Congressman in Illinois' 9th District.

Here is my story, and why l've committed my life to public service:

As the only immigrant in this race, I was born in a refugee camp in rural Vietnam in 1989 to a family that endured the worst horrors of the Vietnam War and its aftermath. During the war, my father fought along US forces. His entire family was killed, and he was captured, imprisoned, and tortured as a POW for five long years. My mother's village was burned down, leaving her and her single mother homeless. After the war, my family lived through terror under a new authoritarian regime. We had no rights or freedom, and experienced many terror-filled nights, seeing neighbors disappear without explanation. After more than 18 years of waiting for refuge, my family found political asylum in America.

I was a child when we came to this country as refugees. My family had no money, no connections, no work, and little education. We were low-income, working class, and did not speak English. Despite this, we had faith in the American Dream, and in our ability to improve our future.

My father suffered from PTSD and my mom worked in a sweatshop factory for 14 hours a day, making $5 an hour. Cramming a family of eight into a one-bedroom apartment (my parents, and my 5 siblings) did not make for an easy life. But I was always grateful for this community who fought for me to have a fair shot in life. Neighbors would come by and offer food, clothes, shoes, coats, pencils, and notepads for school. K-12 public school teachers taught me English as a Second Language, and local nonprofits provided our family dinners on weekends and for holidays

Because of my community's generosity, I was able to earn a scholarship to attend Yale University and go on to complete a master's in management and policy at Harvard, with honors and distinction.

In my mid-20's, I returned back to Chicago to work in community investments, directing over $100 million into our neighborhoods for economic development, seniors' healthcare access, gun violence prevention efforts, jobs creation, and small businesses. In 2021, when I saw so many neighbors struggling while politicians stuck to business as usual, I resigned from my job to run for Illinois State Representative. Our campaign took on the Chicago Machine and the Democratic establishment. We pulled off the biggest upset in Illinois' history with 46% of the vote in a 6-way primary. My Asian mother said that 46% was a solid "F minus!"

Because of the opportunities that Illinois and this country has given me, I owe it to YOU and your families to fight against the autocrats who are controlling Congress and judges, pushing democracy to the brink. Believe me, I know what authoritarian governments look like-who they target and what they do. Today, I hardly recognize America. Perhaps you feel the same. It's time to rebuild the American dream that allowed me and millions of others to thrive here.

The America I grew up in, Illinois, and its people gave me opportunities that a refugee kid could only dream of having. Now, I owe it to you to make real change in Congress and bring power back where it belongs. I can only pay back my debt to you by working as hard as I can to ensure that the America we live in is the America that provides real opportunities, both for regular folks and for refugees like me, and for all our children and future generations to come.

I am laser-focused on bringing housing and healthcare to all and addressing the affordability crisis in this country. Over the past 4 years I have fought hard for millions in public money to directly support our seniors, children, and middle-class and working class families, including immigrants and refugees. No one in this race is more focused than me when it comes to addressing the cost of living. I know what it's like to grow up in tough circumstances. Right now Americans face growing hardship while corporations, hedge funds and private equity post record profits. It is regular Americans who should be thriving and saving.

Healthcare is a major priority and I promise to work without compromise for lower healthcare costs and universal healthcare. I grew up on Medicaid and my parents are on Medicare, so it is deeply personal to me. I will fight to protect your hard-earned Social Security benefits, to make sure that Americans get what they paid into the system and can retire with dignity, security, and safety. Also, we will make big corporations and hedge funds pay their fair share and direct these funds to provide relief for homeowners and renters. My immediate solution is to enact a ⅕ of 1 penny tax on all financial transactions by multi-billion dollar hedge funds, which would allow for us to raise $800 Billion over the course of 10 years, so we can bring down your cost of living.

I will also fight to stop wasteful and harmful laws. Our taxpayer money should not be spent on ICE persecuting our residents. A regime of secret police has no place in America - period! And about 2 months ago,

I had 6 ICE agents surround me and point a gun to my head point blank. I am willing to put myself on the line to protect community safety, and to fight against government abuse.

And today, it's YOU, the voters keeping us in this race. The other top candidates have spent over $2 million each on TV ads, blowing through huge sums of corporate and special interest money that I refuse to take. Our campaign has always prioritized putting our neighbors first, and meeting you where you're at. Over the last 8 months on our grassroots campaign, I have met you at local forums, local libraries, places of worship, coffee shops, grocery stores, holiday celebrations, breakfasts, parades, weddings, funerals, and while out door-knocking, at your door, and in the intimacy of your homes meeting your children, your cats, dogs, and birds. You've welcomed me with water, tea, snacks, and shared with me your life's aspirations, current challenges, and other intimate details about you and your family. I've carried your stories, your hopes and dreams, and your life's struggles and challenges with me everyday, and I intend to make sure that I can deliver to make your life more affordable, safer, easier, and help you reach your fullest human potential.

I have walked over 10,000 miles from Chicago to Niles, Arlington Heights, Park Ridge, Skokie, Evanston, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Northfield, Prospect Heights, Wilmette, Morton Grove, Golf, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Wauconda, Island Lake, Lake Barrington, Algonquin, Cary, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Trout Valley, Fox River Grove, and all the way to Crystal Lake and back many times to be out every day in the community meeting you at your door. While over 60 percent of voters remain undecided, we are surging into the top three in objective polls on the back of tremendous community support from Illinois' working families- not the support of the political ruling class and the financial elites. I've been walking in the winter cold to prove I'll be far and away the hardest fighter for you and your family. Now, we need your help to bring home a historic victory on March 17th.

I am forever indebted to you and your family for fighting for this refugee kid from Vietnam to have a shot at the American Dream. It is my life's calling and mission to repay back that debt to you. Let's move Illinois and America forward with meaningful policies that will improve YOUR life. I'll never stop fighting for a country where a story like mine is possible, and where the life you want to build is possible too. I'm thankful t ave met each and every one of you and would be humbled and honored to receive your support.

Vote with your Vote-by-Mail ballot, at early voting beginning in each precinct on February 5, 2026, or on Election Day March 17, 2026. PUNCH #45. And as always, If you have any questions, you can call my personal cell at 773-914-3341, and I will always answer. Or text, that's easier too, and you'll get a response back ASAP.

At your service, and sincerely yours,

Hoan Huynh (pronounced "Hahn Win")

Candidate for U.S. Congress IL-09, and State Representative IL-13