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* Subscribers have known for weeks that Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) was signaling interest in a comptroller bid. This morning, she made it official. From her campaign website…
Stephanie Kifowit learned hard work and financial responsibility early. Growing up in a working-class family in the western suburbs, she held multiple jobs as a teen to cover her needs. After her mother’s divorce left the family struggling, she experienced firsthand the challenge of tough choices.
At 17, she joined the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1990 to 1994. Following an honorable discharge, she worked her way through college, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s in Public Administration focused on organizational development and government finance.
Stephanie applied her education in the private sector, working at First National Bank of Chicago in private banking and later as a registered financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. She guided families in making sound financial decisions and planning secure futures — experience that became a cornerstone of her public service career.
Stephanie does not just talk about accountability — she wins elections and delivers results. She won her first race for Alderman by just five votes in a competitive primary, then went on to win the general election. Since then, she has been elected to the Illinois House of Representatives multiple times over more than 12 years, proving she can build lasting coalitions while staying true to her principles.
Stephanie’s record speaks for itself: she has consistently pushed for balanced budgets, worked to cut unnecessary spending during lean years, and championed fiscal responsibility over partisan politics. She has never hesitated to raise concerns — whether with members of her own party or across the aisle — when transparency or fairness was at stake. When legislators were not getting paid during the budget crisis, Stephanie stood with them. When social services were being gutted, she spoke up. When backroom deals threatened openness, she called for accountability.
As a Veteran, Stephanie has been one of the General Assembly’s leading voices for those who served, passing crucial legislation to help veterans access benefits, prevent suicide, and get the support they have earned.
Now, as Illinois faces new fiscal challenges, Stephanie is ready to bring decades of budget expertise, integrity, and independence to the Comptroller’s office. She understands every dollar — over $100 billion — flowing through the office and will ensure it is managed responsibly and transparently.
Rep. Kifowit is the third Democrat to enter the comptroller race. Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim recently announced her bid and Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) has already launched her campaign and won the Cook County Democratic Party’s endorsement.
* Video…
Every Illinoisan deserves a seat at the table where decisions about our money are made.
For over a decade, I’ve led our state’s fiscal committees, protected taxpayer dollars, and helped guide Illinois out of crisis. Now, I’m running for Comptroller to make sure you have a seat… pic.twitter.com/seq5uLQqVN
— Stephanie Kifowit (@kifowitforcomp) August 11, 2025
Rating?
posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 8:06 am
Previous Post: Isabel’s morning briefing
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Watched it with and without sound. I would give it a C. It seems like she threw it together on her phone and the way she is looking at the camera and her weird facial expressions make it seem strange. She has a message to tell but she needs to let a professional help her tell it.
Comment by Jr. Neef Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 8:53 am
Didn’t she just pass an $11 billion tax increase on the City of Chicago?
Comment by Blazzzer Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 8:59 am
Jr Neef: good point but have you been on social media? The vast majority of reels and toks that go viral are video segments slapped together using meta’s editing software, highly untechnical, majorly sloppy and certainly problematic for epileptics. This was at least smooth and not glitchy like she recorded and spliced it together. I enjoyed it.
I think the ad shows how she really is… she shines through. And not wasting money on a pretty NYC-based consulting group ad that gets the message out the same? How novel, the responsibility that tax payers deserve.
And She actually pronounced the name of her office correctly so that’s steps ahead lol
Comment by Millennial Power Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 9:56 am
C-
They should show this ad to insomniacs that don’t respond well to heavy medication.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 9:57 am
Stephanie is exactly what Democrats need — military service, working class background, straight talker, tough, with experience. She comes across as authentic, which I can’t say about the other comptroller candidates.
Comment by Here Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 10:59 am
F
Seems like an interesting background but incredibly lifeless launch video
Comment by Alton Sinkhole Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 11:01 am
C-.
I give her points for giving her life story, and her military and legislative service background, but the presentatation makes it look like she came into the office at 5am (or earlier) and recorded this video on her computer. Or stayed very late into the office and filmed it around midnight. Either way, she looks like was still tired.
Maybe ads like this would have been sufficient at least 30 years ago but unfortunately in this age, people want the flashy and full of life ads.
Comment by Leatherneck Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 11:07 am
I’d rate it no better than a C. It seems like a consultant said we need to talk about kitchen table issues and the working class without being too obvious. So they settled on the dining room table and unions. It comes across as a bit contrived and inauthentic and the delivery isn’t helping.
It’s hard to be bored and rushed at the same time. Kifowit surprisingly pulls it off.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 11:18 am
1:20. Need to edit this down to both a 1 minute and 30 second spot. Also needs a professional touch to smooth out the rough edges. C at best.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 12:10 pm
Rough video. Not exactly inspiring confidence to mount a statewide campaign. Compared to Croke’s launch, definitely on the weaker side.
Comment by System Reboot Monday, Aug 11, 25 @ 12:25 pm