Nick Uniejewski Is Running a State Senate Campaign Like It’s a Dinner Party—and It’s Working.

Nick Uniejewski never planned to run for office. But after hosting over 100 community "salons"—kitchen table-style conversations on housing, transit, and the future of Illinois politics—he realized something that might sound obvious, but isn’t: if we want a government that feels different, we need different people in office.

 "Every fight for the next four years is going to happen at the state and local level," Uniejewski told me over the phone, on the way to his next community event. "And my senator just wasn’t there."

Like Kat Abughazaleh’s campaign in IL-9, Uniejewski’s run isn’t about vibes—it’s about organizing, message discipline, and actually showing up.

Uniejewski is running for state senate in the 6th District, challenging incumbent Sara Feigenholtz, who’s been in Illinois government for over 30 years. But this isn't just a standard progressive insurgency. His campaign is powered by consistent organizing, serious housing policy, and a belief that politics should be more neighborly, more honest, and a lot more human.

We talked about zoning codes, digital organizing, and the future of the Democratic Party.

What finally made you say, “Screw it, I’ll run”?

Nick: I've organized at every level of government, but it was my work hosting over 100 salons in the last year that really changed everything. These started out in my living room—me cooking dinner, inviting folks over to talk about housing, transit, whatever was on their minds. And over time, it grew. People I didn’t know started showing up. We talked. We learned. We came up with ideas. And I realized: this is what politics should feel like.

Everywhere I went, people told me the same thing: our state senator is absent. The issues are urgent—housing, climate, transit—but the leadership isn’t showing up. So I looked around and said: okay, let’s do something different.

“Salon” sounds like a buzzword. Be honest—what actually happens?

Nick: “Salons” are really nothing new—they’ve been around for hundreds of years, but they all start with one simple principle: listening. I’d cook dinner, open some wine, and invite folks over to talk about housing, transit, or whatever was on their minds. And we’d all learn something from each other. All with no ticket price. No political consultants.

At one housing salon, someone pointed out how zoning laws make new construction almost impossible. They broke it down to the nuts and bolts—like how two staircases on a small lot could tank the whole project’s budget. That kind of specificity is what helps people realize: ‘oh, this policy is why my rent is so high.’ This is why there’s no new housing on my block.

If you win, what are you doing on day one to fix housing?

Nick: We’re facing a crisis. Renters are being priced out, and potential homebuyers are stuck. We need to fix this on every level: zoning reform, tax credits for affordable developers, a savings program for first-time buyers, predictable rent guidelines. It’s not rocket science. The policies exist. What we lack is political will.

You’ve said the incumbent is “absent.” What should a state senator be doing that she’s not?

Nick: It means being present. It means showing up, and being a fighter. Building coalitions that actually reflect the people who live here. I respect the work my opponent has done in the past, but she hasn’t led on major issues in decades. We need new energy. We need someone who understands how people communicate now, how they organize now, and who isn’t afraid to say, "I don’t know. Let’s figure it out together."

You’ve worked inside and outside of government. What’s the throughline for you?

Nick: I think a lot of people like to pit "old school politics" and "new school digital organizing" against each other, but I don’t buy it. I think part of that is just who I am. When I talk about coalition building, I mean it—welcome to the party. I'm glad you're here. If we’re going to win elections again, we have to start with that attitude. People aren’t just defaulting to Democrats anymore. Our approval rating is in the tank. So yeah, digital organizing matters—but so does asking people, honestly, how they feel. That’s where you start.

This district hasn’t had a contested primary since 1972. People are hungry for something different. They deserve it. And they’re not turning away from new forms of organizing—in fact, they’re ready for it. The salons proved that to me.

The core work is the same: get people together, make it fun, and fight for what actually matters.

Last thing—what’s your pitch to someone who’s totally burnt out on politics?

Nick: I'm a fighter. And I believe Illinois can lead the way if we start organizing like this is our moment. Because it is.

Follow Nick at https://nickforillinois.com/ or @nickforillinois on BlueSky, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or Facebook.

This Q&A edited for clarity and length. Any typos are 4D chess.