Christian Maxwell

Christian Maxwell is a University of Illinois Chicago graduate and a mother of four who began homeschooling in 2023.¹ Her campaign's personal timeline describes 2017 to 2019 as years focused on raising her family and building companies, followed by growing frustration with the effects of government policy on small businesses.¹

Her professional background is in marketing, brand development and business strategy, with more than a decade of experience.¹ Her public professional profile lists work managing financial aid at Moraine Valley Community College, followed by marketing roles at Mielle Organics and cofounding Studio Maxwell.² It also lists her as cofounder and curriculum director at Gud Mama Academy, beginning in 2024.²

Maxwell describes a gradual political shift: she says she did not vote for Trump in 2016, backed an independent for president in 2020 and voted for Trump in 2024.¹ She began speaking publicly about her views in December 2024 and decided to run for Congress in 2025, according to that account.¹

Her student loan proposal calls for payments capped at 5 percent of discretionary income and forgiveness after 20 years of payments.³ After 12 consecutive timely payments, her plan would erase that year's accrued interest and credit part of the interest paid toward principal.³ She also supports federal policing and witness protection grants, school funding transparency and parental notice and consent standards.⁴ She is challenging Democratic incumbent Jonathan Jackson in 2026.⁵