Julie Fortier

Julie Fortier grew up mainly in Colorado, graduated from high school near Cincinnati and joined the Air Force to help pay for college.¹ She met her husband at Scott Air Force Base, and they stayed in O'Fallon to raise their children.¹ She has built her life in Southern Illinois for more than 25 years.² In an interview, she pointed to O'Fallon's schools and community network as reasons her family chose to remain in the area.¹

Her four years in the Air Force included service in Germany and equipment and communications support in Qatar during Operation Desert Shield.¹ She completed a degree with biology and mathematics majors at McKendree, then earned a Ph.D. in biomedical science, specializing in research pathology, at Saint Louis University.¹

Her current work combines scientific writing with multiple myeloma research, helping other researchers obtain samples and analyzing proteins herself.¹ Her public biography also describes community volunteer work alongside her roles as a working parent and scientist.³ She is the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Congressman Mike Bost.⁴

Fortier supports affordable healthcare and protecting coverage for people with existing medical conditions.² Her platform includes union jobs, workforce training and infrastructure investment, along with reproductive rights and opposition to federal restrictions on personal healthcare decisions.² She calls for timely VA care and housing support for veterans.² She also supports a Supreme Court with at least 13 justices and term limits.¹