South Cook News

Senate District 19 candidate Samantha Gasca has a deeply personal connection to the fentanyl crisis. Gasca, who is running on a platform that includes aggressive measures against illegal immigration and crime, said she plans to take on the fentanyl crisis if elected. 

“My cousin through marriage died from a fentanyl overdose just six months ago,” Gasca told South Cook News. “We had her memorial in June. This issue is profoundly personal for me.” 

Gasca’s grief over her cousin's death fuels her resolve to address what she describes as a critical crisis exacerbated by bad border policy.

“I am 100% on board with closing down the borders and deporting individuals who have committed crimes,” she said. “I know it might not seem realistic, but I stand behind what I believe is right, even if the path is challenging.”

In 2022, Cook County set a new record with 2,000 opioid overdose deaths, primarily driven by fentanyl, which was involved in over 91% of cases, with the majority of victims being male and disproportionately African American.

Gasca’s campaign highlights a strong stance on tightening border controls, which she argues is essential in combating the drug crisis.

“From 2014 to 2018, government data showed that 65% of illegal substances entering the U.S. came through the Southwest border,” she said. “It had to be obvious that this would exploit a problem. The numbers were there, and it’s been clear for years.”

Gasca has been outspoken on the issue of illegal immigration previously, calling for increased transparency regarding undocumented immigrants in Illinois and urging Governor J.B. Pritzker to release detailed data on their numbers, health screenings, criminal background checks and locations.

Critics argue that the Biden Administration's "Open Border" policies have created an environment in which drug cartels can flourish. As Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for the presidency, former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have attacked her for alleged mismanagement of border policies during her tenure as the Biden administration's "border czar," amid the arrival of 10.5 to 13 million undocumented immigrants.

In discussing broader issues related to illegal immigration and its impact on local communities, Gasca expressed concern over tax increases and their disproportionate effects on minority neighborhoods. 

“In areas heavily impacted by illegal immigration, like certain parts of Chicago, property taxes have skyrocketed,” she said. “I spoke to a woman whose taxes jumped from $783 to $5,083. This is not just about numbers; it’s about real people being pushed out of their homes.”

Meanwhile, Illinois’ free Medicaid program for undocumented immigrants, initially projected to cost $2 million annually, was set to cost nearly $1 billion a year in 2023 due to several expansions, with the state only allocating $300 million for that fiscal year. 

Democratic leaders, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, have defended the spending.

Gasca, who is the first Latina to be nominated in the 19th Senate District, also noted that local Democrats have been speaking down to community members who have complained about the significant increases in property taxes in south Cook County. 

“People act like they're invalids, like minorities are invalids—like we're idiots,” she said. “Like we can't understand the concept and that's what I noticed, how they were being spoken to by those in charge at those meetings, like they're total complete idiots.”

Reflecting on her experience, Gasca critiqued the current political landscape, accusing some leaders of failing to address pressing issues honestly. 

“I feel like voices like mine are marginalized because we challenge the status quo,” she said. “There’s a tendency to silence those who speak out against the prevailing narrative.”

Gasca, who holds two masters degrees as well as coursework towards a doctorate, pointed to new technologies being developed for fentanyl detection, but added that those options are nullified by bad policy. 

“As a former scientist, I researched various methods for detecting fentanyl, including using electrical currents to identify chemical components,” she said. “Recent advancements involve sensors embedded in gloves that detect fentanyl through oxidation. This represents a promising step, but I believe more research and funding are needed to enhance these technologies.”

Gasca, who herself worked on gain-of-function and recombinant DNA technology as a researcher, is also critical of current government practices and what she perceives as a lack of transparency.

“There’s a lot of manipulation in research,” she said. “During my academic career, I found that statistics are often twisted to fit certain agendas. For instance, the claim that 97% of drugs entering the U.S. are seized is not quantifiable. You can’t account for what isn’t seen."

Indeed, recent research has revealed that up to 34% of neuroscience papers and 24% of medical papers from 2020 may be fabricated or plagiarized, highlighting a significant rise in fake scientific publications.

That includes the bombshell paper "The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2" used to push the theory that Covid-19 was naturally occurring in pangolins rather than a product of a lab. 

During a Senate hearing, Tulane University scientist Dr. Robert Garry faced scrutiny for receiving millions in NIH grants while co-authoring the 2020 article that aimed to discredit the Covid-19 lab-leak theory, with accusations of scientific misconduct and claims of contributing to the suppression of alternative viewpoints. 

Despite Garry’s defense that he was simply presenting scientific opinions, critics argue that his involvement in the controversy has eroded public trust in scientific and government institutions. Nearly three years after Garry’s paper, in 2023, the Department of Energy and the FBI both noted the virus likely originated in a lab. 

Gasca emphasized her commitment to integrity and accountability in government. 

“I believe in holding leaders to a high standard of character,” she said. “It’s about being honest and decent, not perfect, but genuinely committed to the truth and the public good.”

She noted that group does not include her opponent State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort), who has had several run-ins with police over domestic violence. 

“The governor asked him to step down, and he neglected to have the honor and integrity to do so,” she said. “So that compels people to ask survivors of domestic violence, like myself, to step up and do something about it.” 

Gasca, with a diverse background in radio, counseling, and business, previously served as Radio Program Content Coordinator and Data Analyst at Moody Radio for six years and now runs multifaceted venture, God Heard LLC, which provides pastoral counseling, life coaching, and business consulting services.

Senate District 19 includes all or parts of Lockport, New Lenox, Mokena, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Homer Glen, Joliet, Richton Park, University Park, Matteson, Homewood, Flossmoor, Park Forest, Olympia Fields, Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest, Markham and Oak Forest.

District 19 is currently held by Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort).