Neil Khot, a community activist and business owner running for the US Congress from the 8th District, recently released a wideranging ad to gain visibility in a crowded race. The District 8 seat is being vacated by long time, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi who is making a bid for the US Senate seat from Illinois.
Since he declared his run a few months ago, Khot has presented himself as “not a career politician,” and hopes that message will resonate with constituents. At least 8 Democratic candidates are running in the March 17, 2026, primaries for this District 8 seat, among them, another Indian American Sanjyot Dunung, and other South Asian-origin hopefuls.
A first-generation American, Khot’s campaign website says, “Neil is running for Congress because he’s fed up with watching the people who built this country get squeezed by high costs and ignored by politicians in Washington. He’s not looking for a title; he’s looking to take his experience as a fighter for this community to Congress and finally deliver the results our community deserves.”
The Federal Election Commission website shows Khot has total receipts of $750,792 of which his individual contributions equal more than half at $374,845. His ‘operating expenditures total $247,459, and his cash on hand as of September 30, 2025, were at $495, 606. Khot has a big challenge ahead of him going into the primaries. His life experience shows he picks himself up from his bootstraps and could rise to that challenge.
Neil Khot’s advertizing campaign for the run for US Congress from Illinois’ 8th District. PHOTO: Screenshot from YouTube video.
On Jan. 14, 2026, he announced the launch of a six-figure paid media campaign anchored by broadcast television advertising across the Chicago media market, with additional placements on cable, streaming, and digital video platforms.
The campaign’s first television ad is now airing and can be viewed online on YouTube. The ad introduces Khot as a first-generation immigrant, small business owner, and community advocate “who has spent his life giving back to the community that gave him everything.” The spot highlights Khot’s personal connection to the issues facing families in the district, including caring for seniors, the rising cost of living, and ensuring communities are treated with dignity and respect.
“This campaign is about making sure voters know who I am and what I’ll fight for,” Khot says. “I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is for seniors to navigate our healthcare system, how working families are being squeezed by rising costs, and how immigrant communities are being targeted instead of supported. I’m running to be a voice for people who feel like Washington isn’t listening.”
Neil Khot, candidate for US Congress from Illinois’ 8th District meeting Santita Jackson, daughter of renowned civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. PHOTO: neilforcongress.com
In mid-December, Santita Jackson, the daughter of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, endorsed Khot.
Born in Belgaum, India, into a lower-middle-class family, Khot lost his father at a young age and was raised by a single, widowed mother “whose unwavering courage became the foundation of his life.” He arrived in the US in December 1997 with $300 in his pocket, the campaign website says.
“He knows what it means to start from the bottom and chase a dream with nothing but grit. Through hard work, he built successful socially responsible businesses that created hundreds of jobs across Illinois,” his campaign website says.
His mother’s health care needs as she became a senior familiarized him with the complexities of the Medicare system and high cost of care.
“For Neil, giving back isn’t a campaign slogan – it’s a way of life,” his campaign says. Plus, it emphasizes his opposition to use of security federal forces in cities and ICE members on the streets. He accuses Republicans in the House of Representatives of surrendering their powers to the President, and he hopes to become a bulwark against that.
