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Across our community, families are feeling squeezed by rising costs, skyrocketing property taxes, concerns about public safety, and uncertainty about what comes next. At the same time, we’re seeing real threats to our democracy and our rights. Donald Trump and his allies are attacking civil rights, targeting immigrant communities, and undermining confidence in our elections. Illinois must be a counterweight as a place that stands up for fairness, dignity, and the rule of law.

My Priorities

Lowering Costs &amp; Building an Economy That Works for Everyone

Safe Communities Through Prevention, Partnership &amp; Accountability

Protecting Our Democracy &amp; Standing Up to Extremism

Housing People Can Afford &amp; Strong Neighborhoods

Strong Public Schools That Put Students First

Climate, Clean Water &amp; Infrastructure for the Future

<h4>Across our community, families are feeling squeezed by rising costs, skyrocketing property taxes, concerns about public safety, and uncertainty about what comes next. At the same time, we’re seeing real threats to our democracy and our rights. Donald Trump and his allies are attacking civil rights, targeting immigrant communities, and undermining confidence in our elections. Illinois must be a counterweight as a place that stands up for fairness, dignity, and the rule of law.</h4><h4>My priorities are grounded in protecting opportunity here at home and delivering practical results for this district. That means lowering everyday costs, keeping neighborhoods safe, strengthening public schools, and making sure people can afford to live and stay in their communities. It also means defending our democratic values and standing up for people when their rights are on the line.</h4>

Priorities List

<h2>Climate, Clean Water &amp; Infrastructure for the Future</h2><h4>Our district sits on the lakefront — climate resiliency, clean water, and sustainable growth are part of protecting our way of life.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/2aabb7ae-26f3-4eee-a6e6-6bf6eaf2f2be/2aabb7ae-26f3-4eee-a6e6-6bf6eaf2f2be.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=463%2C0%2C1508%2C1078&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="37" variant="framed">

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Climate

My priorities are grounded in protecting opportunity here at home and delivering practical results for this district. That means lowering everyday costs, keeping neighborhoods safe, strengthening public schools, and making sure people can afford to live and stay in their communities. It also means defending our democratic values and standing up for people when their rights are on the line.

Priorities

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<h2>Strong Public Schools That Put Students First</h2><h4>Every opportunity I’ve had traces back to a good public education. My wife spent five years as a public school teacher here in Chicago, so I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and challenges inside our classrooms. We need a school system that puts students at the center, supports great teachers, and uses resources responsibly.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/85983974-1f3d-4d0d-90c4-c4d182fb2861/85983974-1f3d-4d0d-90c4-c4d182fb2861.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=461%2C0%2C1601%2C1069&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="37.5" variant="framed">

Strong Public Schools

Events

I’m running for State Representative because this community has shaped my entire life and because too many families here are feeling the ground shift beneath them. The cost of living is rising faster than paychecks, housing is harder to afford, our immigrant neighbors are being targeted by Trump and his allies, and people want to know that their neighborhoods will remain safe and supportive. This is where my wife and I met, where we’re raising our son, and where I want every family to feel they can build a stable, secure future.My parents came to this country undocumented, without money or formal education, believing that hard work and opportunity could rewrite the future for our family. I grew up working in our family’s small business and saw up close what it takes to overcome barriers, navigate complicated systems, and keep going when the stakes are high.Today, I help run our family’s businesses, including here in the district, creating good-paying jobs and standing with the people who make our work possible. Being rooted in this community has shown me how closely state decisions affect everyday life and how important it is to have leaders who take that responsibility seriously.I’m running to bring those lived experiences to Springfield and to fight for a government that works for people, not against them. I want to make it easier to raise a family, open a business, afford a home, and trust that your neighborhood has the schools, safety, and infrastructure you deserve. This campaign is about protecting opportunity and ensuring every family has a real chance to thrive.

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<h2>Lowering Costs &amp; Building an Economy That Works for Everyone</h2><h4>I grew up working with my parents to build a small business from the ground up. Today, I help run that business, and I know what it takes to balance a budget, meet payroll, and keep a business afloat while creating good jobs. I’m proud that my employees have endorsed me&nbsp; because they’ve seen firsthand that I show up for people and they know I believe a strong economy is built when businesses and workers succeed together. In Springfield, I’ll work to grow our tax base, support local businesses, and strengthen the middle class by making Illinois a place where people want to live, work, and invest.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/99bdc7e2-db02-44e3-8da9-56d9d7a46b14/99bdc7e2-db02-44e3-8da9-56d9d7a46b14.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=471%2C0%2C1587%2C1078&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="37.5" variant="framed">

Lowering Costs

Issues Post

Karim is proud to have the support of the people who know him best and share his commitment to fairness, opportunity, and practical leadership.

Endorsements

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Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

Planned Parenthood Illinois Action

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Action

SEIU Illinois State Council

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Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC)

Teamsters Local 727

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Come meet Karim, ask questions, and learn more about his vision for the 12th District at an upcoming community event!

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Dozens of local organizations and leaders are standing together!

Karim is proud to be endorsed by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, organized labor, and leading advocates for immigrant rights and reproductive freedom.

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Meet Karim

<img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/ff9b3e41-3bee-4725-90b6-98829743e4f9/ff9b3e41-3bee-4725-90b6-98829743e4f9.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4112%2C6168&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="27" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h2>Meet Karim</h2><h3>I’m running for State Representative because this community is my home. It’s where my wife and I built our life, where we’re raising our son, and where we run a family business that’s part of the neighborhood.</h3><h3>I understand what this community is up against, and I’m running to be a representative who listens, works hard, and delivers real results.</h3>

<h4></h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/0e61c547-8ae6-4c39-b519-aca38172cf79/0e61c547-8ae6-4c39-b519-aca38172cf79.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2651%2C3024&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h4>My Story: Rooted in Resilience</h4>My parents came to this country undocumented from Pakistan with no formal education and no safety net — just the hope of a better life. Like many immigrant families, we built that life together. My weekends and summers were spent working in our family’s convenience store, stocking shelves, helping customers, and standing on a milk crate to run the register before I was tall enough to see over the counter.I learned how hard it is to start a business from nothing, how many barriers working families face, and how opportunity can change the course of a life. I also learned that success means little unless it lifts others up. Those lessons shaped me, from the classroom to the courtroom to the business I run today.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/9f508976-e873-4a35-98d4-4382fdba8932/9f508976-e873-4a35-98d4-4382fdba8932.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C960%2C640&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h4>Finding My Path</h4>After graduating summa cum laude from Cornell University, I returned home to help operate and grow Lakhani Hospitality, our family’s hotels, restaurants, and banquet venues that serve as gathering spaces for our community, hosting everything from bar mitzvahs to quinceañeras to Indian weddings. I went on to earn my law degree from Harvard Law School.Today, I balance practicing law with helping run the business. I know what it takes to meet payroll, balance a budget, and create good-paying jobs. I’ve built strong, collaborative relationships with organized labor, and I’m proud that my staff has endorsed me because they know I show up for them and stand with them.I’ve also worked to serve my community beyond the office. I served on Skokie’s Economic Development Commission, helping spur growth and attract investment. I currently serve on the boards of the Indo-American Democratic Organization, working to engage South Asian voters and help elect Democratic candidates, and the South Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, helping small business owners across the state thrive.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/d325b412-5b48-4570-965f-87b0e644d159/d325b412-5b48-4570-965f-87b0e644d159.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=480%2C0%2C1331%2C888&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h4>My Promise to You</h4>I’m running to protect the promise that brought my parents here — so anyone willing to work hard can build a better future. It's that future I hope to build for my son. In Springfield, I’ll fight for safer neighborhoods, lower costs, thriving small businesses, and responsible budgets that don’t put more burden on taxpayers.

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<h2>Safe Communities Through Prevention, Partnership &amp; Accountability</h2><h4>When I walk through our neighborhood with my son, I think about the world he’ll grow up in and what real safety looks like. It means holding people accountable when harm occurs, and it means investing in the supports, opportunities, and community strengths that make our neighborhoods safer and more stable for everyone.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/712072b3-39cc-4257-aa98-bd47196599f1/712072b3-39cc-4257-aa98-bd47196599f1.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=468%2C0%2C1593%2C1078&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="37.5" variant="framed">

Safe Communities

Fighting for a Stronger, Safer Chicago!

About

<h2>Protecting Our Democracy &amp; Standing Up to Extremism</h2><h4>My parents came to this country seeking safety and dignity, and as the son of undocumented immigrants, I grew up knowing how fragile rights and protections can feel. Today, we are seeing real threats to our democracy and our rights. Donald Trump and his allies are attacking civil rights, targeting immigrant communities, and undermining confidence in our elections. Illinois must be a counterweight as a place that stands up for fairness, dignity, and the rule of law. Defending our democracy is rooted in my family’s story and in the responsibilities we all share to protect the freedoms we’ve been given.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/229194d1-a103-4f4b-b325-3eec93dd1045/229194d1-a103-4f4b-b325-3eec93dd1045.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C288%2C412&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="37.5" variant="framed">

Protecting Our Democracy

<h2>Housing People Can Afford &amp; Strong Neighborhoods</h2><h4>This community has been my home for more than a decade. It’s where my wife and I met and fell in love and where we are now raising our son. Rising rents and property taxes are making it harder for families, young professionals, and seniors to stay in the neighborhoods they love. When we create more homes, we ease pressure on rents and help stabilize property taxes by growing the tax base. My focus is on expanding the housing options that match how people actually live and strengthening the long-term stability of our district.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/98a24a87-efc8-4e7d-b580-98101c85fb05/0fdf9177-53b1-450b-b469-cda688834c67/0fdf9177-53b1-450b-b469-cda688834c67.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=465%2C0%2C1604%2C1078&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="37.5" variant="framed">

Housing People Can Afford

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Every week, I’ll be visiting local coffee shops across District 12 to listen to your concerns, hear your ideas, and talk about how we can build a safer, more affordable, more thriving community — TOGETHER.

Coffee with Karim

Join us on January 8th at 6PM for our campaign office opening! Come meet Karim, have some refreshments, and learn how to get involved with the campaign!

Campaign Office Grand Opening

Join us on January 8th at 6PM for our campaign office opening! Come meet me, have some refreshments, and learn how to get involved with the campaign!

Join us on February 18th for Breaking Bread as we donate warm meals and serve our local community. We'll help serve food, chat with community members, and support the church’s efforts to serve the community.

Food Donation at LaSalle Street Church

Join us on February 18th for Breaking Bread, LaSalle Street Church's drop-in feeding program for hungry and unhoused folks in our neighborhood. We'll help serve warm food, chat with community members, and support the church’s efforts to serve the community.

Join us in Old Town for a community workshop on immigration, keeping neighbors safe, and supporting small businesses. We will learn from local community organizers and rapid response groups about your rights and the rights of small businesses. After the program, we will canvass small businesses.

Know Your Rights - Old Town

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Karim Lakhani Announces Campaign for Illinois State Representative in the 12th District

Join us at Hopsmith Tavern in the Gold Coast for a Happy Hour Edition of Coffee with Karim, the weekly series where I visit local businesses across District 12 to listen to your concerns, hear your ideas, and talk about how we can build a safer, more affordable, more thriving community — TOGETHER.

Coffee with Karim - Gold Coast - Happy Hour Edition

Coffee with Karim - Happy Hour Edition

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Join us in Lincoln Park for a community workshop on immigration, keeping neighbors safe, and supporting small businesses. We will learn from local community organizers and rapid response groups about your rights and the rights of small businesses. After the program we will canvass small businesses.

Know Your Rights - Lincoln Park

Join us in Lincoln Park for a community workshop on immigration, keeping neighbors safe, and supporting small businesses. We will learn from local community organizers and rapid response groups about your rights and the rights of small businesses. After the program, we will canvass small businesses.

Introducing Coffee with Karim — a new weekly series where we come together, NEIGHBOR to NEIGHBOR. Every week, I’ll be visiting local coffee shops across District 12 to listen to your concerns, hear your ideas, and talk about how we can build a safer, more affordable, more thriving community — TOGETHER.

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Petition Kickoff

Be part of the first step to getting our campaign on the ballot! Join Karim and fellow volunteers to gather signatures, meet neighbors, and share our vision for a stronger 12th District. We’ll start together, go out to talk with voters, and come back with the momentum we need to win.

Join us at Woodie's Flat in Old Town for a Happy Hour Edition of Coffee with Karim, the weekly series where I visit local businesses across District 12 to listen to your concerns, hear your ideas, and talk about how we can build a safer, more affordable, more thriving community — TOGETHER.