Campaign Experience
Campaigning for local, state, and federal level candidates across Illinois and Wisconsin
Ishaan Srivastava's involvement in political campaigns began at just 15 years old, when he joined the first campaign of Illinois State Representative Nabeela Syed. As a member of Students for Nabeela, he immersed himself in grassroots organizing — knocking on doors, speaking directly with voters, and engaging in field operations that gave him early exposure to the power of local political movements. Along the way, he met prominent leaders such as Speaker Chris Welch, Governor JB Pritzker, Vice President Kamala Harris, and many more — moments that reinforced his belief in public service and civic engagement.
Ishaan believes voters deserve real answers — not talking points.
Politics, for Ishaan, has never been something to observe from the sidelines. Since entering the political arena as a teenager, he has operated at the intersection of organizing, campaign strategy, and civic mobilization — building a track record across Illinois and Wisconsin that spans candidate work, voter engagement, and grassroots institution-building. From the ground level of local races to the rooms where statewide and national political figures convene, Ishaan has spent years doing the work that actually moves politics forward.
Committed to building the coalitions that actually move politics forward.
That work has taken him to some remarkable places and put him in the company of some of the most consequential political figures of this era. He has met and engaged with Vice President Kamala Harris, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Susan Crawford, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Governor Tony Evers — not as a spectator, but as a young political operator whose presence in those rooms reflects the seriousness with which he has approached this work from the beginning. These aren't name drops. They are markers of a political journey built deliberately and earned authentically.
"We need more young Democrats like Ishaan. If we are going to build the Democratic Party, we need everyone involved. Thank you @realishaansrivastava for all you do."
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois
On the campaign side, Ishaan has worked directly with and endorsed candidates across Illinois and Wisconsin whose campaigns reflect his values and commitment to progressive political change. He has endorsed and supported Holly Kim in her race for Illinois Comptroller, Saba Haider in Illinois House District 84, and Rep. Nicolle Grasse in Illinois House District 53 — backing candidates at multiple levels of the ballot who represent the next generation of Illinois political leadership.
His candidate work has also included a deep and sustained relationship with Illinois State Representative Nabeela Syed, one of the most exciting voices in Illinois progressive politics. In 2024, Ishaan returned to Rep. Syed's campaign as Chair of Students for Nabeela, leading the student outreach strategy for her successful reelection bid. In that leadership role, he organized student-centered events, oversaw communications that brought young voters into the fold, and helped coordinate a major organizing rally featuring activist David Hogg — one of the campaign's standout moments — from the ground up.
As a field representative, he knocked on over 1,000 doors and had countless conversations with constituents about the issues that mattered most to them, building trust and energy across the district.
Ishaan is committed to getting progressive candidates elected at every level of the ballot.
Wisconsin
His political organizing experience extends well beyond Illinois. In Wisconsin, Ishaan worked with the Wisco Project — a youth-led political initiative dedicated to student voter engagement — mobilizing students across college campuses and promoting candidates including Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Tammy Baldwin. He played a key role in organizing a student-led rally the night before the 2024 election, culminating in meaningful face-to-face moments with Vice President Harris, Senator Baldwin, and Governor Tony Evers.
As a Fellow with the Wisco Project, Ishaan has been part of an effort that has reached over 40,000 college voters — one of the most consequential and tangible contributions any young organizer can point to. In an era where youth voter turnout remains one of the defining challenges for progressive politics, that number represents real people engaged, real ballots cast, and real political power built.
Ishaan also contributed to the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, helping to turn out student voters in a high-stakes election with enormous implications for voting rights and civil liberties. He coordinated directly with local authorities to organize events that brought the judiciary closer to student populations and drove awareness of the court's impact on the issues young people care about most. Those efforts helped secure a successful outcome — with Susan Crawford elected to the bench.
Youth turnout isn't a nice-to-have. For Ishaan, it's the whole strategy.
2026
During the 2026 Illinois primary cycle, Ishaan emerged as a recognizable and respected independent voice in the state's political conversation. Through The Ishaan S. Show, he sat down with a broad range of primary candidates — asking the substantive, probing questions that cut through the noise and gave Illinois voters a genuine look at who was running and why. His coverage wasn't just prolific — it was credible. Candidates sought him out. Voters trusted him.
And when Ishaan did choose to offer an endorsement, it carried weight precisely because it wasn't given freely. His selective approach to endorsements reflects a core belief: that a political voice is only as valuable as the integrity behind it. The 2026 primary cycle marked a turning point — cementing his reputation not just as a media figure, but as a serious, independent force in Illinois politics.
Ishaan shows up — on the ground, on the stage, and everywhere in between.
The through line across all of it is a simple but serious conviction: that politics is too important to leave to people who treat it as a career move. Through each campaign, Ishaan has demonstrated a consistent commitment to mobilizing communities — especially young voters — to effect meaningful change. His work reflects a belief in organizing as both a strategic and relational process, one rooted in listening, trust, and action.
He approaches political work as a calling — one that has taken him from campaign offices to rally stages, from college campuses to the rooms where decisions get made. With each new campaign, he continues to build bridges between students, elected leaders, and the broader public, shaping a political future driven by energy, inclusivity, and purpose.
The conviction