Gianno Caldwell mulls Senate bid as Chicagoans are ‘begging for change’ on crime woes
Gianno Caldwell mulls Illinois Senate campaign for Dick Durbin's open seat, focusing on law-and-order platform after a personal tragedy in Chicago.
Republican public safety advocate Gianno Caldwell is mulling a bid for the open Illinois Senate seat in 2026 amid growing conversations about crime in America’s cities.
Earlier this month, Caldwell was the keynote speaker at the Illinois Republican Party’s Republican Day event at the state fair, where he touted his record on law and order. Caldwell’s brother, Christian, was killed in 2022 in a Chicago drive-by shooting at the age of 18.
“I’ve been about this fight for many years, public service, I’ve worked in every level of government that you can imagine and certainly I think there’s time for a law-and-order U.S. Senate candidate to come to the forefront in Illinois,” said Caldwell, a Fox News contributor and founder of the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety.
“My brother’s legacy has become my mission and to save lives,” Caldwell said. “And if that’s something that I can continue in a U.S. Senate seat, that’s worth considering for the many lives that have been lost and the legacies that need to be furthered in the state of Illinois and my home city of Chicago.”
Caldwell’s hometown of Chicago is getting renewed attention as President Donald Trump wants to take National Guard and federal agent deployment to lower crime nationwide following the takeover of policing in Washington DC. Both cities have dealt with violent crime woes, which have led to teens and children dying in numerous tragic cases.
“My brother’s murder was something that I thought needed to have a conversation to address what has been going on in Chicago,” Caldwell said. “So this impacted me in a very deep and personal way. And when I think about what President Trump is doing by saying, ‘Look, we’re doing this in DC already. We want to take this to other places around the country, I applaud him. Why? Because people have been begging for change in the city of Chicago.”
Caldwell spoke even as a backlash has grown from Democrats who have said that the heavy law enforcement presence in the nation’s capital is over-the-top.
“American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican,” Mayor Muriel Bowser posted to X last week.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, is retiring in 2026, busting the race wide open on both sides of the aisle.
“The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term,” Durbin, 80, said in an April video.
<p><img width="640" height="400" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bala-Mohammed-.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Bala Mohammed" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bala-Mohammed-.jpg 640w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bala-Mohammed--300x188.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
<h2>The Bauchi State Governor, <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/topic/bala-mohammed/">Bala Mohammed</a>, has voiced the state government's solidarity with Senator Abdul Ningi in a show of support following his recent suspension from the Nigerian Senate.</h2>
<p>The controversy, stemming from Ningi's remarks regarding an untraceable N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget, has sparked significant debate and led to his three-month suspension on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Representing Bauchi Central senatorial district, Senator Ningi has been a vocal participant in the legislative process.</p>
<p>His comments, which aimed to highlight transparency concerns within the 2024 budget, led to his resignation as Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) amid the ensuing fallout.</p>
<p>The situation escalated when Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, cited a breach of privilege against Ningi during a Senate session.</p>
<p>Adeola's motion was prompted by Ningi's interview with the BBC Hausa, which called into question the accountability mechanisms in place for the forthcoming Money Bill.</p>
<p>Jimoh Ibrahim, another member of the Appropriation Committee, initially proposed a more severe twelve-month suspension for Ningi, citing allegations of criminal misinformation and a breach of peace within the National Assembly.</p>
<p>However, a compromise was reached when some senators advocated for a reduced suspension period of three months, which was subsequently ratified by the Senate.</p>
<p>Speaking during the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Bauchi, on Wednesday, Mohammed said, <em>“yesterday I was very sad the Senate suspended one of our best from Bauchi for saying the truth, for standing up to be the beacon of the truth.”</em></p>
<p>Mohammed, who is also the chairman PDP Governors’ Forum, said, <em>“Equally I don’t know what we will do but we will discuss privately to see what we can do to support him because I support whatever he is doing and that is our best position especially if what he saying is the truth."</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/03/13/we-stand-firmly-by-ningi-bauchi-governor-speaks-on-senate-suspension/">‘We Stand Firmly By Ningi’ – Bauchi Governor Speaks On Senate Suspension</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/people-walk-in-montreal-right-a-stack-of-canadian-cash.jpg?id=61420869&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=96%2C0%2C96%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Thinking about what it <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/cost-of-living" target="_blank">costs to live in Montreal</a>? Whether you're budgeting your next move, rethinking your spending, or just trying to make peace with your <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal-grocery-prices-quebec-stores" target="_blank">grocery bill</a>, it helps to have a clear picture of the essentials (and a few extras).</p><p>Using up-to-date data (as of July 2025), we've crunched the numbers to estimate what a single person needs to live reasonably in the city. This breakdown assumes you're living alone, and not in a luxury condo or a shoebox apartment with four roommates. It includes rent, transportation, food, and some breathing room for going out, staying caffeinated, and occasionally pretending you can afford to party.</p><p>With that in mind, here's where your money goes every month.</p><h3>Rent - $1,690</h3><br/><p>This is, by far, your biggest monthly expense. According to <a href="https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/montreal-qc" target="_blank">Zumper</a>, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Montreal is currently $1,690. That's for a decent place on the island — not necessarily Plateau glam, but definitely livable.</p><p>For context, the median rent across all bedroom counts and property types is $1,808, which is still about 7% lower than the national average. Montreal's rent remains more affordable than cities like Toronto or Vancouver, but prices here are creeping up fast. </p><h3>Groceries - $400</h3><br/><p>Everyone's food budget looks a little different, but a reasonable monthly estimate for one person is about $400. That works out to roughly $100 per week, which is enough to keep your pantry stocked with staples and maybe even a few luxury items (hello, $9 oat milk).</p><p>Whether or not you let things go bad in the fridge is up to you...</p><h3>Utilities - $99</h3><br/><p>Even after you've paid rent, you'll still need to keep the lights on, the water running, and the place warm in winter. <a href="https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Montreal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbeo</a>, the world's largest crowd-sourced database focused on cost of living, lists the average cost of monthly utilities for a one-bedroom apartment in the city at around $99. That includes electricity, heating, cooling, and water.</p><p>If you're living in an older building with electric baseboards or inefficient insulation, that number could spike in colder months. </p><h3>Internet - $60</h3><br/><p>You're going to want Wi-Fi for streaming, doomscrolling, and arguing on Reddit. Expect to pay around $60 per month for a standard plan, according to <a href="https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Montreal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbeo</a>.</p><h3>Phone plan - $55</h3><br/><p>Canada's phone plans are notoriously pricey, and Montreal is no exception. A typical mobile plan (with data) in Montreal costs about $55 per month, per <a href="https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Montreal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbeo</a>. You might be able to score a cheaper deal with a smaller provider, but that's the general ballpark.</p><h3>Transportation - $104.50</h3><br/><p>On July 1, the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/stm-new-fares-july-1" target="_blank">STM's unlimited monthly OPUS pass</a> for bus and metro travel across the island rose to $104.50 per month. If you're downtown and transit-dependent, this is likely your best option.</p><p>Now, if you have a car, that number goes way up when you consider the cost of gas and insurance </p><h3>Eating out - $200</h3><br/><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal-restaurants-hidden-gems-tourists" target="_blank">Montreal's restaurant scene</a> is one of the best in the country. Whether it's late-night poutine, $10 bánh mì, or a solid lunch special, dining out is part of the culture here.</p><p>And let's be honest, you're not going to cook every meal at home. <a href="https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Montreal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Numbeo</a> says the average restaurant meal costs $25. Assuming one or two outings per week (plus the odd $6 latte or $12 sandwich), $200 per month is a realistic budget for modest indulgence.</p><p>That's assuming you're being reasonable (no wine pairings or weekly tasting menus.)</p><h3>Partying - $120</h3><br/><p>A night out in Montreal doesn't always have to break the bank, but it can add up. If you go out a couple of times per month, expect to spend about $60 per night on drinks, cover, and tips. That works out to $120 a month, assuming you're not doing bottle service at Bord'elle every weekend.</p><p>Thankfully, the city's winter is harsh enough that it forces you to stay inside for a good chunk of the year.</p><h3>Fitness - $55</h3><br/><p>A mid-range gym membership in Montreal will cost you about <a href="https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Montreal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$55 per month</a>. That's for a spot with standard equipment, not boutique classes or fancy extras.</p><h3>Coffee - $65</h3><br/><p>Assuming you grab a basic $3 coffee on most weekdays, that's roughly $15 per week, or $65 per month. Good coffe is easy to come by in Montreal, so it's easy to justify this expense — just maybe don't start every day with a $7 matcha.</p><h3>Extras - $100</h3><br/><p>Life happens. Haircuts, Ubers, prescription meds, toilet paper, birthday dinner, umbrellas. A $100 monthly cushion should cover most of the random but inevitable stuff that doesn't fit neatly into a category.</p><h2>Grand total: $2948.50 per month</h2><p>So what's the takeaway? Living solo in Montreal in 2025 isn't exactly cheap, but it's still more manageable than in cities like Toronto or Vancouver. In fact, according to a <a href="https://iris-recherche.qc.ca/publications/revenu-viable-2025/" target="_blank">May report from the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS)</a>, the minimum after-tax income needed to live with dignity in Montreal jumped to $40,084 (after tax) in 2025.</p><p>So, if you're earning under $3,000 a month, budgeting gets tight fast. And while your actual spending will depend on your habits and neighbourhood, this breakdown offers a realistic snapshot of what it takes to live comfortably without constantly saying no to lattes, nights out, or decent Wi-Fi.</p><p>The good news? With some planning (and maybe a roommate), Montreal is still one of the more liveable big cities in Canada. Just don't forget to factor in the fun stuff — otherwise, what's the point of living here?</p>
