Wheaton native Isobel Michaud is running unopposed in the Republican primary for DuPage County Board District 4, setting up a general election challenge to incumbent Democrat Mary FitzGerald Ozog in 2026.
“I care a lot,” Michaud told DuPage Policy Journal. “I’ve always seen myself as a person who cares and has stepped up into leadership positions when I’m asked and where I know I can make an impact.”
Michaud, a 28-year-old executive recruiter, formally announced her candidacy in August and has highlighted her local roots, professional background and community involvement as part of her campaign.
“Running for County Board District 4 is the latest iteration of that,” she said. “I’m focused on it as a civic duty. I am very excited for the opportunity to represent Republicans, conservatives and the younger generation in spaces where there really aren’t a whole lot of young voices. I’m very honored that I was asked and excited by the momentum so far.”
Michaud, a member of the DuPage Young Republicans, cited her involvement in leadership and civic engagement.
“I’ve always been involved,” she said. “In fourth grade, I was elected to our student council, and ever since, I have participated in local politics, whether through student senate in college or leading my family’s homeowners association in Maine, which I began at 18 and have been involved with for nearly 10 years. I have always been a history buff, understanding civic duty and recognizing that local decision-making ultimately has the greatest impact on daily life. Civic engagement has truly been a lifelong pursuit for me.”
Michaud said her age provides a different perspective in leadership roles.
“Every leadership position I have taken, I have lowered the median age by at least 20 years, sometimes more, depending on the group,” she said. “In these groups, I have had the opportunity to represent the hope that my generation cares and wants to be involved. Additionally, I bring energy that can tackle a variety of challenges and help develop innovative solutions.”
Michaud is seeking office as Republicans attempt to regain ground in DuPage County, which has shifted toward Democrats in recent years.
Republicans held a majority of countywide offices in DuPage County for decades. In 2020, Democrat Deb Conroy was elected county board chair.
Michaud said she believes voter participation remains a key factor.
“We’re very much a purple-red county, and people have just lost hope in it,” she said. “I’ve been looking at the math on this, and many people simply don’t vote. I believe good conversations help, and most people eventually warm up.”
She said her campaign has focused on direct engagement with voters.
“We live in an age where we are all online and on Zoom, and people no longer interact in normal ways,” Michaud said. “Even when I go door to door, there is sometimes a Ring device, and people speak to me through it, which can be unsettling. Restoring that human connection is something we all need. Door knocking has given me the opportunity to do that and to have meaningful conversations with people that are overwhelmingly positive and hopeful.”
Michaud said her campaign centers on the themes “Hope, Energy and Integrity.”
“People are concerned about…affordability, property taxes, security, safety,” she said. “Those are the biggest ticket issues. Now a lot of people also don’t know what the county does in relation to some of those, so it’s been a great opportunity to talk to people about what are some of the specific things the county can do.”
Her platform includes public safety, fiscal responsibility, small business support, and workforce development.
“Since 2021, I’ve seen our budget balloon,’ she said. “I believe the 2026 budget proposes around $650 million, and I’ve been reviewing these massive budget reports. Much of the money is not being spent effectively, so understanding our priorities and ensuring that spending is transparent is essential.”
She said community well-being is directly tied to how county funds are managed.
“We need to make sure the budget isn’t increased every year without justification,” Michaud said. “The inflation argument is not fair, and we owe it to taxpayers to use funds responsibly. Just as everyone balances their personal budgets to account for inflation, the county should do the same.”
Some critics have raised concerns about DuPage County’s $711,000 ARPA-funded grant program, which awarded funds to nonprofit organizations involved in climate advocacy, immigrant services and cultural initiatives. The program has prompted debate over spending priorities and transparency.
On public safety, Michaud said she supports additional resources for law enforcement.
“Supporting the sheriff’s office and ensuring security is essential,” she said. “Job development, growth and happy families matter little if people are not safe. At the state level, with legislation like the poorly named Safe- T Act, DuPage County has become more dangerous, and we need to acknowledge that. We must ensure that our officers are supported and able to keep the community safe.”
She said public safety influences where residents choose to live.
“Safety and security are also key reasons people move to DuPage from Cook County, and that is a priority I am firmly committed to,” Michaud said.
Michaud has served as an election judge for three years and said the experience shaped her views on election administration.
“I’ve been looking at the voter rolls, which I went down to the election office and got, and I found, just in my district, three people aged 125 on the voter rolls,” she said.
She said cleaning up the voter rolls is an easy job that has been neglected.
“There are tools you can use now to clean up data,” she said. “I think that’s an energy and integrity thing that I could bring to the task.”
Her comments come as DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek, a Democrat, is under investigation by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office over alleged misconduct related to election contracts. Kaczmarek has denied wrongdoing.
Michaud also stressed the importance of workforce development and preparing DuPage County for the future.
“Most of the people currently on the board are either close to retirement or have served for a long time,” she said. “I don’t believe they are considering what DuPage County will look like in 2035 or 2050.”
“In my personal and professional life as a headhunter for leading technology and biotech companies, I am always thinking about how the workforce will change and how to position people to continue learning. One of the biggest issues I doubt anyone else running for county board is considering is how to train a workforce for the next 25 to 50 years.”
She cited local educational institutions as part of that effort.
“How do we utilize resources like the College of DuPage, one of the best community colleges in the nation, to support trades and emerging AI skills that will be integrated into every sector, ensuring we are effectively developing people?” she said.
The DuPage County Republicans have publicly endorsed Michaud’s campaign.
“Isobel is a terrific, young GOP candidate running for DuPage County Board – District 4! Vote Michaud!” the party said in a Facebook post.
Michaud has also been a featured speaker at local party events, including the Bloomingdale Township Republican Organization, where organizers called her one of several “new faces” contributing to a mix of fresh and experienced candidates aimed at bolstering Republican representation in the county.
