CHICAGO — With next year’s midterm elections setting up a possible generational shift for Illinois’ representation in Washington, candidates and their supporters are on the streets collecting the petition signatures needed to secure a place on the March primary ballots. A slew of candidates are vying for four U.S. House seats being vacated by veteran members of Congress — two of whom are retiring, while the other two are seeking to become Illinois’ next U.S. senator.

The fourth House seat officially opened up when 83-year-old U.S. Rep. Danny Davis announced in late July that he would not seek a 16th term representing a district that stretches from downtown Chicago through the West Side and into the near-west suburbs. Davis’ long-anticipated decision came after 81-year-old U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s May announcement that she wouldn’t run for another term in the seat she’s held since 1999, representing much of the north and northwest suburbs.

The wave of retirements began in late April, with 80-year-old U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s announcement that he wasn’t seeking a sixth term. That created a domino effect for the congressional delegation when two incumbents — U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg — declared their interest in Durbin’s seat.

All four districts are held by Democrats, meaning the Democratic primary races will be the key ones to watch. But Republicans will also be making runs for the seats, hoping to flip at least one and help the GOP hold onto its razor-thin majority in the House. The primary for both parties will be held on March 17.

Politicians still have time to throw their hats into the ring as petition signatures don’t have to be turned in until early November. But here are the top candidates — those who already hold elected office or are among the top fundraisers so far — for the House next year in Illinois.

2nd Congressional District

Stretching from 43rd Street on Chicago’s South Side along the Indiana border south to downstate Danville, Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District has been represented by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly since 2013. Next year, voters will decide whether to elevate a new leader or help a familiar face stage a political comeback. Here are those so far vying to replace Kelly, who told the Tribune in May that she did not plan to endorse her successor.

Donna Miller, Democrat

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller entered the Democratic primary race for 2nd Congressional District on July 9 after earlier announcing an exploratory committee made up of south suburban mayors.

A Lynwood resident and Chicago native, Miller is in her second term as 6th District commissioner on the Cook County Board. Miller is also vice president of the Illinois Democratic Women organization, former president of the Democratic Women of the South Suburbs, and past board chair of Planned Parenthood of Illinois and its political action committee.

“My great-grandfather was a Pullman Porter; he helped build the Black middle class,” Miller said in a video announcing her candidacy. “My grandmother, mother and sister were all teachers, and my dad wore this country’s uniform his entire career. I’ve carried that legacy forward. On the Cook County Board, I’ve worked to expand health care access, lower costs and deliver better care — especially for women and communities of color.”

Miller said she’s running for Congress because “Washington is tearing up so much of our progress for working families and giving tax breaks to billionaires.”

Robert Peters, Democrat

A South Side native and community organizer, state Sen. Robert Peters of Chicago received an early endorsement from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont after Peters announced his intent to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat. That gave him an early leg up with progressives in the district.

“I have a record and I have a personal narrative that I think really touches on where we’re at right now,” Peters recently told the Tribune. The 40-year-old was born deaf and with a speech impediment, and he was influenced by his adoptive father’s work as a civil rights lawyer.

More recently, Peters led efforts to pass the law ending bail for nonviolent crimes and measures to ensure protections for abortion rights in Illinois after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

A member of the legislature since 2019, Peters is a part of the Senate Democrats’ leadership team and the Legislative Black Caucus.

Jesse Jackson Jr., Democrat

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in July created an exploratory committee on running in the 2nd Congressional District, the seat he held for almost 17 years before resigning amid a corruption probe.

Jackson has formed an exploratory committee and said in a statement that it was his “intention to secure a place on the ballot.”

The son of civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson and brother of U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned the 2nd District seat in 2012. He had been reelected just weeks earlier despite the revelation a month before the vote that he was under investigation by federal prosecutors and the FBI for possible misuse of campaign funds.

The following year, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire and mail fraud and was later sentenced to 30 months in prison.

He now hosts a talk show on WVON-AM.

Willie Preston, Democrat

State Sen. Willie Preston of Chicago filed paperwork in July to run for 2nd Congressional District seat.

In a statement, Preston said Washington needs “a new breed of leadership, not Twitter champions or the politics of the past dressed up in redemption.”

Preston serves as the state Senate chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Yumeka Brown, Democrat

A three-term village clerk of Matteson and a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board, Yumeka Brown told the Southtown she is seeking to replace Kelly because she wants to “elevate the mission in Congress to protect Medicaid, Social Security, the rights of women, and to guard against (President) Donald Trump’s planned destruction of the Affordable (Care) Act.”

Brown has been village clerk in south suburban Matteson, Kelly’s hometown, since 2017 and was elected to the MWRD post in 2022. Last year, she unsuccessfully sought an appointment from fellow Democrats to replace Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough on the November ballot after the longtime party stalwart died while in office.

Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin also formed an exploratory committee to run for Kelly’s seat.

Others who have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission stating their interest in running for the congressional seat were Democrats Adal Regis, who worked in Kelly’s district office on grants, Eric France, a management consultant, and Jeremy Young, a former aide to Miller. On the Republican side, Ashley Ramos, who was the GOP nominee for the 2nd Congressional District seat in 2024, Calvin Coleman, who originally declared as a third-party candidate but later switched his affiliation, and Michael Scott Noack have put their names in contention, as has independent candidate Ashley Banks of Chicago.

7th Congressional District

Beginning in Chicago’s downtown and heading through the city’s West Side and into the western suburbs, including Oak Park and Hillside, Illinois’ 7th Congressional District has been represented by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis since 1997. In announcing he was not running for reelection next year, Davis endorsed state Rep. LaShawn Ford of Chicago. Including Ford, here is a look at those looking to succeed Davis.

La Shawn Ford, Democrat

State Rep. La Shawn Ford of Chicago got an early boost in the race, with Davis endorsing his longtime Springfield ally as he announced his own retirement.

At a joint news conference, Ford called Davis’ endorsement “a strong affirmation of our shared mission to uplift and empower the people we serve.”

“This campaign isn’t just about securing your vote. It’s about sending a firm message against ‘Make America Hate Again,’” Ford said, altering Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. “This agenda and the policies voted by many Republicans is harmful. We will boldly defend and expand civil rights, human rights and the dignity of every person in our state.”

A state representative since 2007, Ford is chair of the committee covering appropriations for higher education and an advocate for allowing hemp businesses to continue operating with regulations, ending ticketing in schools and bringing a supervised site for people using drugs to the West Side.

In 2012, Ford faced a 17-count federal indictment alleging he lied about money he spent on a real estate rehab that resulted in him underpaying taxes by nearly $3,800. But in 2014, federal prosecutors dropped all felony counts without explanation and Ford pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor tax charge. He was sentenced to six months’ probation, ordered to pay back taxes and perform community service. Ford has said that after he paid off the tax required by the court order, he later, in 2014, received a U.S. Treasury check for $3,793, refunding the amount. He displayed a copy of the check to a Tribune reporter.

Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Democrat

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is taking another run at the 7th Congressional District seat after losing to Davis by more than 30 percentage points two years ago, taking second among a field of five candidates that also included progressive activist Kina Collins, who gave the veteran congressman a relatively close race in 2022.

A lifelong resident of the district, Conyears-Ervin was first elected city treasurer in 2019 and won a second term in 2023 after previously serving a single full term in the Illinois House. She and her husband, Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, are a political power couple on the city’s West Side.

“If you send me to Congress to fight for you, I’ll never give up until they are the ones that throw in the towel,” Conyears-Ervin said in her campaign announcement. “Those landlords? They’re going to pay to fix those properties. Those billionaires? They’re going to pay their fair share in taxes to fix our roads and our schools. And Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans? I will stand up to them because I work for you, not them.”

Conyears-Ervin has had to fend off allegations she violated the city ethics code by improperly firing two employees, among other accusations. City ethics officials later fined her a total of $70,000.

Richard Boykin, Democrat

A onetime Davis chief of staff who is still close with the congressman, former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, filed July 10 to run in the primary for his ex-boss’s seat.

Boykin has been searching, so far unsuccessfully, for a way back into elected office since losing his 1st District County Board seat by fewer than 500 votes in the 2018 Democratic primary to now-Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The Oak Park resident finished third in 2020’s four-way primary race for Cook County Circuit Court clerk and lost by more than 50 percentage points in his 2022 primary bid to unseat Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, with whom he clashed as a leader of the push to repeal the county’s short-lived pop tax. Boykin mulled a run for Cook County state’s attorney last year but never entered the race.

Boykin told the Tribune he brings to the job both experience getting things done in Washington and a record of serving his constituents. “People are losing what they believe is the American dream. They can’t attain it,” he said. “So I’m running for them.”

Jason Friedman, Democrat

Business owner Jason Friedman, who has never held public office, is the former president of Friedman Properties. The company, which was started by his father, Albert, is a major Chicago development firm that has built properties in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, which is part of the 7th Congressional District.

Rory Hoskins, Democrat

The two-term mayor of Forest Park, Rory Hoskins, leads a near-west suburb that lies entirely within the 7th Congressional District. Prior to becoming mayor in 2019, Hoskins was a village commissioner from 2007 to 2015.

A Texas native, Hoskins was elected from the 7th Congressional District as a delegate for Joe Biden to the 2020 and 2024 Democratic National Conventions. He made an unsuccessful bid in 2023 to be appointed to the Cook County Board seat vacated by Brandon Johnson after he was elected mayor of Chicago.

“I’m running for Congress because I believe the kind of progress we’ve made in Forest Park — revitalizing our business corridors, improving public safety, and strengthening partnerships across communities — can serve as a model for what’s possible at the national level,” Hoskins said in a statement on his campaign website.

Anthony Driver, Democrat

Union leader and political strategist Anthony Driver entered the race in early August, telling supporters in a text message announcement that he is “running for Congress in Illinois because we need more fierce advocates for justice.”

Driver, a South Side native, is president of Chicago’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, the city’s latest attempt at police oversight. In his day job, Driver is the executive director of the Illinois State Council for the politically powerful Service Employees International Union.

In his campaign announcement, he touted his work advocating for the city’s $15 per hour minimum wage and for a new model of civilian oversight for the Chicago Police Department.

Thomas Fisher, Democrat

Dr. Thomas Fisher, an emergency physician at the University of Chicago and author, said he entered the 7th Congressional District race, in part, to address differences in life expectancy between the wealthiest and poorest parts of the congressional district. In addition to his work as a physician, Fisher served as a White House Fellow in the Department of Health and Human Services during President Barack Obama’s administration, where he said he worked on reducing racial and ethnic health disparities.

Others who have filed paperwork with the FEC stating their interest in running for the congressional seat were Democrats John McCombs, Kamaria Kali, Jerico Brown, Danica David Leigh and Tekita Martinez. As of early August, no Republicans had filed federal paperwork to seek the 7th District seat.

8th Congressional District

A mostly northwest suburban district that goes north and west of Carpentersville and dips as far east and south as Rosemont, the 8th Congressional District has been represented by U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi since 2017. With Krishnamoorthi running for Senate, here are the main candidates looking to succeed him.

Kevin Morrison, Democrat

Once the first openly LGBTQ+ and youngest-ever commissioner elected to the Cook County Board, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison of Mount Prospect announced in May he’d run to succeed Krishnamoorthi.

“I believe in advancing policies that support families, and that everybody deserves a fair shot to get ahead,” he said in his campaign announcement.

Morrison snagged the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen of the 17th Congressional District, the commissioner posted on social media.

Yasmeen Bankole, Democrat

Hanover Park Trustee Yasmeen Bankole once served as a staffer in the office she’s now running to lead, working as a congressional aide to Krishnamoorthi during Trump’s first term, according to her campaign.

The Hanover Park native also worked for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin for six years, she said in a campaign video.

“I’ve seen what’s possible when you put the people of Illinois first every day,” she said.

Others who have filed paperwork with the FEC stating their interest in running for the congressional seat were Democrats Junaid Ahmed, a technology business owner who ran against Krishnamoorthi previously; Dan Tully, an attorney and Army veteran; Christ Kallas; small-business CEO Neil Khot; Joseph Wentzel of Hanover Park; Ryan Vetticad of South Barrington and entrepreneur Sanjyot Dunung. Dunung served on the National Small Business Association’s board of directors and on President Joe Biden’s Foreign Policy Working Group focused on international trade. Ahmed has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California.

On the Republican side, Mark Rice, who has also previously challenged Krishnamoorthi, is also planning to run.

9th Congressional District

From Graceland Cemetery on Chicago’s North Side and running north to Wilmette and then snaking north and west to Crystal Lake, the 9th Congressional District has been represented by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky since 1999. Schakowsky said earlier this year she will retire at the end of her term. Schakowsky, as of mid-June, had not endorsed any candidates to succeed her and a person familiar with her decision-making told the Tribune she’s not intending to provide any endorsements in the race as she wants an open primary. Here are the main candidates looking to succeed her.

Kat Abughazaleh, Democrat

Progressive content creator Kat Abughazaleh is hoping to use her massive online audience and unconventional brand to earn the 9th Congressional District seat in Congress.

The 26-year-old newcomer to Illinois got a head start on fundraising, bringing in more than $375,000 in the first weeks of her campaign on a pitch to run a different kind of race, based on mutual aid efforts. She’s also advocated for free child care and expanding Social Security.

“People think that this campaign is really online, because that’s what my background is,” she told the Tribune. “But this is about our ground game.”

“I know that might sound idealistic, but I don’t care,” she added.

Bushra Amiwala, Democrat

Bushra Amiwala, who became one of the first Gen Z elected officials in the United States when she joined the Skokie School District 73.5 board, is now eyeing a seat in Congress.

Amiwala sees herself as “a fresh perspective from a familiar face,” she told the Tribune before she officially announced her candidacy. The Skokie native works at Google and recently graduated from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a master’s degree in business administration, according to her campaign.

Daniel Biss, Democrat

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss previously served for eight years in the General Assembly and unsuccessfully campaigned for governor in 2018, losing the Democratic primary race to now-Gov. JB Pritzker.

The second-term mayor immediately vaulted into a competitive fundraising position after his congressional campaign announcement last month, reporting he raised $350,000 in the first day. He’s also been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove.

“I think people are looking for solutions. I think people are looking for someone who can demonstrate the ability to actually use government to improve people’s lives and create change and break through the cynicism,” Biss, a former assistant professor at the University of Chicago, told the Tribune. Trump’s election, he added, was a reflection of people who have ”given up and they figure government’s not going to fix any problems.”

Laura Fine, Democrat

Democratic state Sen. Laura Fine, of Glenview, has represented the area since 2013, the last six years as a state senator.

Now, she’s campaigning on her experience with health insurance issues, after she turned a family hardship into years working on legislation.

Fine’s husband, Michael, lost one of his arms in a near-fatal car crash in 2010, she said in an interview. She traces her entry into politics to the ensuing struggle with insurance companies.

“I made taking on big insurance my life’s work, and I feel like I didn’t let them ruin my family, and I was not going to let them ruin any others,” she said.

Fine has also racked up endorsements from at least 10 other members of the General Assembly in the first several weeks of her campaign.

Hoan Huynh, Democrat

Two-term state Rep. Hoan Huynh, who represents a North Side district that includes the Uptown neighborhood in Chicago, surprised many observers in 2022 when he emerged victorious from a five-way Democratic primary battle to replace retiring Illinois House Majority Leader Greg Harris.

A political newcomer at the time, Huynh was up against a field that included establishment pick Eileen Dordek, a social worker and community activist who received contributions from many traditional party allies and even had Pritzker knocking on doors for her campaign. But Huynh ran a strong grassroots campaign and, in a state House district with a substantial Asian American population, had key backing from state Rep. Theresa Mah, who in 2016 became the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly.

Born on a refugee base in Vietnam, Huynh immigrated to the U.S. with his family in the early 1990s and went on to an Ivy League education, earning a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s from Harvard University.

“I’m running because I believe the people of this district deserve a representative in Congress who understands the challenges working families face and who won’t stop fighting for a future where everyone has a fair shot,” Huynh, who would give up his seat in Springfield in a bid for the U.S. House, wrote in a social media post.

Mike Simmons, Democrat

State Sen. Mike Simmons, a Rogers Park resident and the first openly gay member of the Illinois state Senate, told the Tribune he’s “running because the communities in the 9th District have raised me, and they’re struggling.”

Simmons’ parents were small business owners and in the 1980s were one of the first Black families to move into the North Side’s Lincoln Square neighborhood, he said. He founded a consultancy that “develops anti-racist public policy,” according to his Illinois General Assembly biography, and has held policy positions for elected officials, including former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The 42-year-old said he plans to help families who feel priced out of the district. As a legislator, he’s been an advocate for public transit and in an interview highlighted his work to erase medical debt.

“I symbolize everything that Donald Trump is trying to erase right now, but the point that’s really important is that this is going to be about so much more than Donald Trump. It’s going to be about talking about those (affordability) struggles,” he said.

First appointed to his seat in 2021 and elected twice since then, Simmons isn’t up for reelection until 2028, so he could keep the Senate seat if he doesn’t win in the congressional race.

Democrat Nick Pyati, a former federal prosecutor and former strategist at Microsoft, entered the race for the 9th Congressional District after most recent fundraising quarter ended, but his campaign said he raised more than $140,000 in the first day of his campaign. Democrat Bruce Leon, a businessperson and Cook County Democratic Party committeeman who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Chicago Public Schools board last year, said he’s running as a centrist option, including keeping support for the U.S. military, law enforcement and Israel among his top issues.

Democrats Phil Andrew, a retired FBI special agent and crisis negotiator, Miracle Jenkins, who worked for Schakowsky as a deputy political director in 2018, Chicago resident David Abrevaya, Evanston resident Bethany Johnson, graduate student Lauren Million, civil rights attorney Howard Rosenblum and Justin Ford of Chicago and Jill Manrique, a former board member in Niles Township High School District 219, have also filed paperwork to run, along with Republicans Mark Su and Rocio Cleveland.

Campaign finance reports filed in July showed Leon loaned his campaign $610,000, while Amiwala raised about $199,000 and kept more than $191,000 on hand.

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