Latest news with #2ndCongressionalDistrict
Chicago Tribune
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
As political petition passing begins, Illinois Democrats have flood of candidates; Republicans have a trickle
More than seven months before votes are cast, Illinois' 2026 political campaign season officially kicks off this week as candidates for federal, state and county offices fan out across the state to gather petition signatures to appear on the March 17 primary ballot. The Tuesday launch date to begin gathering voter signatures is a month earlier this year due to legislation approved last year that also advanced the date for candidates to file their petitions to Oct. 27, rather than the end of November. It's the latest chapter in an unusual midterm election cycle that has seen veteran federal lawmakers announce their retirements at the end of their terms in January 2027, creating open-seat races for U.S. Senate, four congressional seats and state comptroller, as well as several legislative seats, as politicians aspire to climb the political ladder. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's decision to retire after five terms has prompted U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a five-termer from Schaumburg, and Robin Kelly, a six-term lawmaker from Matteson, to seek the Democratic nomination to succeed him. That primary race also includes Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Adding to Kelly's open 2nd Congressional District seat and Krishnamoorthi's 8th Congressional District seat are the retirement announcements of 14-term, 81-year-old U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston in the 9th Congressional District and 15-term, 83-year-old U.S. Rep. Danny Davis of Chicago in the 7th Congressional District. Those open seats in reliably Democratic districts have triggered a rush of candidates competing in the primaries, where winning will almost certainly lead to victories in the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. At least 62 candidates have already announced their intentions to run for the five federal offices, 47 of them Democrats, portending a raucous primary season as they seek to gain attention and differentiate themselves before prospective voters. Add to that at least three Democrats vying for the open statewide office of comptroller created by incumbent Susana Mendoza's decision not to seek reelection as she pursues a likely 2027 mayoral run. Robin Johnson, a political strategist and political science professor at Monmouth College in far western Illinois, said the allure of an open seat is an obvious factor for the deluge of candidacy announcements. But he said other factors are in play. 'I think it's pent-up demand due to open seats, but I also think it's due to the generational battle within the Democratic Party and the ideological battle within the Democratic Party that's bringing out a lot of people who might not ordinarily consider running,' Johnson said. 'They're looking at the success of Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayoral Democratic candidate,' he said of the 33-year-old democratic socialist. 'Some of these candidates are drawing their beginnings back to (Vermont Sen.) Bernie Sanders, were motivated by his first (Democratic presidential) race in 2016,' he said of the generational change movement. In addition, Johnson cited as a motivating factor an ideological battle spawned by President Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress that pits 'those Democrats who are the resistance part of the party and the others who are still trying to get things done and compromise where they can to get things done.' Not all of the announced candidates will file petitions or make the ballot amid petition challenges filed by rivals. But Johnson also warned that large fields of candidates seeking a specific office can lead to a nominee achieving far below a majority of votes, forcing them to try to unify a disparate base. 'The question is going to be, is this (large number of candidates) just a one-timer as a result of incumbents retiring and the raging debates going on within the Democratic Party, or is this ideological and generational divide going to continue?' he asked. While Democrats have seen a flood of candidate announcements, for Illinois' moribund Republican Party, it's more of a trickle. So far, no major GOP candidates have emerged for U.S. Senate or most of the statewide offices. Democrats Gov. JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Treasurer Mike Frerichs are all seeking reelection. DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick is the only announced candidate for governor of any political stature, and he reported July 1 having only $100,000 in cash on hand in his political fund to take on the billionaire Pritzker. Others are said to be weighing a bid, including former state GOP Chair Don Tracy, Palatine Township Highway Commissioner Aaron Del Mar and Ted Dabrowski, president of the conservative advocacy group Wirepoints. On Sunday, Richard Porter, an attorney and former Republican national committeeman from Illinois, used social media to announce he would not seek the GOP nomination for Durbin's U.S. Senate seat. 'After close consultations with my family and friends, I have decided not to pursue this opportunity,' Porter wrote in a Facebook post. 'I intend to stay involved in the effort to turn around Illinois.' Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 14 may prove to be an important event for the party, depending upon whether potential candidates use the day to announce a decision to run. Pat Brady, a former state GOP chair and a Republican not aligned with Trump and his takeover of the party, said the dearth of candidate news is 'unfortunate, because I think there are things that Republicans can talk about that the voters would like. But you can't beat somebody with nobody.' As the party's influence in Illinois has continued to dwindle, more internal factional infighting has developed. 'I've never, ever seen it where it's going to be questionable whether or not the Republicans have a full (statewide) slate,' he said. 'I haven't heard anybody for comptroller, haven't heard anybody for secretary of state, haven't heard anybody for treasurer. Nobody's even leaking their name to get attention.' Brady said the results of the 2022 Republican primary, which saw a slate of candidates backed by billionaire Ken Griffin and headed by former Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin go down in defeat, also meant the loss of several up-and-coming Republicans who could be running this time. 'It's a sad, sad thing, but the party's got to come to grips with the fact that the approach that we need to get more conservative to win — that doesn't work. Or we need to be more Trumpy to win — that hasn't worked either,' Brady said. 'I do believe there are things Republicans used to stand for or should stand for that would be of interest to Illinois voters, taxes, economic growth, things like that.'
Politico
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Jesse Jackson Jr. explores a House comeback bid
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is quietly exploring a comeback in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District after more than a decade out of office — including a two-year prison term. Jackson — the son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and the brother of Rep. Jonathan Jackson — was a Democratic rising star who served in Congress 17 years before stepping down in 2012 due to health reasons. A federal conviction for campaign finance violations and prison time followed for him and his then-wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman. After working as a Chicago radio commentator, Jackson is now talking to residents and community leaders about another run, motivated by what allies describe as concern about the ripple effect of President Donald Trump's megabill that was signed into law July 4. He has caught the attention of some key Democrats, including retired Rep. Bobby Rush, who said Jackson would give voice to 'the marginalized and the forgotten American citizens of the Second Congressional District,' according to a statement he sent to Playbook. The district stretches through Chicago's South Side, once a stronghold for Jackson, and into the suburbs. The seat opened up when Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly, who has held the seat since 2013, announced she's running for Senate earlier this year. Several notable names have said they're entering the March Democratic primary, including state Sen. Robert Peters, management consultant Eric France and policy expert Adal Regis. Democratic Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller is also weighing a bid. But Jackson, Rush said, would be 'the most qualified and ready-made of all the candidates."
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
John Cavanaugh launches campaign for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District
John Cavanaugh kicks off his campaign for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, promising to stand up for working families, veterans and seniors.
Chicago Tribune
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Top candidates for the US House in Illinois' 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th districts for the 2026 election
With Illinois' March primary for the 2026 midterm elections less than a year away, politicians are lining up to fill the seats being vacated by longtime members of the state's congressional delegation who are retiring or campaigning for higher office. The domino effect that began in late April with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's announcement that he wasn't seeking a sixth term has caused two members of Congress — U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg — to declare their interest in Durbin's seat. That means their spots in Congress are opening up. In addition, much of the north and northwest suburbs will see their first new members of Congress in nearly three decades as U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is retiring at the end of her term. Plus, a fourth seat could open up because the delegation's longest-serving member — 83-year-old U.S. Rep. Danny Davis — hasn't said whether he'll be running for a 16th term. Since 1997, Davis has represented a swath stretching from Chicago's downtown to the city's West Side and closer-in western suburbs. All four districts are held by Democrats, meaning the Democratic primary races will be the key ones to watch. But Republicans will be vying for the seats as well in the hopes of flipping one of the seats and helping the GOP hold onto their 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 one of the rings, 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 Miller, Democrat Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said in late May she's forming an exploratory committee to help her decide if she should run for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Miller lives in Lynwood and is in her second term as the 6th District commissioner on the Cook County Board. The exploratory committee is made up of south suburban mayors, the Daily Southtown reported. 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. 'I understand the district,' Miller said. 'I understand the Southland.' 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. Yumeka Brown, the three-term village clerk of Matteson and a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board, told the Southtown she is a candidate but has not yet filed the paperwork to run. 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, and Eric France, a management consultant, as well as Republican Ashley Ramos, who was the GOP nominee of the 2nd Congressional District seat in 2024, and Calvin Coleman, who is not affiliated with either major Davis, Democrat Despite a close primary race in 2022, Davis came back two years later to beat four Democratic challengers and keep his seat for a 15th term last year. 'I know that you can't lead where you don't go, and you can't teach what you don't know,' Davis told the Tribune before the general election last year. That sentiment was in line with his playbook in that race: reminding voters of his seniority and connections in the district. So far, it's kept Davis out of reach of challengers, including Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and progressive activist Kina Collins, who both ran against him last year. Conyears-Ervin in May said she was undecided about running again. La Shawn Ford, Democrat State Rep. La Shawn Ford of Chicago has registered with the FEC to run for the 7th Congressional District but has told the Tribune he will campaign only if Davis retires. 'Absolutely, I will run if Congressman Davis is out,' Ford said, adding that he appreciates the congressman continuing to focus on opposing the administration of President Donald Trump rather than retirement. 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. 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. Others who have filed paperwork with the FEC stating their interest in running for the congressional seat were Democrats John McCombs, Kamaria Kali and Jerico 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; 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 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, elected to the Skokie School District 73.5 board, now is 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. She could soon be competing against other colleagues in the General Assembly, including state Sen. Mike Simmons of Uptown, who has said he's interested in the seat, and state Rep. Hoan Huynh, also of Uptown. Democrats Miracle Jenkins, who worked for Schakowsky as a deputy political director in 2018, and David Abrevaya have also filed paperwork to run, along with Republicans Mark Su and Rocio Cleveland.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Field grows for successors to Robin Kelly, 5 either running or exploring options
The field of potential successors to Robin Kelly as 2nd Congressional District representative is growing, with five people either announcing their candidacy or exploring a possible run. This week, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said she's formed an exploratory committee comprised of south suburban mayors to study her options. Yumeka Brown, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Matteson village clerk, said Tuesday she is a candidate after initially forming a group to explore a run. She is also president of the Rich Township Democrats. Lynwood resident Eric France, whose father worked for several Chicago mayors, plans to announce his candidacy at a news conference Saturday in Burnham. With Kelly running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who's not seeking reelection, Kelly's representative seat in Washington appears up for grabs, but with the primaries still nearly a year away the field of contenders could grow or shrink. Kelly served in the Illinois House and won a special primary in 2013 for her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, had previously said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run. Miller, a Lynwood resident in her second term as 6th District commissioner, was elected to the Cook County Board in November 2018 after winning the Democratic primary that March. Miller is vice president of the Illinois Democratic Women organization and former president of the Democratic Women of the South Suburbs. She said Wednesday her exploratory committee is comprised of Dolton Mayor Jason House, Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry, Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, Olympia Fields Mayor Sterling Burke and South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. If Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. She previously told the Chicago Tribune she won't circulate petititions later this year to run for another congressional term. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term earlier this month, said she was working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. France, of Lynwood, heads up The France Group, a management consulting firm started by his father, Erwin France. Erwin France spent nearly 20 years in public service beginning in 1967 when former Mayor Richard J. Daley brought the St. Louis native to Chicago as one of his administrative assistants, according to a Chicago Tribune obituary. He worked in consulting jobs with city agencies during the administrations of former Mayors Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne and Harold Washington, according to the obituary.
