Five US House Primaries to Watch in Illinois on Tuesday
Progressives and moderates are vying for influence in Democratic primaries across Illinois, with voters set to choose candidates for November's midterm elections that will determine control of the U.S. Congress for the next two years. Dozens of Democrats have launched campaigns to fill safe seats vacated by incumbents who are either retiring or seeking higher office. Political fundraising groups with ties to pro-Israel organizations have spent millions of dollars in advertising across multiple districts to influence voters.
Jesse Jackson Jr. Attempts Political Comeback
Former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. is attempting a comeback in the Chicago-area 2nd congressional district, which he represented from 1995 until his resignation in 2012. Jackson, the son of the late civil rights icon, pleaded guilty in 2013 to federal charges related to his misuse of $750,000 in campaign funds. Jackson's brother, Jonathan, is a current member of Congress.
Jackson is among at least nine Democrats competing for the open seat. Others include Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, who raised nearly $2 million, and progressive state Senator Robert Peters, who raised more than $1.1 million. Roughly $6 million in advertising has been spent to support Miller's campaign, including more than $3 million from Affordable Chicago Now, a super PAC with reported ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. She has also received some donations from individuals who have donated to Republican President Donald Trump, drawing criticism from Peters and other Democrats.
The seat opened when Representative Robin Kelly launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate. The winner is likely to be elected to Congress in November, as the district is safely Democratic.
Latinas Compete for Majority-Hispanic District
Patty Garcia is expected to easily secure the Democratic nomination for Congress in Illinois' 4th district, a seat currently represented by retiring U.S. Representative Chuy Garcia. Patty Garcia, who is not related to the congressman but serves as his chief of staff, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary after her boss waited until after the state's filing deadline to announce he wouldn't seek reelection.
The House last year formally disapproved of Chuy Garcia's actions to clear a path for his chief of staff to succeed him without giving voters a choice in a primary, with 23 Democrats joining Republicans in the rebuke. The majority-Hispanic Chicago-area district is safely Democratic, but Patty Garcia's election in November is no sure thing. She will face Republican nominee Lupe Castillo and Mayra Macias, a Democrat who launched an independent campaign in December.
Top Fundraiser Versus Outside Spending in Illinois' 7th District
River North developer Jason Friedman is the top fundraiser for Illinois' 7th congressional district. His $2.5 million fundraising haul is more than three times as much as his nearest competitor in the Democratic primary. But Friedman's campaign has been outspent by more than $4 million in advertising supporting Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin. United Democracy Project, a pro-Israel super PAC, has spent more than $3 million to boost Conyears-Ervin.
The district has had a Black representative since 1973. More than 40% of the district's residents are Black, as are each of the top candidates outside of Friedman. Other contenders include Dr. Thomas Fisher, an emergency medicine physician who supports universal healthcare; state Representative La Shawn Ford, who has decried the level of outside spending; and former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin. The seat opened with the retirement of Representative Danny Davis, who has endorsed Ford.
Another Former US Representative Launches Comeback Effort
Democratic former U.S. Representative Melissa Bean is running for her old congressional seat in Illinois' 8th district, which she represented from 2005 to 2011. Bean, a conservative-leaning Democrat or "Blue Dog," supported the Iraq War, voted with Democrats on the Affordable Care Act, and backed Republicans on tax-cut extensions when she was in Congress. She lost her 2010 reelection to then-Republican Joe Walsh by fewer than 300 votes.
The race is yet another crowded primary for an open seat, but Bean, tech CEO Neil Khot and tech entrepreneur Junaid Ahmed have separated themselves from the rest of the field after each raised more than $1 million. Khot is the top fundraiser, bringing in $2 million, but Bean has benefited from roughly $4 million in ad spending by Elect Chicago Women, a super PAC with ties to AIPAC. The three candidates are largely aligned on policy, with Ahmed the most progressive.
Gen Z Influencer in Crowded Field
Six candidates raised more than $1 million in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 9th congressional district, led by 26-year-old influencer Kat Abughazaleh's $3.4 million. Abughazaleh's campaign website features "anti-endorsement" criticisms of Elon Musk, "Libs of TikTok" and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
State Senator Laura Fine and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss both raised $2.5 million, but Fine is the beneficiary of more than $6 million in ad spending—far more than any other candidate. Elect Chicago Women, a super PAC with ties to AIPAC, has spent more than $5 million in advertising on Fine's behalf. Biss, who has led in every public opinion poll, has alluded to the outside spending in a campaign ad.
The seat is represented by outgoing Representative Jan Schakowsky, who announced her retirement amid a primary challenge from Abughazaleh. The seat is safely Democratic, meaning the winner of Tuesday's primary will likely be elected to Congress in November.
