Illinois
Latest Coverage
See all articles
What to know about the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary race
Photo illustration by Andjela Padejski/WBEZ; Photo by Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times, Photos provided.
A former journalist turned progressive social media creator, a suburban mayor and a state senator are leading a field of an astounding 15 Democrats vying for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s seat in one of the most competitive races the state has seen in decades.
Candidates include Kat Abughazaleh, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, state Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), Phil Andrew, Bushra Amiwala, state Sen. Mike Simmons, economist Jeff Cohen, State Rep. Hoan Huynh, former federal prosecutor Nick Pyati, veteran Sam Polan, civil rights attorney Howard Rosenblum, Evanston resident Bethany Johnson, union organizer Justin Ford, Patricia A. Brown and Mark Arnold Fredrickson.
The seat in this very blue congressional district hasn’t been open since 1999. Before that, the seat was represented by Sidney R. Yates, who held it for 24 terms — with a two-year gap for an unsuccessful Senate bid in 1962 agains