IL Congressional Candidate Accused Of Inappropriate Relationship With Former Student

EVANSTON, IL — In a social media post on Monday, a former student of 9th District Congressional Democratic primary candidate and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss alleged he had an inappropriate romantic relationship with her during her time at the University of Chicago.

Megan Wachspress, who is a lecturer at Stanford Law School, posted her statement to Bluesky on the eve of the primary election.

UPDATE: Daniel Biss Wins Democratic Primary In 9th Congressional District, Will Face Pastor John Elleso

"If he's going to get a national profile on the strength of a younger woman's campaign, I'm going to come out and say it: during his short-lived tenure as a math professor, Biss had an inappropriate romantic relationship with one of his undergraduate students. I was that student," Wachspress' post read.

In a Substack post, Wachspress added details about her time in school. She said while she was enrolled in Biss' class, he fostered a close relationship with her, sending long emails with conversations that had nothing to do with school and long-lasting office hours.

When the quarter ended, Biss sent an email asking her to meet up "socially," she said.

After a few dates, Biss called it off, Wachspress said.

A campaign spokesperson for Biss confirmed the allegations in a statement to the Daily Northwestern, saying Biss and Wachspress met in 2004 when he taught at the University of Chicago.

At the time, Biss was 26 and Wachspress was 20, and she was enrolled in a course he taught.

"After the course ended, Daniel and Dr. Wachspress went on a handful of dates over the course of a few weeks. Daniel realized then, as he does now, that it was ill-advised, and he ended it," the spokesperson said.

Wachspress said that while Biss did apologize to her after reaching out a few years ago, the experience took a toll on her. She said it influenced her decision not to pursue a career in math and pivot her focus.

"I was so, so ashamed. Here I was, desperate for credibility among my male peers, told by no less than the President of Harvard I lacked the capacity to do the work, having made out with a professor," she said.

She said the notoriety of the IL-09 Democratic primary race was unavoidable, even in California, where she now lives. She said that since she has become a professor herself, it felt "impossible not to say anything."

"To want someone who wants to learn from you is to want someone for their powerlessness. And so, much later than I should, I realized this was my last chance, and I said something," Wachspress said.