Illinois' 9th Congressional District: Primary Election 2026

EVANSTON, IL — Voters in Illinois' 9th Congressional District will weigh in on a crowded field of candidates looking to fill the seat with a fresh candidate for the first time in 28 years.

In the 9th Congressional District, which includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties, longtime Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky is not seeking reelection.

Schakowsky, 81, served for more than 25 years representing Chicago's North Side and the north suburbs. She was first elected in 1998 and has been an advocate for health care and senior issues throughout her time in the House.

Democratic Primary

Fifteen Democrats are hoping to take her place, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, former journalist and political content creator Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh and state Sen. Laura Fine.

Also on the ballot are Bushara Amiwala, Phil Andrew, Patricia Brown, Jeff Cohen, Justin Ford, Mark Fredrickson, Illinois state Rep. Hoan Huynh, Bethany Johnson, Sam Polan, Nick Pyati, Howard Rosenblum and state Sen. Mike Simmons.

Recent polling from the Evanston RoundTable shows Biss leading with 24 percent ahead of Election Day. Abughazaleh was close behind with 20 percent of respondents, and Fine rounded out the top three with 14 percent.

Mike Simmons polled at 10 percent, with former FBI agent Phil Andrew and Skokie School Board member Bushra Amiwala behind at 7 and 6 percent, respectively.

Biss has served as Evanston's mayor since 2021, and was recently re-elected in 2025. He also served in the Illinois State Senate from 2013 to 2019 and in the Illinois House from 2011 to 2013.

In January, Shakowski announced her endorsement of Biss to succeed her in the district.

On his campaign website, Biss details his priorities, which include increasing the federal minimum wage, providing free tuition at public colleges, investing in sustainable energy and protecting and expanding voter rights, among many other stances. He supports increasing taxes on the ultra-wealthy, passing Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, repealing the 2nd Amendment and recognizing a Palestinian state.

Campaign website: danielbiss.com

Abughazaleh is a former journalist and political commentator. The Department of Justice filed charges against her and six others in October 2025 over her presence at protests at the Broadview ICE facility.

Abughazaleh called the charges "political prosecution and a gross attempt to silence dissent."

Issues she supports include raising the federal minimum wage, providing universal childcare, establishing term limits for Congress, supporting a free Palestine and providing an immediate pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Abughazaleh said she also supports ending mass deportations, banning assault weapons, increasing federal funding for public schools and investing in clean energy.

Campaign website: katforillinois.com

Fine has been an Illinois state senator in the 9th Senate District since 2019. The district includes several suburbs, including Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glenview, Skokie and Morton Grove.

She previously served as a state representative from 2013 to 2019 in the 17th District.

Some of Fine's priorities include passing Medicare for All, raising the federal minimum wage, making community college free, expanding student loan forgiveness and protecting access to abortions. She also supports investing in clean energy, banning assault weapons, expanding rental assistance and tenant protections and abolishing ICE.

Campaign website: laurafineforcongress.org

Republican Primary

On the Republican primary ballot are Rocio Cleveland, John Elleson, Paul Friedman and Mark Su.

Cleveland is a Spanish language interpreter from McHenry County.

On her campaign website, she said her priorities include maintaining secure borders as well as fighting crime, discrimination, illegal drugs and attacks on faith and freedom.

Campaign Website: rocioclevelandforcongress.com

Elleson is a pastor at Lakewood Church and is running for office for the first time.

In a questionnaire from Patch that he responded to, Elleson said he supports immigration enforcement and expressed support for President Donald Trump's policies.

He said his priorities are building bridges between political parties and serving people instead of politicians.

Campaign website: johnelleson.com

Paul Friedman is a 25-year software writer.

On his campaign website, he expresses support for setting term limits for Congress, making higher education more affordable, increasing federal aid and replacing the Affordable Care Act. Friedman also expressed support for current immigration laws in his Patch questionnaire.

Campaign website: pfriedman.github.io/IL-09

Mark Su is a senior software engineer.

On his campaign website, Su details support for law enforcement policy, gun control, reducing crime and increasing public safety, lowering costs for medical insurance expenses and controlling inflation. He also said he supports securing the border and allowing parents the right to have input on what their children are taught in schools.

Campaign website: site.marksuforcongress.com