Bethany Johnson
Bethany Johnson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.
Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Bethany Johnson was born in Missouri. She graduated from Savannah High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Missouri State University in 2017. Her career experience includes working as a data analyst. She served as a data manager for Sen. Angus King's (ind.) 2018 campaign.[1]
2026 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the March 17 Democratic primary for Illinois' 9th Congressional District as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Daniel K. Biss (D) defeated 15 other candidates in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 9th Congressional District on March 17, 2026. As of March 2026, Biss, Kat Abughazaleh, and Laura Fine led in fundraising and polling. Click here for detailed results.
Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) did not run for re-election. As of March 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid Democratic. This was the first election in the 9th District without an incumbent on the ballot since Schakowsky was first elected in 1998. Writing in Crain's Chicago Business, Greg Hinz described the primary as "an almost unpredictable cattle call of a race for Congress," citing the "millions of dollars in campaign cash, the fallout from Trump-inspired immigration raids, highly divisive Middle East politics and the impact of social media in a city known for old-school precinct politics."[2]
Biss was, as of the primary, the mayor of Evanston and a former state legislator. Biss ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. Biss said he was running "because we need Democrats who won't flinch, won't fold, won't forget what we're fighting for."[3] Biss' campaign website said he "has built coalitions and brought people together to solve problems that have gone unaddressed for too long...Daniel continues to stand up to Donald Trump on immigration, preserving access to abortion, expanding mental health services, and more."[4] Schakowsky endorsed Biss on January 7, 2026.[5]
Abughazaleh was a former researcher and video producer with Media Matters for America, a group describing itself as "a web-based, not-for-profit, 501 (c)(3) progressive research and information center."[6][7] Abghazaleh said she was running "because the same old sh** isn't working — and it won't work to defeat Trump's agenda."[8] Abughazaleh said that "I've fought fascists before as a citizen, union rep, and independent journalist. Now, I'm going to do the same in Congress."[9]
Fine was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2018. Fine served six years in the Illinois House and worked in journalism. Fine said she was running "to continue her fight to make sure Illinois continues to have a champion in Washington that stands up for families, not special interests."[10] Fine's campaign website said: "For Laura, every bill, every battle, and every victory is personal – because she knows what it’s like to be the person counting on a system that too often says no."[11]
Also running in the primary were Bushra Amiwala (D), Phil Andrew (D), Natalie Angelo (D), Patricia Brown (D), Jeff Cohen (D), Justin Ford (D), Mark Fredrickson (D), Hoan Huynh (D), Bethany Johnson (D), Sam Polan (D), Nick Pyati (D), Howard Rosenblum (D), and Mike Simmons (D).
In the 2024 election, Schakowsky defeated Seth Alan Cohen (R) 68%–32%.
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026
Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)
Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Republican primary)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 9
Daniel K. Biss, John Elleson, and Delila Barrera are running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Daniel K. Biss (D) | |
 | John Elleson (R)  | |
| Delila Barrera (Independent) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Daniel K. Biss | 29.5 | 34,216 |
 | Kat Abughazaleh | 25.9 | 30,075 | |
 | Laura Fine | 20.2 | 23,398 | |
 | Mike Simmons | 7.3 | 8,451 | |
 | Phil Andrew | 6.2 | 7,220 | |
 | Bushra Amiwala | 5.1 | 5,939 | |
 | Hoan Huynh | 1.7 | 2,029 | |
 | Patricia Brown | 1.3 | 1,459 | |
 | Jeff Cohen | 0.8 | 951 | |
 | Justin Ford | 0.6 | 656 | |
 | Bethany Johnson | 0.5 | 534 | |
 | Sam Polan | 0.4 | 458 | |
 | Howard Rosenblum | 0.2 | 259 | |
 | Nick Pyati | 0.2 | 211 | |
 | Mark Fredrickson | 0.2 | 188 | |
| Natalie Angelo (Unofficially withdrew) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Total votes: 116,044 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jill Manrique (D)
- David Abrevaya (D)
- Tamika La'Shon Hill (D)
- Jan Schakowsky (D)
- Lauren Million (D)
- Bruce Leon (D)
- Miracle Jenkins (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9
John Elleson defeated Paul Friedman, Rocio Cleveland, and Mark Su in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Elleson | 48.5 | 5,825 |
 | Paul Friedman | 33.5 | 4,023 | |
 | Rocio Cleveland | 9.2 | 1,110 | |
 | Mark Su | 8.7 | 1,046 | |
| Total votes: 12,004 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Polls are conducted with a variety of methodologies and have margins of error or credibility intervals.[12] The Pew Research Center wrote, "A margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level means that if we fielded the same survey 100 times, we would expect the result to be within 3 percentage points of the true population value 95 of those times."[13] For tips on reading polls from FiveThirtyEight, click here. For tips from Pew, click here.
Below we provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. We only report polls for which we can find a margin of error or credibility interval. Know of something we're missing? Click here to let us know.
| Poll | Dates | Abughazaleh | Amiwala | Andrew | Biss | Fine | Ford | Huynh | Leon | Simmons | Someone else | Other | Undecided | Sample size | Margin of error | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | 20 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 14 | 1 | 1 | -- | 10 | -- | -- | 17 | 741 LV | ± 3.6% | Evanston RoundTable | |
– | 17 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 16 | -- | 2 | -- | 6 | -- | 4 | 22 | 501 LV | ± 4.4% | Evanston RoundTable | |
– | 14 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 21 | -- | 2 | -- | 7 | -- | 3 | 23 | 500 LV | ± 4.4% | Laura Fine | |
– | 17 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 10 | -- | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | -- | 21 | 500 LV | ± 4.4% | Daniel Biss | |
– | 18 | 6 | -- | 18 | 10 | -- | 5 | -- | 6 | -- | 6 | 31 | 569 LV | ± 4.0% | ||
| Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters. | ||||||||||||||||
Election campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kat Abughazaleh | Democratic Party | $3,359,876 | $2,977,254 | $382,621 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Bushra Amiwala | Democratic Party | $1,134,018 | $949,350 | $184,668 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Phil Andrew | Democratic Party | $1,339,123 | $1,166,048 | $173,075 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Natalie Angelo | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Daniel K. Biss | Democratic Party | $2,539,961 | $1,894,042 | $645,919 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Patricia Brown | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jeff Cohen | Democratic Party | $788,225 | $270,049 | $518,176 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Laura Fine | Democratic Party | $2,556,808 | $2,095,129 | $461,679 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Justin Ford | Democratic Party | $28,078 | $27,371 | $341 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Mark Fredrickson | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Hoan Huynh | Democratic Party | $1,017,941 | $640,503 | $372,813 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Bethany Johnson | Democratic Party | $2,724 | $486 | $2,238 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Sam Polan | Democratic Party | $371,106 | $327,024 | $44,082 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Nick Pyati | Democratic Party | $262,443 | $216,441 | $46,002 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Howard Rosenblum | Democratic Party | $136,040 | $90,530 | $34,616 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Mike Simmons | Democratic Party | $414,048 | $278,898 | $135,150 | As of February 25, 2026 |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
|||||
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[14][15][16]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.
| By candidate | By election |
|---|---|
Note: As of December 9, 2025, Natalie Angelo (D), Patricia Brown (D), and Mark Fredrickson (D) had not filed as candidates with the Federal Election Commission.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Bethany Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Johnson's responses.
| Collapse all
I was forced to drop out of college in my early 20s when my parents discovered I was trans. But in 2016, I returned to Springfield, Missouri, and earned my Bachelor of Science in Theatre with a minor in Computer Science. I was told it couldn’t be done in a year, but I proved them wrong. During that time, I also fought for LGBTQ+ rights in Springfield, and later became the Data Manager for Senator Angus King’s 2018 re-election campaign. Since then, I’ve worked in data engineering and implementation roles, continuing to use my skills to support progressive causes.
I’m running because my friends, neighbors, and family know how deeply I care about this district - and because I’m tired of seeing out-of-state influencers and career politicians try to decide what’s best for us. This district deserves someone who understands it firsthand, who’s already been doing the work without chasing clout or power.
I’m not here to build a brand, I’m here to fight for the people who live and work in this district. I’ve been doing that for years, not for recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do.- A constituent's office that works for you, not me. A key duty of a U.S. Representative is helping constituents navigate federal agencies -from Social Security to Veterans' services. I’ll make constituent services a top priority, with an open, accessible office staffed by social workers and at least one attorney. We'll also partner with local law schools to bring in student interns and expand our capacity to serve the community.
- Real consequences for masked ICE agents. I believe Federal Law Enforcement must be fully accountable to the public. Officers who hide their identities while performing duties undermine democratic oversight. I will push for Congressional investigations into these practices and work to ensure those who violate public trust face real consequences, including dismissal and loss of pension where appropriate.
- More for working families and less for the rich. I believe in higher taxes on the wealthy and a government that focuses less on the wants of the rich and more on the needs of working families, the poor, and the struggling. We need to tax the rich and invest in everyone else.
"I hate this. I hate being here. I hate that you have to be here. I hate that there's evil and that I was chosen to fight it. I wish a whole lot of the time that I hadn't been. I know a lot of you wish I hadn't been, either. This isn't about wishes. This is about choices. I believe we can beat this evil. Not when it comes. Not when its army is ready. Now. Tomorrow morning, I'm opening the seal. I'm going down into the Hellmouth and I am finishing this once and for all. Right now, you're asking yourself what makes this different. What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls being picked off one by one? It's true. None of you have the power that Faith and I do.
So here's the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power, now? In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule.... From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up. Slayers, every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?"
Because I was so young, I was legally paid less than minimum wage, I think it was $3.25 an hour. Having a paycheck allowed me to buy my first "real" computer on credit through my mom getting an account at Radio Shack. It was a Tandy Sensation, which changed everything for me.
It's a story about responsibility, love and sacrifice. It's one of the first books that a lot of kids read that teaches you about loss, but also what you gain through growing through loss. The story follows a young boy who first works to attain the money to buy two dogs, and then raises them. They become his best friends and their tragic death teaches him the meaning of love and the pain of moving on in life.
We must confront and hold accountable those responsible for abuses, including ICE agents who operated with impunity, detaining people while hiding behind masks, and insurrectionists who attempted to overturn our democracy and have faced little or no consequence. A country cannot move forward or find peace when communities know their families were targeted and justice was never served. Accountability is essential to rebuilding trust, protecting democracy, and ensuring true safety for all.
That stayed with me. He is a neighbor, a citizen, and a human being who deserves safety, dignity, and peace of mind. I’m running to fight for people like him - for his healthcare, his security, and his right to live without fear in the country he calls home.
If Florida wants federal money to build an airport where I, a trans woman, can’t use the bathroom, I want to be able to say, “No more money, honey.” If Alabama wants to build a hospital but refuses emergency care to trans people, I want to tell them to take their bigotry and shove it, or lose the funding.
We have the power to cut off the cash to anyone who discriminates. Like a rebellious teenager who just turned 18, the only thing that truly forces change is closing the wallet. If they want to keep their hate, they can do it without our money. I have a feeling these places will crawl back to us pretty quickly to say they'll change their ways to get their funding.
The House’s oversight role isn’t just a formality, it’s essential to protecting our rights and ensuring justice for all.
I’m also deeply interested in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Scientific advancement has shaped every major leap forward in our country’s history - from medicine to clean energy to space exploration. Having a hand in shaping national policy that supports research, innovation, and equitable access to technological progress would be both a gift and an honor. As someone with a background in both the arts and computer science, I see science as not just a technical field, but a driver of imagination, growth, and progress.
Another committee that inspires me is Natural Resources. Theodore Roosevelt is a personal hero, and I take seriously the legacy of conservation he began. I believe our natural landscapes are not only beautiful - they’re vital to our health, economy, and sense of national identity. Protecting public lands, ensuring clean water, and addressing the climate crisis should be central to our legislative mission.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 14, 2025
- ↑ Crain's Chicago Business, "Greg Hinz: 9th District race offers snapshot of Democrats' identity crisis," November 4, 2025
- ↑ YouTube, "Let's do this – Biss campaign advertisement," May 14, 2025
- ↑ Daniel K. Biss campaign website, "About," accessed December 17, 2025
- ↑ ABC 7 Chicago, "U.S. Rep. Schakowsky endorses Evanston Mayor Biss to take her congressional seat," January 7, 2026
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Kat A.," accessed December 12, 2025
- ↑ Media Matters for America, "About Us," accessed December 12, 2025
- ↑ Kat Abughazaleh campaign website, "About," accessed December 12, 2025
- ↑ Kat Abughazaleh campaign website, "Home page," accessed December 17, 2025
- ↑ Laura Fine campaign website, "Meet Laura," accessed December 12, 2025
- ↑ Laura Fine campaign website, "Meet Laura," accessed December 17, 2025
- ↑ For more information on the difference between margins of error and credibility intervals, see explanations from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and Ipsos.
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls," September 8, 2016
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
