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Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026

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2024
Illinois' 9th Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: November 3, 2025
Primary: March 17, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Illinois

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Illinois' 9th Congressional District
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Illinois elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

All U.S. House districts, including the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. The primary is March 17, 2026. The filing deadline was November 3, 2025. Ballotpedia identified the March 17, 2026, Democratic primary as a battleground primary. For more on the Democratic primary, click here. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

Candidates and election results

General election

The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Delila Barrera is running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Delila Barrera (Independent)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.


Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Rocio Cleveland, John Elleson, Paul Friedman, and Mark Su are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.


Candidate Connection = 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.

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March 17 Democratic primary

See also: Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)

Ballotpedia identified the March 17 Democratic primary as a battleground primary. For more on the Democratic primary, click here. For more on the Republican primary, click here.

Kat Abughazaleh (D), Daniel K. Biss (D), Laura Fine (D), and 13 others are running in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 9th Congressional District on March 17, 2026. As of December 2025, Abughazaleh, Biss, and Fine led in fundraising and polling.

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) is not running for re-election. As of December 2025, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid Democratic. This is 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."[1]

Abughazaleh is 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."[2][3] Abghazaleh says she is running "because the same old sh** isn't working — and it won't work to defeat Trump's agenda."[4] 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."[5]

Biss is the mayor of Evanston and a former state legislator. Biss ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. Biss says he is running "because we need Democrats who won't flinch, won't fold, won't forget what we're fighting for."[6] Biss' campaign website says 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."[7] Schakowsky endorsed Biss on January 7, 2026.[8]

Fine was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2018. Fine served six years in the Illinois House and worked in journalism. Fine says she is running "to continue her fight to make sure Illinois continues to have a champion in Washington that stands up for families, not special interests."[9] Fine's campaign website says: "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."[10]

Also running in the primary are 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 (D) 68%–32%.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Kat Abughazaleh

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "My name is Kat Abughazaleh. I'm a researcher and journalist who has devoted my career to fighting the far-right. I've worked for outlets like Media Matters, Mother Jones, and Zeteo News, but I'm probably best known for my video explainers about Fox News and right-wing media on my personal social media accounts. I decided to run for Congress because I don't think Democrats are doing enough to stand against fascism, to make billionaires pay their fair share, and to protect the working class. And unfortunately, our leadership in the House of Representatives refuses to acknowledge the true impact that the far-right, the Internet, and working class struggles have on our country — and that's part of the reason Democrats keep losing elections. I'm trying to run a progressive grassroots campaign that I can be proud of. I'm not taking a cent of corporate cash and I'm trying to spend our money in ways that help people now, rather than waiting to make a difference in my community until I'm elected. By making our events engaging, centered around mutual aid, and accessible to everyone no matter their income, my campaign is showing our values rather than providing lip service with nothing to show for it. In my spare time, I like reading space operas, doing crafts like embroidery and knitting with my friends, and hanging out with my partner, Ben, and our cat, Heater."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


ANTI-AUTHORITARIANISM Donald Trump, tech billionaires, and the Republican Party have banded together to break this country. Their vision is fascist, one of a militarized country where only a few dozen rich men have a seat at the table. We will not and cannot let them win. The Democratic strategy of cowering to this administration is not only morally reprehensible but it also won't work. Every authoritarian movement has shown us the only way to stand up to fascism is loudly, proudly, and every single day. I have been doing that for my entire career thus far, and I won't stop in Congress. I will speak out, use what I have to slow this administration wherever possible. And I will make sure my constituents know they are not alone.


BASIC EXISTENCE My bold vision is that every American should be able to afford housing, healthcare, and groceries with money left over to save and spend (crazy, right?). This should be the lowest bar possible and it is for many of our peer countries. But in the United States, that idea is considered by many, particularly the richest and most powerful, to be a pipe dream. Our existence isn't merely a means of profit for the richest people in society. These ideas shouldn't be controversial and are at the very core of my campaign. We're often told that it's a lot more complicated than we think but it doesn't have to be. We deserve to thrive, not just survive — and every political leader should work towards that goal.


DEMOCRATIC REFORM Our democracy is broken. Our current system functions too much on greed, rewards stagnation, and disincentivizes change. That's why we need a serious overhaul of our electoral system. We must overturn the Supreme Court's egregious Citizens United ruling and depoliticize the Court by instituting a binding code of ethics and 18-year term limits. Congress also must be overhauled. We need to talk seriously about multi-member districts, expanding the House, and ranked-choice voting, as well as federal rules against gerrymandering. And as soon as possible, there must be a federal ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks, regulations against lobbying after leaving office, and enforcement of both.

Image of Bushra Amiwala

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in Rogers Park, listening to my father’s stories of selling eggs in Pakistan at age three, proud he could bring home cracked ones so his sisters could eat. Years later, I realized our own eggs came from SNAP benefits. We felt deeply blessed for the life we had, simply by being born and raised in the United States. That gratitude stayed with me as I grew up in Skokie, attended local schools, and later made history as the youngest elected official in the country, serving seven years on the Skokie School Board. My earliest memories include taking the Yellow Line from Skokie to Rogers Park to volunteer at A Just Harvest as a teenager, building connections that have lasted more than a decade. After graduating from Niles West, I earned my bachelor’s at DePaul and MBA at Northwestern, right here in IL-09. This district shaped me—from Rogers Park to Evanston, Skokie to Glenview—not as dots on a map, but as communities I’ve worked, served, and led. My values—integrity, compassion, and collective uplift—come from lived experience, not abstraction. I stepped into leadership not for a spotlight, but to close the gap between what my community deserved and what they were getting. Public service to me means showing up when no one’s watching, bridging divides, and leading with empathy. Leadership is about proximity to pain and responsibility to hope—rooted in community and courageous enough to disrupt the status quo."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Making sure our taxpayer dollars don’t kill people. Our taxpayer dollars shouldn’t fund humanitarian crises. The numbers of lives lost in Israel's assault on Gaza is unaccountable—because entire families, entire blocks, have been wiped off the map. Our government and property taxes paid for it. The violence abroad has also wreaked devastation at home. While billions of dollars are funneled into the war effort, people in Illinois are struggling with unaffordable healthcare, medical debt, underfunded schools, food insecurity, housing instability and ballooning student loans. These are not separate issues—they are intertwined. In Congress, I will make sure our tax dollars should be building safer lives here, not destroying lives abroad.


Making education—without debt—accessible for all. The United States spends $850 billion every year on the military while our schools are left scrambling for resources. That isn’t right, and it calls for a massive reallocation of government spending.Our education system should be a pathway to opportunity, not debt. I support making public colleges tuition-free and canceling existing student loan debt. Student debt isn’t just an individual burden—it’s a community crisis holding back working families and suppressing economic mobility. We must cancel the debt. Doing so would inject up to $108 billion into the economy each year and create over a million jobs. It’s an economic imperative and a moral necessity that I will fight for in Washington.


Ensuring universal access to healthcare. I believe healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. I support a single payer universal healthcare system at the federal level because no one should be uninsured in the most prosperous country on earth. In Congress, I will work to guarantee healthcare for every person in the U.S.—regardless of income, immigration status, employment, or zip code. To me, Medicare for All is not just a political slogan; it is the morally superior, fiscally responsible policy to create the healthcare system Americans need and deserve.

Image of Phil Andrew

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I’m Phil Andrew and I’m running for Congress to bring principled, compassionate and mission-driven leadership to Illinois’ 9th District. I grew up here. I am a survivor of gun violence, which informed my leap into public service as an FBI special agent and hostage negotiator. I remain determined to turn that tragedy into something positive to keep all our communities safe. My experience has taught me about resilience and the power of teamwork and being a force for what’s right, good and just in our community. Meaningful change starts with listening. I have spent my life working to solve problems and bring people together. Real leadership isn’t about noise; it’s about results. It’s about living your values in service of others. Protecting our rights and creating opportunities that help every family thrive. Enough is enough. Our nation is in crisis. We’re building a team right here in District 9—ready to work together and deliver real results. From advancing gun safety to protecting our personal rights, to ensuring affordable healthcare and expanding access to good-paying jobs, our district can lead the way. Together, we’ll drive the forward-thinking solutions our community, our democracy, and our country need—now and for the future. We are ready for the fight. Join our team!"


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Principled Leadership. We’ve seen the cost of chaos. It’s time to stop the bleeding and restore strategic, principled leadership. Phil Andrew brings integrity, clarity, and real crisis-tested experience to meet the moment and lead us forward—together.


Gun Violence Prevention and Public Safety. Every family deserves to feel safe. Phil will advance comprehensive, evidence-based, and holistic public safety strategies that go beyond slogans and deliver real results—honoring victims with action, not rhetoric.


Economic Security and Opportunity. Phil believes in a fair economy where everyone has the opportunity to earn, grow, and contribute. He’ll fight for smart policies and collaborative implementation that create sustainable economic growth and jobs, support small businesses, innovation, climate resilience, healthcare coverage, and reflect the real cost of living, educating and supporting families in our district.

Image of Daniel K. Biss

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Biss obtained a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University and a doctorate in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Biss worked as a math professor at the University of Chicago before entering elected politics.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


Biss said he was running "because we need Democrats who won't flinch, won't fold, won't forget what we're fighting for. Let's be real, people gave up on government because they saw politicians from both parties give up on them."


Biss said he had a "proven record of not just fighting the important fights, but winning" while serving in the state legislature and as mayor, which he said included passing legislation preserving access to abortion, changing campaign finance law, and implementing stricter carbon efficiency standards for buildings.


Biss described himself as "a longtime community leader...[who] has delivered pragmatic progressive solutions covering a wide range of issues." Biss said he would "stand up to Donald Trump on immigration, preserving access to abortion, expanding mental health services, and more."


Show sources

Image of Jeff Cohen

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


I am an economist and fixing the family economy is my top priority. Affordability is not merely a talking point for me. 30 years of experience working on the biggest economic problems in law, government, and business guides me to know what can work in Washington and what won't. I am not a career politician, and I can't wait for lobbyists to realize that I am their worst nightmare: someone who is there for service, not salary.


I have lived in the 9th District for more than 25 years, both in Chicago and in Evanston. We raised three, proud public school children here. You are my neighbors. Of one thing I am certain, the job of a Congressperson is not just law and policy making, it is also very much to take care of folks right here in the district.


The economy is not just about money.  So much of the social rift in this country is caused by economic despair.  When people feel like they have no economic hope, they blame, they point fingers, and sometimes someone does far worse.  Fixing this means knowing what can actually work as a matter of economics, and then using that to pry both the left and the right loose from failed policies.

Image of Laura Fine

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Fine graduated from Indiana University and worked in broadcasting before taking a teaching job at Northeastern Illinois University. Fine later left her teaching job and obtained an insurance license.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


Fine said she was inspired to enter politics after her husband was involved in a major car accident and his health insurance company tried to cancel his policy. Fine's campaign website said she "refused to accept a system that failed families like hers...she has built a record as Illinois’ leading champion for healthcare access, consumer protection, and mental health services."


Fine said she was running "because Washington is failing Illinois families. Trump and the Republicans in Congress want to rip away our access to health care."


Fine said her record in the state legislature included "laws that provide quality, affordable access to mental healthcare, grow the healthcare workforce, cut red tape to allow patients the medications they need, protect a woman's access to reproductive healthcare."


Show sources

Image of Justin Ford

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I’m Justin Ford, a lifelong advocate for working people and a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Illinois’s 9th District. I was born in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to a teacher and a judge, raised with a strong sense of fairness, dignity, and public service. I’ve lived in Andersonville for over a decade, raised two sons, and worked to protect people’s health, safety, and rights on the job. I’ve helped organize workers, supported unions, and built a career in public health as a Certified Industrial Hygienist—focusing on protecting people in workplaces, schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods across the country. I’m running because too many working families are being left behind while corporate power grows unchecked. It’s time for bold structural reforms, like a four-day work week, real climate action, and rebuilding the labor movement, to build an economy and a democracy that actually work for all of us"


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


A four-day work week isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. It’s time to give people their time back, boost productivity, and build an economy that works for working families.


Real climate action creates jobs. We need to invest in a carbon-negative, storm-resilient future; powered by union labor, clean energy, and smart public infrastructure.


Rebuild the labor movement to rebuild the middle class. That means stronger unions, higher wages, safer workplaces, and policies that put people—not corporations—at the center of our economy.

Image of Mark Fredrickson

Facebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "My future constituents will find me to be among the best prepared of all of the seventeen Democratic Primary Election candidates. I was 9ne of only a very few to endorse the incumbent Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky in 1998–as a precinct captain to the Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party. In our youth, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky & I palled around in my Danville, Illinois hometown. She taught me about the ERA, EPA & the Vietnam War. Jan married my fellow Danville High School alumnus Robert Creamer. I’m the only candidate who shared the Democratic Primary Election ballot with Barack Obama & Rahm Israel Emanuel. That campaign enlightened me to the substantive issues which should serve me well. In the depths of the Great Recession, I learned about how to be compassionate to those evicted from their homes. More recently, I helped feed impoverished senior citizens in the building where I live on the Chicago Lakeshore campus of Loyola University. Like the Jesuit missionaries who preceded me, I have petitioned in every quarter of the Ninth Congressional District. When I meet a new acquaintance, they appear to keep an open mind about my affiliation & are not surprised when I introduce myself as favorably influencing virtuous young men & women. That gives me the unique opportunity to ingratiate myself to Congressional leaders to the future benefit of my constituents."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


One must exhibit compassion to listen & have the courage to lead through these tumultuous times.


The Democratic Party must extend its reach as preached by my congressional ballot associate—Rahm Israel Emanuel.


Investing in future economic growth should be one of the leading priorities.

Image of Bethany Johnson

Website

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I came to this district as a trans youth living out of my van, looking for safety and a future. I built a life and career here, becoming the first trans woman to play roller derby in Chicago. After some time away traveling the country and completing my college degree, I returned five years ago with my husband - because we knew this was where we wanted to build our life together. 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."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


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.

Image of Sam Polan

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "Sam is a Wilmette native and Special Operations Veteran who deployed to the Middle East three times and rose to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army. He served first with Army Air Defense, before passing one of the military’s most demanding selection processes to become an Airborne-qualified Special Operations Civil Affairs Officer. In Sam’s new role, he learned Arabic and completed multiple deployments with SEAL teams as part of a Joint Special Warfare task force. “I’m running for Congress because I am deeply concerned about the direction this country is headed under the Trump Administration and the failures of our current national Democratic leadership,” said Polan. “More than deeply concerned… I’m angry. I learned early on you don’t leave problems for other people. I don’t know how to bury my head in the sand, or how to sit idly by when Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans threaten our very democracy and all the institutions we hold dear, that I was driven to defend in uniform.” “We are at an inflection point where our Democratic leaders have also failed us… failed to stop the Trump attacks, failed to put up candidates with fresh ideas that excite voters, and failed to provide a clear vision. Democrats need to WIN again. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We need a new generation of leadership that brings not only fresh ideas, but the life experience and ability to get things done.”"


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Defend the Constitution and the rule of law


Restore and defend civil liberties


Building an equitable path to the American Dream

Image of Nick Pyati

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I’ve taught public school in New York City with Teach for America, prosecuted corporate crimes in President Obama’s Justice Department, and led strategy for major products at Microsoft. I’ve always been driven by a belief that things can be better - and an impatience to get there. Since November, that impatience has been growing. I’ve watched the wreckage of this administration pile up, and have been waiting for the Democratic Party–my party since before I could vote–to lead. Now, I'm running for Congress because it’s clear that we need new leadership and a new approach. That’s why I’m offering a clear vision for the future, focused on renewing the American dream, building the future, and fighting for freedom–all deeply informed by my experience. I was born and raised in the Chicago area and now live in Evanston with my wife and our sons. School and work have taken me around the country, but this has always been home. Our country desperately needs leadership now, and I know our district is up to the challenge."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


In the last century, America led the world. We beat back autocrats, built a thriving middle class, invented new industries, and advanced civil rights. Now, many Americans feel we’ve lost our way. Those triumphs are a distant memory, and our sense of shared purpose is fading. We need leaders who can meet this moment with ambition and clarity, but Democrats haven’t delivered. We’ve paid the price with voters and allowed a disastrous era to continue. We urgently need a new path. If we cling to ideas that have failed for a decade, we’ll keep losing. If we offer a vision for a stronger, fairer, and freer nation, we can inspire the country and build a winning majority. That vision is a New American Century. America can lead again.


We Must: Reverse this administration’s attacks on education and preserve funding for public schools Invest in alternative skill pathways, like flexible degree programs and certificates, and give employers incentives to hire candidates who use them Invest in research and programs to give all students AI literacy and readiness End tariffs and other policies that needlessly drive up costs Reform our tax code to shift the burden off middle-class families Reduce barriers to increasing supply of housing and other critical necessities Reverse cruel cuts to Medicaid, strengthen and stabilize Social Security, and pass Medicare for All Advance policies like paid parental leave that help Americans take care of themselves and their loved ones


We Must: Reinstate and expand federal research funding, and protect science from politics Invest in critical and emerging industries to fuel America’s competitiveness Give scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs from all over the world the incentive to discover and build in America End restrictive trade practices that hobble the American economy Strengthen trade relationships to ensure American companies have access to the world’s markets Vigorously enforce antitrust law to drive competition and give small and innovative companies a chance to win Experiment with new ways for the public to participate in steering innovation, particularly in high-stakes fields like AI

Image of Howard Rosenblum

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I am a Deaf civil rights lawyer with over 30 years of experience advocating for equal access. My career has combined 20 years of litigation in Illinois and 13 years of national leadership in disability rights, focusing on systemic change through law, policy, and public advocacy. My work has included landmark cases, such as requiring Netflix to provide captions on streaming content, holding Harvard and MIT accountable for website accessibility, reversing harmful USDA accommodation policies, and ensuring President Trump provided sign language interpreters at public briefings. I am running for Congress to continue this fight for civil rights and equal access for all Americans, and to make history as the first Deaf member of the U.S. House of Representative."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Restore the rule of law and the Constitution to prevent further abuses of power


Rewrite stronger civil rights protection and enforcement for all Americans, particularly those who have been marginalized


Reconstruct federal agencies and critically needed programs and services

See more

See more here: Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)

Candidate profiles

There are currently no candidate profiles created for this race. Candidate profiles will appear here as they are created. Encourage the candidates in this race to complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey so that their profile will appear here. You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

Voting information

See also: Voting in Illinois

Election information in Illinois: March 17, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: March 17, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 17, 2026
  • Online: March 1, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: March 16, 2026
  • By mail: Received by March 12, 2026
  • Online: March 12, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: March 17, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by March 17, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 5, 2026 to March 16, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CT)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia is seeking 100 percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Kat Abughazaleh Democratic Party $2,705,176 $1,894,223 $810,953 As of December 31, 2025
Bushra Amiwala Democratic Party $957,628 $456,009 $501,619 As of December 31, 2025
Phil Andrew Democratic Party $1,210,786 $249,373 $961,414 As of December 31, 2025
Natalie Angelo Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Daniel K. Biss Democratic Party $1,984,528 $608,224 $1,376,305 As of December 31, 2025
Patricia Brown Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Jeff Cohen Democratic Party $766,870 $214,075 $552,795 As of December 31, 2025
Laura Fine Democratic Party $1,921,415 $481,445 $1,439,970 As of December 31, 2025
Justin Ford Democratic Party $26,815 $27,266 $-817 As of December 31, 2025
Mark Fredrickson Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Hoan Huynh Democratic Party $1,003,075 $262,169 $737,781 As of December 31, 2025
Bethany Johnson Democratic Party $2,324 $370 $1,954 As of September 30, 2025
Sam Polan Democratic Party $362,064 $222,823 $139,240 As of December 31, 2025
Nick Pyati Democratic Party $261,991 $202,503 $59,488 As of December 31, 2025
Howard Rosenblum Democratic Party $129,474 $69,403 $36,845 As of December 31, 2025
Mike Simmons Democratic Party $324,880 $189,729 $135,152 As of December 31, 2025
Rocio Cleveland Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
John Elleson Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Paul Friedman Republican Party $2,700 $0 $2,700 As of December 31, 2025
Mark Su Republican Party $19,869 $12,030 $7,839 As of December 31, 2025
Delila Barrera Independent $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

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."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[11]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[12][13][14]

Race ratings: Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
2/3/20261/27/20261/20/20261/13/2026
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Illinois in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Illinois, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Illinois U.S. House Established parties Not less than .5% (.005) of the qualified primary electors of their party in the congressional district N/A 11/3/2025 Source
Illinois U.S. House Independents Not less than 5% nor more than 8% (or 50 more than the minimum, whichever is greater) of the total number of persons who voted at the last regular general election within the congressional district. N/A 5/26/2026 Source


District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) defeated Seth Alan Cohen (R) in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jan Schakowsky
Jan Schakowsky (D)
 
68.4
 
231,722
Image of Seth Alan Cohen
Seth Alan Cohen (R)  Candidate Connection
 
31.6
 
107,106

Total votes: 338,828
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jan Schakowsky
Jan Schakowsky
 
100.0
 
75,106

Total votes: 75,106
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

No candidate advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Michael Walters (Write-in)
 
100.0
 
57

Total votes: 57
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) defeated Max Rice (R) in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jan Schakowsky
Jan Schakowsky (D)
 
71.7
 
179,615
Image of Max Rice
Max Rice (R)
 
28.3
 
70,915

Total votes: 250,530
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jan Schakowsky
Jan Schakowsky
 
100.0
 
76,956

Total votes: 76,956
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Max Rice (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Max Rice
Max Rice
 
100.0
 
22,751

Total votes: 22,751
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) defeated Sargis Sangari (R) in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jan Schakowsky
Jan Schakowsky (D)
 
71.0
 
262,045
Image of Sargis Sangari
Sargis Sangari (R)
 
29.0
 
107,125

Total votes: 369,170
Candidate Connection = 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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) defeated Andrew Heldut (D) (Withdrew, still on ballot) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jan Schakowsky
Jan Schakowsky
 
99.7
 
127,467
Image of Andrew Heldut
Andrew Heldut (Withdrew, still on ballot) (Write-in)
 
0.3
 
355

Total votes: 127,822
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Sargis Sangari (R) defeated Richard Mayers (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sargis Sangari
Sargis Sangari
 
100.0
 
11,808
Richard Mayers (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
1

Total votes: 11,809
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_il_congressional_district_09.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+19. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 19 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Illinois' 9th the 63rd most Democratic district nationally.[15]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Illinois' 9th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
68.0%31.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Illinois, 2024

Illinois presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 17 Democratic wins
  • 15 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R R D R R R R D D D D D R R D D R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D
See also: Party control of Illinois state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Illinois' congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Illinois
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 14 16
Republican 0 3 3
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 17 19

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Illinois' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Illinois, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party J.B. Pritzker
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Juliana Stratton
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party Alexi Giannoulias
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party Kwame Raoul

State legislature

Illinois State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 40
     Republican Party 19
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 59

Illinois House of Representatives

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 78
     Republican Party 40
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 118

Trifecta control

Illinois Party Control: 1992-2025
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate D R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

See also

Illinois 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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Illinois congressional delegation
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U.S. Senate elections
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Special elections
Ballot access

External links

Footnotes


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
Mike Bost (R)
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Democratic Party (16)
Republican Party (3)