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La Shawn K. Ford
La Shawn Ford (Democratic Party) is a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing District 8. He assumed office in 2007. His current term ends on January 13, 2027.
Ford (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 7th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 17, 2026.[source]
Biography
Ford received his bachelor's degree in education from Loyola University.[1] His career experience includes teaching in the Chicago public school system and founding a real estate business.[1]
2026 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the March 17, 2026, Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th Congressional District as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Thirteen candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th Congressional District on March 17, 2026.
Incumbent Danny K. Davis (D) is retiring. The last time the district was open was 1996, when Davis was first elected. Davis was most recently re-elected in 2024 with 83% of the vote. For a list of U.S. Representatives who are not running for re-election in 2026, click here.
The section below lists candidates leading in media attention and fundraising. To read more about how Ballotpedia defines noteworthy candidates, click here.
- Richard Boykin (D) is a lawyer who served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 2014 to 2018 and previously worked as Davis’s chief of staff.[2][3] Boykin says he would focus on lowering the cost of living and promoting public safety.[4]
- Kina Collins (D) is a political organizer.[5] Collins says she would support "Medicare for All, housing as a human right, fair wages, clean air and water, and an economy that centers people over profit."[6]
- Melissa Conyears-Ervin (D) was elected Chicago City Treasurer in 2019 and previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019.[7] Conyears-Ervin says she would focus on the economy and would support "apprenticeships, fair wages, and local manufacturing."[8] Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot endorsed Conyears-Ervin.[9]
- Thomas Fisher (D) is an emergency physician.[10] Highlighting his experience as a doctor, Fisher says he would support universal healthcare and would address "inadequate insurance, inflexible jobs, and a frayed safety net."[11] 314 Action endorsed Fisher.[12]
- La Shawn Ford (D) is a former teacher who was elected to the Illinois House in 2007. Ford says he would focus on creating jobs, improving public health, and supporting criminal justice reform.[1] Davis endorsed Ford.[13]
- Jason Friedman (D) is the owner and former president of a real estate business.[14][15] Friedman says he would work to create jobs, support unions, and improve the education system.[16] The Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs endorsed Friedman.[17]
Multiple candidates are campaigning on their political experience. Boykins says he "spent decades developing relationships at all levels of government" and would be able to allocate federal funding to the district.[3] Highlighting her experience as Chicago Treasurer, Conyears-Ervin says she would be able to "expand pathways for homeownership, grow small-business opportunities, and encourage responsible investment."[8] Ford says his legislative career has been "rooted in trust, accessibility, and the belief that government should open doors."[1] Highlighting his work in the office of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Friedman says he has a "background in public service and Democratic causes."[14]
Collins and Conyears-Ervin both ran in previous Democratic primaries for the district. Collins received 14% of the vote in 2020, 46% in 2022, and 19% in 2024. Conyears-Ervin received 21% of the vote in 2024.
As of November 2025, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the general election Safe/Solid Democratic.
Also running in the primary are Anthony Driver Jr. (D), David Ehrlich (D), Rory Hoskins (D), Anabel Mendoza (D), Jazmin Robinson (D), Reed Showalter (D), and Felix Tello (D).
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois' 7th Congressional District election, 2026
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 7
Nathan Billips and Anita Rao are running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 7 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Nathan Billips (Independent) | |
| Anita Rao (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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 7
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 7 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Richard Boykin | |
 | Kina Collins | |
 | Melissa Conyears-Ervin | |
 | Anthony Driver Jr. | |
| David Ehrlich | ||
 | Thomas Fisher | |
 | La Shawn Ford | |
 | Jason Friedman | |
 | Rory Hoskins | |
 | Anabel Mendoza | |
 | Jazmin Robinson | |
 | Reed Showalter | |
| Felix Tello | ||
| ||||
| = 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
- Danica Leigh (D)
- Kamaria Kali (D)
- Jerico Brown (D)
- William Volny (D)
- John McCombs (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 7
Patricia Easley and Chad Koppie are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 7 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Patricia Easley | |
 | Chad Koppie | |
| ||||
| = 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
- Tekita Martinez (R)
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from RealClearPolitics, when available. We will regularly check for polling aggregation for this race and add polls here once available. To notify us of polls available for this race, please email us.
Election campaign finance
Candidate spending
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Boykin | Democratic Party | $129,285 | $79,500 | $49,785 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Kina Collins | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Melissa Conyears-Ervin | Democratic Party | $225,375 | $10,332 | $223,775 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Anthony Driver Jr. | Democratic Party | $102,600 | $27,436 | $75,164 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| David Ehrlich | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Thomas Fisher | Democratic Party | $377,899 | $54,681 | $323,217 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| La Shawn Ford | Democratic Party | $256,631 | $23,457 | $233,174 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Jason Friedman | Democratic Party | $1,500,959 | $414,408 | $1,086,551 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Rory Hoskins | Democratic Party | $101,631 | $45,975 | $55,656 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Anabel Mendoza | Democratic Party | $24,925 | $18,512 | $6,413 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Jazmin Robinson | Democratic Party | $9,067 | $8,942 | $125 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Reed Showalter | Democratic Party | $103,210 | $4,078 | $99,132 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Felix Tello | Democratic Party | $8,410 | $1,898 | $6,512 | As of September 30, 2025 |
|
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.[18][19][20]
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 |
|---|---|
Endorsements
Ford received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D)
2024
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford defeated Leslie Collazo in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford (D) | 75.2 | 29,352 |
 | Leslie Collazo (R) | 24.8 | 9,682 | |
| Total votes: 39,034 | |||
| = 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 election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford | 100.0 | 9,769 |
| Total votes: 9,769 | |||
| = 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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2022
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford defeated Thomas Hurley in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford (D) | 75.5 | 22,187 |
 | Thomas Hurley (R) | 24.5 | 7,195 | |
| Total votes: 29,382 | |||
| = 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 election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford | 100.0 | 9,963 |
| Total votes: 9,963 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford (D) | 100.0 | 36,932 |
| Total votes: 36,932 | |||
| = 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 election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford | 100.0 | 18,036 |
| Total votes: 18,036 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2019
See also: Mayoral election in Chicago, Illinois (2019)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mayor of Chicago
Lori Lightfoot defeated Toni Preckwinkle in the general runoff election for Mayor of Chicago on April 2, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Lori Lightfoot (Nonpartisan) | 73.7 | 386,039 |
 | Toni Preckwinkle (Nonpartisan) | 26.3 | 137,765 | |
| Total votes: 523,804 | |||
| = 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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General election
General election for Mayor of Chicago
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Chicago on February 26, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lori Lightfoot (Nonpartisan) | 17.5 | 97,667 |
| ✔ | | Toni Preckwinkle (Nonpartisan) | 16.0 | 89,343 |
 | Bill Daley (Nonpartisan) | 14.8 | 82,294 | |
 | Willie Wilson (Nonpartisan) | 10.6 | 59,072 | |
 | Susana Mendoza (Nonpartisan) | 9.0 | 50,373 | |
 | Amara Enyia (Nonpartisan) | 8.0 | 44,589 | |
 | Jerry Joyce (Nonpartisan) | 7.2 | 40,099 | |
 | Gery Chico (Nonpartisan) | 6.2 | 34,521 | |
 | Paul Vallas (Nonpartisan) | 5.4 | 30,236 | |
 | Garry McCarthy (Nonpartisan) | 2.7 | 14,784 | |
| La Shawn Ford (Nonpartisan) | 1.0 | 5,606 | |
 | Bob Fioretti (Nonpartisan) | 0.8 | 4,302 | |
 | John Kozlar (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 2,349 | |
 | Neal Sáles-Griffin (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 1,523 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 86 | ||
| Total votes: 556,844 | |||
| = 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
- Catherine Brown D'Tycoon (Nonpartisan)
- Dorothy Brown (Nonpartisan)
- Ja'Mal Green (Nonpartisan)
- Conrien Hykes Clark (Nonpartisan)
- Sandra Mallory (Nonpartisan)
- Richard Mayers (Nonpartisan)
- Roger Washington (Nonpartisan)
2018
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2018
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford (D) | 100.0 | 31,923 |
| Total votes: 31,923 | |||
| = 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 election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent La Shawn Ford advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 8 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | La Shawn Ford | 100.0 | 15,419 |
| Total votes: 15,419 | |||
| = 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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2016
Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was November 30, 2015.[21]
Incumbent La Shawn K. Ford ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 8 general election.[22][23]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  La Shawn K. Ford Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||
Incumbent La Shawn K. Ford ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 8 Democratic primary.[24][25]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 18, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2013. Incumbent La Shawn K. Ford ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[26][27][28]
2012
Ford won election in the 2012 election for Illinois House of Representatives District 8. Ford was unopposed in the March 20 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[29][30][31]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford Incumbent |
100% | 37,824 | |
| Total Votes | 37,824 | |||
2010
Ford won re-election to the 8th District Seat in 2010 with no opposition. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on February 2nd. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[32]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| La Shawn Ford (D)
|
23,179 | 100.0% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Democrat La Shawn Ford won re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives District 8. He ran unopposed receiving 34,666 votes.[33]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| La Shawn Ford (D)
|
34,666 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Democrat La Shawn Ford won election to the Illinois House of Representatives District 8 receiving 21,057 votes ahead of Republican Glenn Harris (2,975 votes), and Nathan Paul Helsabeck (G) who received 1,157 votes.[34]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 8 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| La Shawn Ford (D)
|
21,057 | |||
| Glenn Harris (R) | 2,975 | |||
| Nathan Paul Helsabeck (G) | 1,157 | |||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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You can ask La Shawn Ford to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing ford@acuitypolitics.com.
Campaign website
Ford's campaign website stated the following:
Brighter days are ahead of us all
I am passionate about building effective relationships as well as building bridges to success, meeting the needs of all.
-La Shawn K. Ford
Medicaid and Health Care Access
More than 244,000 people in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District rely on Medicaid to see their doctors and other health care providers, get the preventive health care and the medications they need, and have coverage for testing and hospitalization. More than 65,000 in Illinois’ 7th rely on Medicaid through the 2014 ACA Expansion, or ObamaCare. As State Representative, I worked with community groups and authored and passed 6 laws expanding access to HIV screening, so more people living with HIV, many with Medicaid, were identified and were able to receive their medications. As a co-founder of the West Side Heroin Opioid Task Force in 2019, I have seen people finally be able to get the medications and recovery treatment they need to help them leave heroin or fentanyl behind – mostly because they have Medicaid. As a prostate cancer survivor, I introduced and passed legislation that became law which requires health insurance in Illinois to cover screening for prostate cancer without a co-pay. I also introduced a House Resolution to repeal of the 2013 Medicaid funding trigger law. Preserving and expanding access to Medicaid and health care in general will be one of my top prioirities as your congressman.
Food Prices and Food Stamps/SNAP
More than 64,000 households, or 19.9%, in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District rely on Food Stamps or SNAP for their nutritional needs. For many others, food prices are just too high. To promote healthy eating, good nutrition, and exercise, from 2008 until the COVID-19 pandemic I organized 14 consecutive HEALTH CHALLENGES for school children on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in Chicago, Oak Park, and Berwyn. I introduced legislation that became law which helps people use their SNAP benefits (Food Stamps) at Farmers’ Markets. I was also Chief House Sponsor for successful legislation that established an electronic database to facilitate the purchase of fresh produce and food products by schools. And, I was Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the State Board of Education to develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database. Affordable healthy eating choices and exercise are important to all of our communities, and preserving and expanding access to Food Stamps and access to affordable healthy foods will be a continuing priority for me.
High-Quality Affordable Child Care
Every parent in the 7th District deserves access to high-quality, affordable child care for their young children. That’s why when former Governor Bruce Rauner cut childcare funding in 2015-2016, I led the charge to put $300 million back into the budget to cover the cost of child care for low-income working families. I was Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law lowering the compulsory school age in Illinois to 6 years, from 7. I introduced and passed a House Resolution which creates the Commission to Reform Child Care in Illinois, and I introduced and passed a House Resolution which urges Congress to pass legislation in support of universal childcare services for working families. I will prioritize families to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life, and that every parent can work and attend school. I believe that by working together, we can provide our children with a strong foundation through high-quality early childhood education. Every working family should have access to high-quality preschool options, regardless of their income. Providing safe and affordable child care is beneficial for both families and businesses, as it allows communities to thrive.
Affordable Housing
As a realtor since my college years, I have seen firsthand how stable housing profoundly impacts families. Homeownership isn’t just about having a place to live; it symbolizes security, stability, and the chance to build wealth for future generations. In the Illinois General Assembly, I have advocated for policies that support both homeowners and renters, recognizing the importance of balancing our housing market. To tackle homelessness and improve housing access, I introduced legislation that bans discrimination based on income sources, ensuring that people with Section 8 vouchers can find homes. I also urged Congress to act against residential foreclosures and set up a Foreclosure Prevention Task Force on the West Side of Chicago during the 2011 housing crisis. I believe our path to lower rents involves building strong public-private partnerships to develop more affordable housing options. By fostering collaboration among developers, landlords, and community organizations, we can ensure accessible housing for all families. Let’s commit to policies that create economic opportunities, safeguard housing stability, and end homelessness in our communities. Together, we can make affordable housing a reality for everyone.
College Affordability and Education
As a 6th and 7th grade social studies teacher for 6 years, I saw great potential in my students, and I love catching up with them and seeing what they are doing now. With my daughter now in college, I am well aware of the challenges of college affordability. And, as Illinois House of Representatives Chair of Appropriations for Higher Education, we were able to achieve historic increases in funding in FY26 for student financial aid, our 9 public universities, and our community colleges, totaling more than $2.73 billion. In 2022, I secured $9 million in extra funding for campus mental health services. I was Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law in 2014 lowering the compulsory school age in Illinois to 6 years, from 7. I was co-sponsor of legislation which became law which requires at least one semester of civics in grades 6,7, or 8. And in 2014, I was elected as Community Representative on the Local School Council (LSC) of George Rogers Clark Elementary School in the South Austin Community where I live. Making college and trade schools more affordable and expanding high-quality educational opportunities remain high on my list of priorities.
Jobs and the Economy
I bought and sold my first building when I was in college, and I started my own real estate business while I was still a teacher. I have a deep understanding of the joys and the challenges of being a small business owner, and I know how vital small businesses are to the vibrancy of our communities. People want an opportunity to work, to open their own businesses, and to support their families. For 17 years, my state rep office has sent out daily emails with job listings, through which thousands have found jobs. I introduced the State Employment Application Act (Ban the Box) that now is the practice, and I also introduced legislation that became law which gives returning citizens/ex-offenders the opportunity to seal criminal records. I created and was named Chair of the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee, and I introduced legislation that became law establishing a micro-loan small business program for qualified ex-offenders. To decrease homelessness, I introduced legislation that became law that prohibits discrimination based on the source of their income for people looking to rent an apartment. We have so much more to do to grow job opportunities, promote our small businesses, and expand opportunities to have your own home – these are the challenges we will seize.
Voting Rights and Civil Rights
Voting rights and civil rights are the foundation on which our civil society rests. I Introduced and passed a House Resolution urging Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make all its provisions permanent. I also introduced and passed a House Joint Resolution which supports amending the United States Constitution to explicitly guarantee an individual's right to vote. I introduced legislation that became law stating the State of Illinois ratifies the agreement among the states to elect the President by National Popular Vote, to ensure that the candidate with the most votes is elected President of the United States. I introduced the No Representation Without Population Act, that became a law which provides for a process of using prison inmates’ most recent known address prior to incarceration for purposes of redistricting legislative districts. To increase transparency, I was the Chief Co-sponsor of legislation that became law that requires Illinois corporations to report on the representation of women and minorities on corporate boards. In this time of our history, we need to strongly uphold our voting rights and our civil rights. As Fannie Lou Hamer said and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. emphasized, "Nobody's free until everybody's free".
Supporting Our 7th District Communities
Strong and healthy communities have strong and healthy institutions such as parks, libraries, and schools. I have been honored to work with community groups to secure major funding for great projects in Chicago, Oak Park, Berwyn, Brookfield, North Riverside, La Grange, La Grange Park, and neighboring communities. Strong communities also recognize and honor great people who inspire us to greater action. I have passed House Joint Resolutions that designates a portion of Cicero Avenue as “Mandela Road”; that designates the portion of Roosevelt Road as “Muhammad Ali Road; and that designates part of Interstate 55 as "Barack Obama Presidential Expressway”. I introduced and passed legislation which became law (before Juneteenth was declared a National Holiday) which provides that Juneteenth National Freedom Day shall be observed as a holiday throughout Illinois. For eighteen consecutive years, I have organized our Family Health Challenge honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on his holiday. I served on the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts Pathway to Adventure Council of Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana and I was Chair of the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force. Let’s continue to work together to strengthen our communities.
— La Shawn Ford's campaign website (December 1, 2025)
Campaign ads
Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for La Shawn Ford while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.
2024
La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Chicago 2019 Candidate Survey
La Shawn Ford did not complete Ballotpedia's Chicago candidates survey for 2019.
Campaign website
The following themes were found on Ford's 2019 campaign website.
| “ |
EQUITY IN EDUCATION
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
SAFER COMMUNITIES
HEALTH & QUALITY OF LIFE
TRANSPARENCY, EQUITY & ACCOUNTABILITY
|
” |
| —La Shawn Ford's 2019 campaign website[36] | ||
2014
Ford's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[37]
- Improving education
- Excerpt: "Education is the key to future success and a strong economy. We must work to expand educational opportunities for all students in Illinois and throughout the nation. The future of our country depends on the education we provide to our children today, and we must invest in them."
- Improving health
- Excerpt: "The health and wellness of the American people reflects the health of our nation, physically but also financially. Health care costs are increasing at a rate that is making it hard for families and businesses to keep up. And it’s getting in the way of our ability to compete as a nation in an increasingly global economy. Prescription drug costs and insurance premiums are squeezing families and leaving more Americans without adequate health coverage. I am committed to improving the health of our country now and in the years to come."
- Preventing foreclosures
- Improving community life
- Excerpt: "Strong neighborhoods foster strong families, strong businesses, and strong individuals."
- Veterans support
- Building cross-cultural bridges
- Citizenship
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Ford was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, Chair
- Gaming
- Labor & Commerce Committee
- Mental Health & Addiction Committee
- Museum, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee
2023-2024
Ford was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, Chairperson
- House Financial Institutions Committee
- Labor & Commerce Committee
- Public Utilities Committee
- Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee, Vice Chairperson
2021-2022
Ford was assigned to the following committees:
- House Financial Institutions Committee
- Labor & Commerce Committee
- Public Utilities Committee
- Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, Chair
- Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee, Vice-Chair
2019-2020
Ford was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, Chair
- Personnel & Pensions Committee
- Public Utilities Committee
- House Financial Institutions Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education |
| • Appropriations-Human Services |
| • Financial Institutions, Chair |
| • Higher Education |
| • Insurance: Property & Casualty |
| • Restorative Justice, Chair |
| • Tourism, Hospitality, and Craft Industries, Vice chair |
| • Veterans' Affairs |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations-General Service |
| • Appropriations-Human Services |
| • Economic Development & Housing |
| • Health Care Availability Access, Vice chair |
| • International Trade & Commerce |
| • Restorative Justice, Chair |
| • Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development, Chair |
| • Tourism & Conventions |
| • Veterans' Affairs |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations-Human Services |
| • Health Care Availability Access, Vice chair |
| • Health Care Licenses |
| • Restorative Justice, Chair |
| • Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development, Chair |
| • Tollway Oversight, Vice chair |
| • Veterans' Affairs |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Health & Healthcare Disparities |
| • Housing |
| • Insurance |
| • Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development, Chair |
| • Tollway Oversight, VIce-chair |
| • Tourism & Conventions |
| • Veterans' Affairs |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Ford served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Access to Federal Funding |
| • Insurance |
| • Juvenile Justice Reform |
| • Revenue & Finance |
| • Youth and Family, Vice chair |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
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.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Illinois scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2024, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 16 to May 29.
|
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 to May 27.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2022, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 5 to April 9.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2021, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 13 to June 1.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 8 to May 23.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2019, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through December 31.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2018, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 31.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2017, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 through May 31. There were also special sessions. The 1st special session was June 21-July 6. The 2nd special session was July 26-July 31. During the 3rd special session, the Senate met on August 13, and the House met on August 16. The 4th special session was on August 28-29. There was a veto session from October 24-November 9.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 13 through May 31.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 14 through December 7 (extended session).
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 29 through June 2.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 31.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 through May 31.
|
Noteworthy events
Bank fraud charges
On Thursday, November 29, 2012, Ford was indicted by a federal grand jury on seventeen counts, comprised of eight counts of bank fraud and nine counts of providing the bank with false information. Ford allegedly claimed to banks that he was taking loans out for his company, Ford Desired Real Estate, Inc., and for his own real estate investments, but then used the money for other purposes, including credit card payments and campaign-related expenses. Ford also allegedly submitted false tax returns for inspection by a bank that inflated his income, allowing him to qualify for a credit-line extension and about $500,000 more in loans. If Ford was convicted, each count had a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A trial date was set for April 22, 2014.[40][41][42]
On August 4, 2014, Ford pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor tax count in exchange for prosecutors dropping the 17 felony charges against him. The dropped felony charges meant Ford was not forced to resign his seat.[43] On November 7, he was sentenced to six months' probation and 100 hours of community service.[44]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ford has one child. He is a member of the Austin Young Men's Christian Association Board, Austin Chamber of Commerce Board, Chicago Association of Realtors, Circle Family Care, National Association of Realtors, Finance Committee/Parish Council of Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church, and Founding Organizer of the Zawadi Youth Group.[45]
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate U.S. House Illinois District 7 |
Officeholder Illinois House of Representatives District 8 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 La Shawn Ford 2026 campaign website, "Experience That's Ready On Day One for the People of the 7th Congressional District," accessed November 24, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "ford" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Austin Weekly News, "Richard Boykin announces candidacy for 7th District congressional seat," September 19, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Richard Boykin 2026 campaign website, "Meet Richard, accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ Richard Boykin 2026 campaign website, "The People’s Playbook: A Contract with the 7th District," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ Kina Collins 2026 campaign website, "About Me," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ Kina Collins 2026 campaign website, "Our Campaign's Top Issues," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Former State Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Melissa Conyears-Ervin 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ Politico, "Will Durbin endorsement lose luster?" November 11, 2025
- ↑ Thomas Fisher 2026 campaign website, "Meet Dr. Thomas Fisher," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ Thomas Fisher 2026 campaign website, "Issues," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ 314 Action, "Thomas Fisher," accessed November 25, 2025
- ↑ CBS News, "Congressman Danny Davis announces he won't run for re-election, endorses La Shawn Ford for his seat," July 31, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jason Friedman 2026 campaign website, "Meet Jason," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Top candidates for the US House in Illinois’ 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th districts for the 2026 election," August 19, 2025
- ↑ Jason Friedman 2026 campaign website, "Jason on the Issues," accessed November 23, 2025
- ↑ JAC, "Jason Friedman," accessed November 25, 2025
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election and Campaign Finance Calendar," accessed November 30, 2015
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate list: General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election results, General election 2016," accessed December 15, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed January 3, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results: GENERAL PRIMARY - 3/15/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois Board of Elections, "General Primary Election Official Canvass," April 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed December 5, 2011
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed May 14, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed January 18, 2013
- ↑ Illinois Elections Division, "Illinois Official 2010 General Election Results," November 2, 2010
- ↑ Illinois House of Representatives official election results for 2008
- ↑ Illinois House of Representatives official election results for 2006
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ La Shawn Ford's 2019 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 18, 2019
- ↑ Personal website, "Issues and Legislation," accessed February 21, 2014
- ↑ Citizen Action Illinois, "99th General Assembly Legislative Scorecard 2016," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities, "2016 Illinois Community Living Report," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Capital Fax, "This just in… Rep. Ford indicted for bank fraud," November 29, 2012
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Rep. LaShawn Ford indicted on bank fraud charges," November 29, 2012
- ↑ oakpark.com, "Trial date set for Ford's federal bank fraud case," accessed February 21, 2014
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Surprising plea deal in state Rep. Ford's bank fraud case," August 4, 2014
- ↑ ABC 7 Chicago, "LaShawn Ford sentenced to probation," November 7, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Ford," accessed February 21, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Illinois House of Representatives District 8 2007-Present |
Succeeded by - |
