Richard Boykin
Richard Boykin (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 7th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.[source]
Boykin (Democratic Party) was a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in Illinois, representing District 1. He assumed office in 2014. He left office on December 3, 2018.
Biography
Boykin received his bachelor's degree from Central State University and his J.D. from the University of Dayton.[1] He served as the chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis from 1997 to 2006 and on the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 2014 to 2018.[1] His career experience includes working as a lawyer.[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][1] Boykin says he would focus on lowering the cost of living and promoting public safety.[3]
- Kina Collins (D) is a political organizer.[4] 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."[5]
- Melissa Conyears-Ervin (D) was elected Chicago City Treasurer in 2019 and previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019.[6] Conyears-Ervin says she would focus on the economy and would support "apprenticeships, fair wages, and local manufacturing."[7] Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot endorsed Conyears-Ervin.[8]
- Thomas Fisher (D) is an emergency physician.[9] 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."[10] 314 Action endorsed Fisher.[11]
- 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.[12] 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.[1] 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."[7] Ford says his legislative career has been "rooted in trust, accessibility, and the belief that government should open doors."[12] 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 candidate list in this election may not be complete.
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, Anita Rao, and Jabari Taylor are running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 7 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Nathan Billips (Independent) | |
| Anita Rao (Independent) | ||
 | Jabari Taylor (Independent)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed 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. | ||||
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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. | ||||
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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 | $383,262 | $319,121 | $60,641 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Kina Collins | Democratic Party | $54,854 | $52,441 | $2,413 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Melissa Conyears-Ervin | Democratic Party | $620,822 | $462,436 | $167,119 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Anthony Driver Jr. | Democratic Party | $224,181 | $203,557 | $20,623 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| David Ehrlich | Democratic Party | $8,213 | $7,843 | $370 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Thomas Fisher | Democratic Party | $799,662 | $538,789 | $260,873 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| La Shawn Ford | Democratic Party | $494,774 | $355,661 | $139,113 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Jason Friedman | Democratic Party | $2,507,058 | $2,121,254 | $385,804 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Rory Hoskins | Democratic Party | $200,085 | $184,443 | $15,642 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Anabel Mendoza | Democratic Party | $228,238 | $149,088 | $79,151 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| Jazmin Robinson | Democratic Party | $21,215 | $16,316 | $4,899 | As of December 31, 2025 |
| Reed Showalter | Democratic Party | $331,528 | $271,085 | $60,443 | As of February 25, 2026 |
| 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
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2022
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2022)
General election
General election for Cook County Board of Commissioners President
Incumbent Toni Preckwinkle defeated Bob Fioretti and Thea Tsatsos in the general election for Cook County Board of Commissioners President on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Toni Preckwinkle (D) | 68.5 | 967,062 |
 | Bob Fioretti (R) | 28.3 | 399,339 | |
| Thea Tsatsos (L) | 3.2 | 44,615 | ||
| Total votes: 1,411,016 | |||
| = 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
- Eddie Taylor (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners President
Incumbent Toni Preckwinkle defeated Richard Boykin in the Democratic primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners President on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Toni Preckwinkle | 75.8 | 374,699 |
| Richard Boykin | 24.2 | 119,915 | |
| Total votes: 494,614 | |||
| = 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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Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners President
Thea Tsatsos advanced from the Libertarian primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners President on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thea Tsatsos | 100.0 | 1,992 | |
| Total votes: 1,992 | |||
| = 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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2020
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2020)
General election
General election for Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Iris Martinez defeated Barbara Ruth Bellar in the general election for Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Iris Martinez (D) | 73.0 | 1,549,615 |
 | Barbara Ruth Bellar (R) | 27.0 | 572,169 | |
| Total votes: 2,121,784 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Theresa Benjamin (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Iris Martinez defeated Michael Cabonargi, Richard Boykin, and Jacob Meister in the Democratic primary for Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Iris Martinez | 33.7 | 269,578 |
| Michael Cabonargi | 27.0 | 216,180 | ||
| Richard Boykin | 24.9 | 199,526 | |
 | Jacob Meister | 14.2 | 113,855 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 1,511 | ||
| Total votes: 800,650 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Barbara Ruth Bellar advanced from the Republican primary for Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Ruth Bellar | 99.4 | 64,160 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 375 | ||
| Total votes: 64,535 | |||
| = 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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2018
General election
General election for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 1
Brandon Johnson won election in the general election for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 1 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Brandon Johnson (D) | 100.0 | 88,590 |
| Total votes: 88,590 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 Cook County Board of Commissioners District 1
Brandon Johnson defeated incumbent Richard Boykin in the Democratic primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 1 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brandon Johnson | 50.4 | 24,863 |
| Richard Boykin | 49.6 | 24,426 | |
| Total votes: 49,289 | |||
| = 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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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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Campaign website
Boykin's campaign website stated the following:
The People’s Playbook: A Contract with the 7th District
Lower Costs. More Jobs. Safe Streets.
Introduction
Growing up in Englewood, I was an All-City and All-State football player for Chicago Vocational High School. Football is important to me. I went to Central State University in Ohio on a football scholarship, and I learned so many important lessons on the football field. The most important lesson that I’ve carried with me throughout my life is the importance of a solid playbook. Your team doesn’t stand a chance without one.
As your Congressman, my team will be the entire 7th District. And when I show up to work on my first day, I will carry with me my Playbook for the 7th District - The People’s Playbook.
For too long, our 7th District communities have heard empty rhetoric from politicians who talk a big game about the need for change, while our challenges only grow and life in our neighborhoods only gets more difficult.
These are the kinds of results that occur when our leaders report for duty unprepared, without a vision for success. This is what happens when our leaders don’t have a playbook.
We need a real playbook for change - one that lowers costs, creates jobs, and makes every street safe.
As your future Congressman from the 7th District, I make this contract with you: I will devote my service in Congress to implementing the following playbook—The People’s Playbook—and I will not take my eye off the ball for one moment. I will come out strong and not let up. I am in this to win it for you, my team, my neighbors. That’s how we will make the change together that the 7th District so desperately needs.
- Richard R. Boykin
Play One: Lower Costs, End Corruption
Families pay too much for housing, groceries, and health care — while the powerful and well-connected get rich off waste and pay-to-play deals.
As your Congressman, I will work tirelessly with public and private partners to:
- End food deserts and increase access to fresh food and produce
- Lower drug and health care costs
- Expand affordable housing
- Crack down on corruption so tax dollars flow to the people of the 7th District, not politicians and powerful special interests
The Goal:
- Lower costs
- An end to the corruption that increases costs to our families and communities
Play Two: More Jobs
The sad fact is that some of our 7th District communities haven’t seen any real economic investment since Lyndon Johnson was president. That’s not just unacceptable - it’s the mark of failed leadership. We need to think and govern differently to create economic opportunity in neighborhoods that have not seen any real economic growth in more than half a century.
As your Congressman, I will join with public and private partners, and make it his mission to:
- Launch training and trade programs that prepare people for real careers
- Prioritize residents of communities with the highest unemployment by making sure those neighborhoods and individuals are first in line for federal funds and programs designed to stimulate growth and opportunity
- Bring manufacturing back to the West Side by incentivizing investment through tax credits and public funds to revitalize industry
- Prioritize industries and sectors that will create good-paying, union jobs with dignity and security
The Goal:
- An end to double digit unemployment
- Widespread economic opportunity, especially those communities in the 7th District that endure systemic economic challenges
Play Three: Safe Streets
To state it plainly, the 7th District struggles with levels of deadly gun violence that no community in America should have to face. Too many of our residents have lost loved ones or fallen victim themselves to senseless shootings. And far too many of our neighbors are scared to venture outside their homes after dark, fear for their children’s safety in broad daylight, and struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after experiencing or witnessing the unthinkable. We must do better!
I believe effective violence prevention happens as the result of a multi-faceted approach that also includes education, mental health, community policing and environmental safety. As Congressman for the 7th District he will join with public and private partners to:
- Increase investments in violence prevention programs, our local school districts, and after-school programs
- Renew the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban
- Increase safe firearm storage awareness and promote and expand access to biometric ‘smart guns’
- Expand illegal gun ‘buy-back’ initiatives, prioritizing the communities with the highest level of gun violence
- Increase funding for mental health services and addiction support
- Work with all levels of government to build a durable structure for police accountability while also expanding community policing initiatives
- Ensure clean drinking water, safely remove lead pipes, and clean up toxic sites - because safe streets start with safe homes and safe environments
The Goal
- Drastically reduce the annual number of firearm deaths
- Destigmatize mental healthcare and create a strong, connected mental health ‘safety net’ throughout the 7th District that includes support for addiction recovery
- Expand police-community partnerships
- Safeguard the environment and environmental health of 7th District communities
Closing Pledge:
This is my contract with the 7th District:
Lower costs. More jobs. Safe streets.
We will achieve these goals using a variety of tools with a variety of partners. Ultimately, these are the three plays in the People’s Playbook for the 7th Congressional District of Illinois.
My commitment to you is that on my first day in Congress, I will place The People’s Playbook on my desk, and immediately get to work.
I invite you to join me in this movement! Together, we will disrupt the status quo and deliver winning results that the people of the 7th District deserve!
- Richard R. Boykin
— Richard Boykin's campaign website (December 1, 2025)
Campaign ads
View more ads here:
2022
Richard Boykin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Richard Boykin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Richard Boykin 2026 campaign website, "Meet Richard," accessed November 24, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "boykin" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Austin Weekly News, "Richard Boykin announces candidacy for 7th District congressional seat," September 19, 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
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 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
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 La Shawn Ford 2026 campaign website, "Experience That's Ready On Day One for the People of the 7th Congressional District," accessed November 23, 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
