Yet another Democrat steps into 9th Congressional District race; that makes 18
An Evanston economist has joined the crowded contest to succeed veteran U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in Congress.
True to his profession, Democrat Jeff Cohen said he’s running because people across the largely suburban district are concerned about their finances.
“We have to stop sending politicians to Congress who don’t understand how the economy works,” Cohen said this week in his campaign kickoff news release. “If you want to fix the economy, send an economist.”
With six months to go until the March 2026 primary, Cohen’s entry into the race makes it 18 Democratic and two Republican candidates in the 9th District, which encompasses parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.
A 19th Democrat filed but later dropped out.
Schakowsky, an Evanston Democrat, announced in May that she wouldn’t seek reelection in 2026. The substantial interest in the seat she’s held since 1999 has stunned political activists, experts and observers.
“In all my years working in politics and campaigns, I have never ever seen that many candidates for one congressional district,” said Lauren Beth Gash, the chair of the Lake County Democratic Party.
The 9th District stretches between Chicago’s North Shore and the Crystal Lake area. The Democratic Party has held the seat since 1949; Schakowsky defeated her last Republican challenger, Chicagoan Seth Cohen, by 36 percentage points in 2024.
With Schakowsky not running again, the Democratic primary in the 9th surely will be one of the most-watched and costliest races on spring ballots in Illinois. Some candidates already have separated themselves from the pack.
Of the Democrats who were in the race as of June 30, the last day of campaign fundraising for the year’s second quarter, four — internet personality Kat Abughazaleh of Chicago, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, state Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview and Skokie school board member Bushra Amiwala — reported fundraising totals in the six-figure range. A fifth Democratic candidate, Chicagoan Bruce Leon, hit that mark with a massive personal loan.
The other Democratic candidates are Skokie resident Howard Rosenblum; Evanston residents Miracle Jenkins, Bethany Johnson, Jill Manrique and Nick Pyati; political newcomers Justin Ford, Tamika La’Shon Hill, Lauren Million and Sam Polan, all of Chicago; Wilmette resident Phil Andrew; state Sen. Mike Simmons of Chicago; and state Rep. Hoan Huynh of Chicago.
Chicagoan David Abrevaya formed a campaign committee in April but later quit the race.
Gash expects some of the current candidates will join Abrevaya on the sidelines before Election Day.
“Some will not file their nomination petitions because, for instance, they will be unable to get the needed signatures,” she said. “Some will drop out because they don't think they have a path to victory or other reasons. Some candidate petitions will be challenged at the electoral board level, causing them to be knocked off the ballot due to petition insufficiencies.”
Republicans Rocio Cleveland of Island Lake and Mark Su of Chicago also are running.
New state Senate candidate
Elsewhere, an Arlington Heights resident has announced his bid to succeed Democratic state Sen. Mark Walker, who isn’t running in 2026.
Dave Mathis, who served in the U.S. Marines and Army National Guard and now works in security, will seek the Republican nomination in the 27th state Senate District.
“My goal is to bring balance back to Illinois by moving away from partisan extremes and working toward practical results,” Mathis said in an introductory email to the Daily Herald.
Arlington Heights Trustee Carina Santa Maria is seeking the Democratic nomination.
Walker, also of Arlington Heights, was appointed to the Senate in 2024 following two stints in the state House.
The 27th District encompasses all or parts of Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Barrington, Inverness, Palatine, Prospect Heights and South Barrington.
• Political Roundabout is an occasional column on campaign, legislative and political news with a suburban focus.