Melissa Bean enters 8th Congressional race, 15 years after loss to Joe Walsh
Former Democratic Congresswoman Melissa Bean of Barrington has announced her campaign to reclaim the 8th District seat she lost to Joe Walsh in 2010, just as a second Republican candidate is poised to announce her run in next spring’s primaries.
While entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker Jennifer Davis of the Huntley area is scheduled to announce her candidacy next Thursday for the Republican nomination already sought by Mark Rice of Chicago, Bean joins a crowded field of eight Democrats aiming to succeed five-term incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi.
“I’m officially announcing that I'm running again for Illinois’ 8th District, the district I once represented,” Bean posted on Facebook. “I can no longer sit on the sidelines as Trump and Republicans in Congress hurt working families by decimating health care, giving billionaires tax breaks and undermining our democracy.”
Bean defeated longtime Republican incumbent Philip Crane in 2004. Three terms later she lost to Walsh by 291 votes.
Walsh was defeated in 2012 by Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who became a senator in 2016 when she was succeeded by Krishnamoorthi. He’s now running for Illinois’ other Senate seat.
Already declared for the Democratic primary are Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison of Mount Prospect, Hanover Park Village Trustee Yasmeen Bankole, Neil Khot of Hoffman Estates, Junaid Ahmed of South Barrington, Dan Tully of Carol Stream, Sanjyot Dunung of Des Plaines, Christ Kallas of Schaumburg and Ryan Vetticad of South Barrington.
Bean described her platform as seeking the protection of affordable health care, Social Security, Medicare and working families.
“Republicans in Congress have made it clear they won't stand up for the Constitution and will rubber stamp any of President Trump’s reckless policies,” she wrote. “The 8th District deserves a proven leader in Congress that will stand up for them — I hope to again earn your trust.”
Rice is running for the Republican nomination again after having challenged Krishnamoorthi in last year’s general election.
Davis describes herself as a wife, mother of 10 children and entrepreneur. She’s the co-founder and former CEO of Davisware, an international technology software company, and author of the book, “Living Exponentially.”
Her platform emphasizes family, parents’ rights in education, small business entrepreneurship, fiscal responsibility, term limits, local control in government, free speech, strong borders, safe communities and an anti-abortion stance.