After a one-week break, Leon resuming campaign for 9th Congressional seat

One week after suspending his campaign, 9th District congressional candidate Bruce Leon has decided not to drop out of the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

Thursday was the deadline for candidates to withdraw and not appear on the March 17 ballots. Leon, an entrepreneur who serves as a ward committeeperson in Chicago, confirmed via email Friday that he’s resuming campaign activities.

The 9th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Schakowsky, an Evanston Democrat who has held the seat since 1999, isn’t seeking reelection.

Leon is among 17 candidates for the Democratic nomination. Four Republicans are also running.

Leon suspended his campaign last week at what he said was the urging of supporters and friends who “lost their nerve.” Leon, who is Jewish, said he’d been pressured by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential and well-funded lobbying group, to quit.

AIPAC has supported state Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview, who also is Jewish, for the 9th Congressional District seat but hasn’t formally endorsed her. It’s also criticized Daniel Biss, who is Jewish, and fellow 9th District Democratic hopeful Kat Abughazaleh of Chicago, who is Palestinian American.

The 9th District has a relatively large Jewish population. Its congressional representatives for the past 60 years — Schakowsky and before her, Sidney Yates — have been Jewish.

In a lengthy statement sent via email, Leon said dropping out would protect his future in politics, save him money and relieve “enormous personal stress.”

But he believes district residents deserve a moderate lawmaker “who will stand up unapologetically against antisemitism … and who will defend the U.S.-Israel alliance without fear or hesitation.”

In a social media post, Biss lauded Leon for “standing strong.”

“Bruce and I don't see eye to eye on everything, but our election should be decided by the voters of the 9th District — not out-of-state PACs,” said Biss, who now serves as Evanston’s mayor.

Abughazaleh commended Leon, too.

“This is democracy in action,” she said through a spokesperson.

Leon largely has self-funded his campaign with loans that totaled $800,000 as of September 2025, the most recent Federal Election Commission financial reports show.

In contrast, Abughazaleh had raised more than $1.5 million from individual donors, and Biss had raised more than $1.3 million from individuals and groups by then, their reports show. Fine’s campaign had raised less than $700,000 by the same point, records show.

Year-end financial reports are due by Jan. 31 and will be viewable at fec.gov.