GOP state lawmaker considering congressional run
Perennial Republican congressional candidate James Marter of Oswego may soon have competition for his party’s nomination in Illinois’ 14th District.
State Rep. Jed Davis of Newark has filed a statement of candidacy for the congressional seat, which has been held by Democrat Lauren Underwood of Naperville since 2019. It identifies his campaign committee as Jed for Freedom DC.
Davis also has launched a congressional campaign website, jedforfreedom.com.
But in a statement to the Daily Herald on Monday, Davis said he hasn’t decided if he’ll run.
The candidacy statement “gives me the legal ability to raise funds and travel the district as I explore a full campaign,” Davis said. “The website carries the same goal, allowing me the ability of fully exploring this opportunity.”
Davis, whose hometown is about 23 miles southwest of Aurora, said he expects to make a final decision by the end of June. “Hopefully sooner,” he added.
A former Newark village trustee, Davis has represented the 75th District in the state House since 2023. He is a member of the Illinois Freedom Caucus.
Underwood announced in mid-May that she’ll run for reelection in the 14th District rather than battle for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated in 2026 by veteran Democrat Dick Durbin.
Underwood is facing a challenge for the Democratic nomination in the 14th from Earlville resident Roman Valenciano.
Marter is the only declared Republican candidate for the 14th District seat at the moment. He also ran for Congress in 2018, 2020 and 2022 and for U.S. Senate in 2016.
Underwood defeated Marter by 10 percentage points in 2024.
The 14th District includes parts of Kane, Will and five other counties.
Another candidate in the 9th
Skokie School District 73.5 board member Bushra Amiwala on Monday announced she’ll run for Congress in the 9th District, joining an already crowded field for the Democratic nomination.
“Illinois’ 9th District deserves leadership that mirrors its community — diverse, hardworking, and ready for bold change,” Amiwala said in a news release. “I’m running to build a government that listens to its people, lifts up every voice and delivers real results.”
Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston isn’t seeking reelection in the 9th District, which includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.
Amiwala first garnered political attention in 2018 when, at 19, she challenged veteran Cook County Board incumbent Larry Suffredin in the Democratic primary for his seat. Suffredin, of Evanston, won; he no longer serves on the board.
Now 27, she first was elected to the school board in 2019 and was reelected to a second, 4-year term in 2023.
The other Democratic candidates in the 9th are state Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, and Chicagoans Kat Abughazaleh, David Abrevaya and Miracle Jenkins. Republicans Mark Su of Chicago and Rocio Cleveland of Island Lake also are running.
• Political Roundabout is an occasional column on campaign, legislative and political news with a suburban focus.