Halvorson will challenge Jackson Jr.

Former Rep. Debbie Halvorson said Wednesday that she will again run for Congress by challenging longtime Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. for the Democratic nomination in the Chicago-area’s 2nd Congressional District.

Halvorson spent one term representing Illinois’ 11th Congressional District, which spanned from Chicago’s Southwest suburbs to the central part of the state, before she lost the seat to Republican Adam Kinzinger in the 2010. She will officially announce her candidacy Thursday morning at a restaurant in Chicago Heights across the street from her alma mater, Bloom High School.

The 2nd District, which borders the 11th District and encompasses part of Chicago and its South suburbs, has been redrawn since the last election.

“Our families are facing serious challenges, and they need a serious member of Congress who can get things done,” Halvorson said in a news release. “Our neighbors don’t need rhetoric, they need results, and I’ve delivered actual results for nearly 20 years. I’m running to bring real representation, real leadership, and real results back to our district.”

Jackson responded in a statement, citing his achievements in the district over the last 16 years and saying that voters want more jobs and less political infighting. He has been in Congress since 1995.

“I’ve secured more than $900 million in federal investments in the 2nd Congressional District — more than any other congressman in the state during that period,” Jackson said. “I’ve also worked with local communities to secure $700 million in private funds to build a new airport that will create 15,000 new jobs.”

Halvorson previously served as Crete township clerk, Illinois state senator and state senate majority leader.