Eighteen candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th Congressional District on March 17, 2026

By

Andrew Kronaizl

Eighteen candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th Congressional District on March 17, 2026.

Incumbent Danny K. Davis (D) is retiring. The last time the district was open was 1996, when Davis was first elected. Davis was most recently re-elected in 2024 with 83% of the vote. For a list of U.S. Representatives who are not running for re-election in 2026, click here.

The section below lists candidates leading in media attention and fundraising.

  • Richard Boykin (D) is a lawyer who served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 2014 to 2018 and previously worked as Davis’s chief of staff. Boykin says he would focus on lowering the cost of living and promoting public safety.
  • Kina Collins (D) is a political organizer. Collins says she would support "Medicare for All, housing as a human right, fair wages, clean air and water, and an economy that centers people over profit."
  • Melissa Conyears-Ervin (D) was elected Chicago City Treasurer in 2019 and previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. Conyears-Ervin says she would focus on the economy and would support "apprenticeships, fair wages, and local manufacturing." Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot endorsed Conyears-Ervin.
  • Thomas Fisher (D) is an emergency physician. Highlighting his experience as a doctor, Fisher says he would support universal healthcare and would address "inadequate insurance, inflexible jobs, and a frayed safety net." 314 Action endorsed Fisher.
  • La Shawn Ford (D) is a former teacher who was elected to the Illinois House in 2007. Ford says he would focus on creating jobs, improving public health, and supporting criminal justice reform. Davis endorsed Ford.
  • Jason Friedman (D) is the owner and former president of a real estate business. Friedman says he would work to create jobs, support unions, and improve the education system. The Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs endorsed Friedman.

Multiple candidates are campaigning on their political experience. Boykins says he "spent decades developing relationships at all levels of government" and would be able to allocate federal funding to the district. Highlighting her experience as Chicago Treasurer, Conyears-Ervin says she would be able to "expand pathways for homeownership, grow small-business opportunities, and encourage responsible investment." Ford says his legislative career has been "rooted in trust, accessibility, and the belief that government should open doors." Highlighting his work in the office of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Friedman says he has a "background in public service and Democratic causes."

Collins and Conyears-Ervin both ran in previous Democratic primaries for the district. Collins received 14% of the vote in 2020, 46% in 2022, and 19% in 2024. Conyears-Ervin received 21% of the vote in 2024.

As of November 2025, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the general election Safe/Solid Democratic.

Also running in the primary are Jerico Brown (D), Anthony Driver Jr. (D), David Ehrlich (D), Rory Hoskins (D), Kamaria Kali (D), Danica Leigh (D), John McCombs (D), Anabel Mendoza (D), Jazmin Robinson (D), Reed Showalter (D), Felix Tello (D), and William Volny (D).