Who's running in Illinois's 8th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Cutting housing, health care, energy and education costs for families in the district.
Due process in immigration enforcement; she has called for the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over ICE conduct in Illinois neighbourhoods.
Investment in public education, workforce training and apprenticeships.
Reproductive rights.
Campaign finance reform and government accountability.
Regulation of artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and digital safety for children.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 8th District, 2005 to 2011; defeated in 2010.
Member of the New Democrat Coalition and the Blue Dog Coalition during her time in Congress, and co-chair of the New Democrats' financial services task force.
Won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary in an eight-candidate field.
Voted to extend the Bush tax cuts, and voted for ICE appropriations totalling about $26 billion between 2005 and 2009.
Arguments in favor
Both suburban and Chicago editorial boards endorsed her, the Tribune saying it admires her solid record in office alongside sensible but principled views, and the Daily Herald saying her congressional experience gives her a leg up in a difficult political climate.
— Chicago Tribune editorial board, February 2026; Daily Herald editorial board, February 2026
She is backed by Illinois's senior senator and by senior House Democrats including the former Speaker, which her campaign presents as evidence she could be effective from her first day back.
— Sen. Tammy Duckworth; Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi; Leader Steny Hoyer; Reps. Bill Foster, Brad Schneider, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Greg Landsman and Scott Peters; former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White
Arguments against
Justice Democrats argued she cannot win on her own and needed millions from outside groups to do it, pointing to nearly $4 million from an AIPAC-linked committee, more than $1 million from a pro-artificial-intelligence PAC and $1 million pledged by pro-cryptocurrency PACs.
— Usamah Andrabi, communications director of Justice Democrats, in The American Prospect
The same reporting argued her record contradicts her campaign: as co-chair of the New Democrats' financial services task force she pushed amendments that would have weakened the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, she voted to extend the Bush tax cuts, and she voted repeatedly to fund ICE and against amnesty despite now campaigning against ICE conduct.
— The American Prospect, March 2026
What we couldn’t verify
Whether Bean has responded to the American Prospect's account of her record was not established from sources read.
The Chicago Federation of Labor declined to endorse in the Democratic primary; no reasoning was published.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Bean for the 2026 cycle could be found.
Affordability as the district's central problem, which she calls a crushing crisis for families, young adults and seniors.
Cutting federal taxes on working families.
Reducing regulation that she says holds back small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Growth through community partnerships and targeted tax incentives.
Public safety, which she frames as putting people over politics.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Co-founder, at 17, of Davisware, a field-service software company she built with her husband Dan into an international business.
Has not held elected office.
Won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary over Mark Rice, Kevin Ake and Herbert Hebein.
Resident of Huntley.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Davis by name could be found. Searched: her name with 'criticism', with 'residency', with 'Davisware', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Melissa Bean's campaign, and against Daily Herald and Chicago Sun-Times coverage. The Daily Herald's report on the Republican primary debate between her and Mark Rice could not be retrieved. Because no case against her exists on the record, no case for her is presented either, rather than showing her own campaign's case unanswered.
The Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Journal & Topics editorial boards all endorsed her in the 2026 Republican primary, as did former Illinois Senate minority leader Dan McConchie and the Illinois Young Republicans; none published reasoning that could be quoted here.
Her fundraising was not established from sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
This is an open seat: Democratic incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi did not seek re-election, running for the U.S. Senate instead. Illinois held its primary on March 17, 2026. Former congresswoman Melissa Bean, who held a predecessor version of this seat from 2005 to 2011, won an eight-candidate Democratic primary; businesswoman Jennifer Davis won a four-candidate Republican primary. The district covers the western outer suburbs of Chicago including Elgin, Schaumburg and Des Plaines. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Roll Call reporting. Criticism of Davis by name could not be found, so her entry carries no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Illinois ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Illinois State Board of Elections.