Who's running in Illinois's 9th 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.
Lowering household costs.
Protecting immigrant communities from federal enforcement.
Abortion rights; he is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Climate and clean energy; he is endorsed by the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and the NRDC Action Fund.
Getting big money out of politics; he is endorsed by End Citizens United.
A negotiated settlement in the Middle East; he is endorsed by J Street.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Mayor of Evanston since 2021.
Illinois state senator, 2013 to 2019; Illinois state representative, 2011 to 2013.
Candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Illinois in 2018.
Mathematician; taught at the University of Chicago before entering politics.
Won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary with 29.5% in a fifteen-candidate field.
Cast the tie-breaking Evanston council vote in October 2023 to rezone for Northwestern University's $800 million Ryan Field rebuild, under an agreement that included at least $157 million to the city over 15 years.
Arguments in favor
The retiring incumbent endorsed him to succeed her, alongside both of the state's best-known national progressives and the Illinois attorney general.
— U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
Illinois labour and the main environmental and abortion-rights organisations lined up behind him, and he won without the outside money that flowed to his rivals — which he presented as proof the seat could not be bought.
— Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago Federation of Labor, Illinois Federation of Teachers, SEIU State Council, National Nurses United, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Arguments against
Evanston residents sued over the Ryan Field rezoning, alleging he and some councillors cut a backroom deal to disregard the applicable law in exchange for money from Northwestern. A Cook County judge later threw out large parts of that suit, and the city and the university said the vote followed city and state law.
— The Evanston residents' 2023 lawsuit; the group Better Than Biss, founded by Parielle Davis to oppose his re-election as mayor
His Envision Evanston zoning overhaul ran into furious opposition from residents and was delayed, with opponents arguing he was pushing a sweeping rewrite of the city's rules faster than the public could scrutinise it.
— Opponents of the plan, reported by The Daily Northwestern, January 2025
What we couldn’t verify
The residents' lawsuit alleged a quid pro quo; that allegation was not proven and large parts of the suit were dismissed. It is recorded here as a claim made by the plaintiffs, not as an established fact.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed state senator Laura Fine rather than Biss in the Democratic primary; its reasoning was not located.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Biss could be found.
Addiction and mental health services, which he names as his first legislative priority.
Immigration reform.
Fiscal responsibility: balancing the federal budget and cutting spending.
Infrastructure investment in roads, bridges, broadband and transit.
Strengthening the economy by reducing regulation and bringing jobs to the district.
Health care reform.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Pastor for more than forty years across the Chicago area; currently leads Lakewood Chapel in Arlington Heights.
Born in Monmouth, Illinois; graduate of Christian Life College.
Republican nominee for this district in 2018 against Jan Schakowsky.
Won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary after a door-to-door campaign.
Has not held elected office.
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 Elleson by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', with 'opponent', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Daniel Biss's campaign, and against Evanston RoundTable, Daily Northwestern and Chicago-area coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
His campaign site says he was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune and by Journal & Topics; the Tribune's reasoning was not located.
His 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 Jan Schakowsky, who has held it since 1999, is retiring. Illinois held its primary on March 17, 2026. Evanston mayor Daniel Biss won a fifteen-candidate Democratic primary with 29.5%, ahead of journalist Kat Abughazaleh on 25.9% and state senator Laura Fine on 20.2%. Pastor John Elleson won the Republican nomination. The district covers Chicago's far north side and the North Shore, including Evanston and Skokie, and reaches out to the north-west suburbs. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia, WTTW and Chicago Sun-Times primary reporting. Criticism of Elleson by name could not be found, so his 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.