Evanston Mayor Biss Joins Race for Illinois 9th District Congress

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. House seat in Illinois' 9th Congressional District following the retirement of longtime incumbent Jan Schakowsky. Biss, who was recently re-elected as mayor, is positioning himself as a progressive Democrat ready to fight against the Trump administration's influence, emphasizing his commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, economic security for working families, environmental sustainability, and campaign finance reform. He faces a competitive Democratic primary against State Sen. Laura Fine, social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh, and others, with the general election slated for November 2026. Biss has a long political history, including prior service in the Illinois General Assembly and a gubernatorial bid in 2018, and is endorsed by Governor JB Pritzker. His campaign highlights his progressive achievements as mayor, including enacting a Healthy Buildings Ordinance and advancing immigrant protections. The primary race is gaining attention as key local Democrats consider endorsements, though Schakowsky herself is unlikely to endorse a successor.