CHICAGO– Voters will cast their ballots Tuesday to decide competitive races in the U.S. House of Representatives during Illinois’ presidential primaries.
Democratic incumbents in at least two Chicago-area congressional races are engaged in energetic challenges in the heavily Democratic territory.
Here’s a look at both races:
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis faces one of the toughest re-elections of his long political career.
The 14-term Chicago Democrat was able to fend off a 2022 primary challenge from progressive, anti-violence activist Kina Collins, who received about 45% of the vote. She’s trying for a third time and says the 82-year-old Davis isn’t a good fit for the district that includes downtown Chicago, large parts of the South and West Sides and the inner-ring suburbs.
“We almost won the last election,” Collins said. “We intend to finish what we started.”
It’s a crowded field with five candidates, including Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, a former Davis ally who now says it’s time for him to be voted out.
Conyears-Ervin, who has the backing of the influential Chicago Teachers Union, is leading the fundraising effort and is married to a city councilwoman, says her perspective as a working mother resonates with voters.
“I’m new. I’m fresh. I’m relevant,” she said. “I understand the challenges of working families.”
During her campaign, Conyears-Ervin was dogged by questions from a city ethics investigation for allegedly firing top aides who alleged she misspent taxpayer money and pressured officials to help political allies. She has declined to discuss the case.
Davis has also faced ethical questions over the misspending of congressional campaign funds. He has denied wrongdoing.
The main campaign issues are crime and jobs, along with questions about Davis’ fitness for office. He has previously thought about retirement.
In December, a campaign worker used artificial intelligence to alter a photo of Davis to make him look younger, which was temporarily used on the campaign website. Davis has admitted it was a misstep.
Davis says questions about his age are valid, but his experience is an asset, especially when seeking leadership positions on committees. He sits on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
“I’m not looking to be the quarterback of the (Chicago) Bears. I am not running to carry the torch at the Olympics,” he said. “I run to use my knowledge, my expertise and my intellect.”
He has the support of top Illinois Democrats. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others held an endorsement event for Davis this month, touting his long record in health care, criminal justice and social services.
Also active are Chicago educator Nikhil Bhatia and Kouri Marshall, a former Pritzker deputy principal.
U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is being challenged by Chicago Councilman Raymond Lopez, the congressman’s first challenger since 2018, when he first came to power.
Lopez, 45, is one of the most conservative members of the City Council and often supports police. A lifelong Chicagoan, he claims Garcia is out of touch with area voters.
The district surrounding Chicago is predominantly Hispanic and includes working-class communities and neighborhoods on the city’s southwest side, as well as wealthy suburbs.
“He just doesn’t fit in this district,” Lopez said, calling Garcia an “extreme” Democrat who has not paid attention to the suburbs.
Garcia, 67, says voters have repeatedly put him in office, including in 2022 after a new map added new territory to the district. He is also a former state legislator and city councilman.
Garcia, who was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. as a child, is one of the most progressive members of the House of Representatives. He has broad name recognition, thanks in part to two failed bids for mayor of Chicago.
“No one in Chicago holding elected office today has the kind of history I have of ethical politics and ethical governance,” he said.
His accomplishments include returning an estimated $37 million in funding to the district for dozens of projects, including school programs, a suburban flooding project, a library expansion and funding a clinic for low-income residents, he said.
Garcia dominates in fundraising, raising $376,000 in 2023, compared to Lopez’s $46,000 in the same period, according to federal election data. He also has support from labor groups, while Lopez has support from the Chicago police union.
There are no Republicans running in the heavily Democratic district, so the winner is expected to win outright in November.