La Shawn Ford Wins Illinois’ 7th District House Seat

La Shawn Ford, a Democratic member of the Illinois House since 2007, won the election to represent Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, defeating Republican Chad Koppie. The result makes Ford the district’s first new elected representative in 30 years, as Rep. Danny Davis retires after 15 consecutive terms in Congress.

The district includes much of Chicago’s Downtown and West Side, along with parts of the South Side and several nearby suburbs. Davis, first elected in 1996, endorsed Ford as his successor. He joined Ford’s election-night gathering in Bronzeville, where the two posed for photographs with attendees.

Ford prevailed over 13 Democrats in the March primary, including city treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, labor organizer Anthony Driver Jr., community advocate Kina Collins, and ex-Cook County official Richard Boykin.

Ford has described plans to spend his first 100 days organizing progressive congressional districts and working with community groups on federal priorities. His platform includes raising the minimum wage, expanding Affordable Care Act subsidies and increasing federal assistance for neighborhood health clinics and pharmacies in areas with limited services. He has also supported Medicare for All and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

After his win, Ford said, “When this campaign began, I was applying for a job. On November 3, 2026, I got hired.”

Ford’s Win Brings a Progressive Agenda to Illinois’ 7th

La Shawn Ford’s victory gives Chicago’s 7th Congressional District a new representative after 30 years—and puts a candidate with a stated progressive agenda on course for Congress. The Democratic state representative defeated Republican Chad Koppie as Danny Davis retires after 15 consecutive terms.

Ford has said he wants his first 100 days to focus on organizing progressive districts and drawing on community groups to shape federal priorities. His platform backs a higher minimum wage, expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies, and greater federal assistance for local health clinics and pharmacies in areas with limited services. He has also supported Medicare for All and abolishing ICE.

Those commitments make the contest about more than a change in officeholder: they signal the priorities Ford says he intends to bring to Washington. He won the Democratic primary against 13 challengers, then received Davis’s endorsement. Davis joined Ford’s election-night gathering in Bronzeville to celebrate the transition.

The district covers much of Downtown and Chicago’s West Side, as well as parts of the South Side and nearby suburbs. Ford, who has served in the Illinois House since 2007, said after winning, “When this campaign began, I was applying for a job. On November 3, 2026, I got hired.”

Ford’s Win Sets Up a More Progressive Agenda in Illinois’ 7th

Illinois’ 7th District is changing representatives, but Ford’s victory also brings a clear set of progressive proposals into the contest over the district’s future. La Shawn Ford, a Democrat in the Illinois House since 2007, defeated Republican Chad Koppie and will succeed Danny Davis, who is retiring after 15 consecutive terms.

Ford has backed Medicare for All and abolishing ICE, and his platform calls for raising the minimum wage and expanding Affordable Care Act subsidies. He also favors greater federal assistance for local health clinics and pharmacies in areas with limited services. His plans for his first 100 days include organizing progressive congressional districts and working with community groups on federal priorities.

Those are ambitious federal aims, and voters have chosen Ford to advance them in a district that has not elected a new representative in 30 years. He emerged from a Democratic primary field of 14 candidates and had Davis’s endorsement. Davis appeared at Ford’s election-night celebration in Bronzeville.

The district includes much of Downtown and Chicago’s West Side, parts of the South Side, and nearby suburbs. Ford marked the win by saying, “When this campaign began, I was applying for a job. On November 3, 2026, I got hired.”