Schakowsky Won’t Run For Reelection, Challengers Announce Campaigns for 2026

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky announced May 5 she won’t be running for reelection in 2026. Schakowsky has represented Illinois’ 9th congressional district since 1999, which includes the far North Side of Chicago, Skokie, Evanston and Crystal Lake.

80-year-old Schakowsky currently serves as a chief deputy whip for the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives. During her tenure in Congress she helped draft the Affordable Care Act and supported consumer protection bills, according to her website. 

“It is now time for me to pass the baton,” Schakowsky wrote in her May 6 announcement. “We are so fortunate in the 9th District that there are dozens of talented leaders, advocates and organizers who know our community and who are ready to lead the charge as we fight back against the extreme MAGA agenda and President Donald Trump’s shameful policies.”

Democratic challengers Kat Abughazaleh, Daniel Biss and Laura Fine have already announced campaigns for Schakowsky’s open seat.

Abughazaleh announced her campaign March 24 — before Schakowsky revealed she wasn’t seeking another term. Abughazaleh raised over $100,000 in contributions within seven hours of announcing her campaign, according to her website.

The 26-year-old journalist’s campaign announcement focused on affordability, protecting civil rights and combating the Trump administration while remaining critical of Democratic leadership. 

“While current Democratic leadership might be fine cowering to Trump, I’m not,” Abughazaleh said in her campaign announcement.

Evanston Mayor and former Illinois State Senator Biss announced his campaign for congress May 15. He wants to “build a future where truth, dignity and justice come first,” resist obeying the Trump administration and combat moneyed interests, according to his website.

“People gave up on the government because they saw people from both parties give up on them,” Biss said in his campaign announcement. “I’ve never backed down from a fight as a legislator or as Mayor.

In his announcement, Biss called America an “unimaginable hellscape” where “corporations are looting the government” and  people are being “disappeared” and sent to foreign prisons.

Laura Fine announced her campaign for Congress May 6 and was endorsed by several Illinois democrats the next day. She has served as a state senator for Illinois’ 9th district since 2018 after representing the 17th district in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018. 

“With our rights and freedoms under attack by Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies, I’m ready to stand up and push back,” Fine’s announcement read.

Fine’s top priorities include lowering costs for working families, protecting women’s reproductive rights and combating special interests, especially in healthcare, according to her website. 

Schakowsky endorsed Fine in her 2018 run for Illinois State Senate as a “fearless” and “devoted” candidate with “progressive values,” according to Fine’s website.

The same day she announced her campaign, Fine was interviewed by The Jewish Insider, in which she described herself as a “staunch defender of the Jewish state.” Fine has also met with pro-Israeli lobbying groups, including CityPAC, American Israel PAC and Democratic Majority for Israel, according to The Jewish Insider.

Schakowsky is affiliated with the pro-Israeli group J-street, which is sometimes at odds with AIPAC and DMFI. J-street has accused the AIPAC of being indifferent to Palestinian rights and freedoms and the DMFI of perpetuating a cycle of conflict.

Fine’s office did not respond to calls from the Phoenix.

Illinois’ 9th congressional district has one of the highest Jewish populations of any district in America with 12.2% of the adult population being Jewish, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Both Schakowsky and Fine are Jewish.

The country’s response to the War in Gaza has become an increasingly divided issue for Democrats, especially with Democrats under 30, according to NPR. 59% of Democrats have more sympathy for Palestinians, while 21% have more sympathy for Israelis, according to a March 20 Gallup poll.

Abughazaleh’s father is Palestinian. Her grandparents survived the 1948 Nakba and had to flee to Kuwait from Palestine, The Phoenix reported. She also featured a keffiyeh — a traditional Arab garment synonymous with Palestinians — in the background of her campaign announcement video. 

“I think war crimes are bad no matter who is committing them — that means Israel, that means Hamas,” Abughazaleh said in an interview with The Phoenix. “Even if I wasn’t Palestinian I would feel this way.”

During his 2017 mayoral campaign, Biss — whose mother is Israeli — removed his running mate Carlos Ramirez-Rosa due to his support of divestment from Israel, as reported by The Chicago Sun-Times. 

“I also care deeply about justice for Palestinians and believe that a vision for the Middle East must include political and economic freedom for Palestinians,” Biss said in a statement as reported by The Hill. “That’s why I oppose the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, as I believe it moves us further away from a peaceful solution.”

Biss was opposed to the Evanston City Council adopting a cease-fire resolution for the war in Gaza provided by the Equity and Empowerment Commission, as reported by The Chicago Tribune. 

Biss’ campaign did not respond to emails from the Phoenix.

Democrat Justin Ford and Republican Rocío Cleveland have also announced campaigns for the district 9 seat. 

Ford is a Union leader and public health professional. He’s a “progressive” candidate who’s pushing for a four-day work week, climate justice and social security protection, according to his website. 

Cleveland is a Republican candidate striving to protect people from crime, discrimination and illegal drugs. She’s also aiming to fight government corruption, according to her website.

Cleveland made a post on Facebook May 9 in which she suggested Muslims abuse women and are plotting to take over American democracy. The post featured photos of women with acid-scarred faces and a graphic claiming Islam is connected to rape, pedophelia, beheading, female genital mutilation, burning people alive and Jihad. 

Cleveland named Abughazaleh in the post and accused her volunteers of supporting the Lebanese political party and military group Hezbollah.

Cleveland’s campaign did not respond to emails from the Phoenix.

Democrat David Abrevaya filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission April 4, but told The Phoenix he decided to withdraw his candidacy.

This election will be the first in which Schakowsky isn’t running since 1998 and will be held Nov. 3, 2026.