Biss, Elleson Face Off for Illinois 9th District

Democrat Daniel Biss and Republican John Elleson are the general election candidates to succeed retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

Biss, Elleson Face Off for Illinois 9th District

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Voters in Illinois's 9th Congressional District are choosing between Democrat Daniel Biss and Republican John Elleson for the U.S. House seat. The open seat followed Jan Schakowsky's retirement announcement in May.

Why it matters

Schakowsky's retirement opened a seat that drew a 15-candidate Democratic primary, and the general election determines who represents the district in Congress. The contest reflects the state's broader political landscape as voters in the Chicago area select a successor.

Biss took 29.4% of the vote in a 15-candidate Democratic primary, the largest share in the field. Elleson was removed from the 2022 ballot for insufficient valid nominating petition signatures, and the outcome of the November general election is not yet reported.

The players

Daniel Biss

Biss is a Democrat and former Illinois legislator who previously served as Evanston mayor and ran for Illinois governor in 2018.

John Elleson

Elleson is the Republican nominee who pastors in Arlington Heights and previously lost a 2018 congressional race to Jan Schakowsky.

Jan Schakowsky

Schakowsky is the longtime Democratic congresswoman from Illinois's 9th District who announced her retirement in May 2026.

The details

Biss previously served two years in the Illinois House from 2011 to 2013 and six years in the Illinois Senate from 2013 to 2019, and he ran for governor in 2018, finishing second in the Democratic primary. He has served as Evanston mayor since 2021. Elleson, who pastors in Arlington Heights, lost to Schakowsky by a wide margin in 2018.

• 2011–2013: Biss serves in the Illinois House.
• 2013–2019: Biss serves in the Illinois Senate.
• 2018: Biss runs for governor; Elleson loses to Schakowsky.
• 2021: Biss begins serving as Evanston mayor.
• May 2026: Schakowsky announces her retirement from Congress.

Political Context

Elleson's 2018 loss to Schakowsky set the pattern for a Republican challenger facing a heavily Democratic district, and the 2026 race follows that same dynamic with an open seat. Republicans have not won the 9th District in decades, making this an uphill general election for Elleson.

The winner will represent Illinois's 9th District in the U.S. House, shaping federal policy on issues affecting Chicago's North Side and suburban communities. Voters in the district will determine who holds the seat Schakowsky is vacating.

The takeaway

The open 9th District seat gives voters a rare chance to choose a new representative after decades of Schakowsky's tenure. Following the general election will show whether the district's Democratic lean holds under a new candidate.