Ford Wins Chicago's 7th District Congressional Race
Democrat La Shawn Ford faces Republican Chad Koppie to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Danny Davis in Illinois's 7th congressional district.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Voters in Illinois's 7th congressional district chose a successor to U.S. Rep. Danny Davis on Tuesday. State Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Democrat, faced Republican nominee Chad Koppie in the general election.
Why it matters
The race marks the first change in congressional leadership for the district in three decades, with more than a dozen candidates having sought the seat after Davis announced his retirement. The outcome determines who will represent a district that includes Chicago's West Side and western suburbs such as Oak Park, Maywood and Bellwood.
Ford, 54, is a former social studies teacher and real estate broker who has served in the Illinois House since 2007. Koppie, 88, does not live in the district, residing in far northwest suburban Gilberts.
The players
La Shawn Ford
A Democrat and Illinois state representative since 2007, Ford is a former social studies teacher and real estate broker who won the party's nomination for the 7th district seat.
Chad Koppie
The Republican nominee in the race, Koppie is 88 years old and lives in the far northwest suburb of Gilberts, outside the district he sought to represent.
Danny Davis
A longtime Democratic congressman, Davis announced in July 2025 that he would retire, opening the seat that Ford and Koppie contested.
The details
Ford's primary win in March came over a crowded field that included Conyears-Ervin, who received more than $5 million from a PAC affiliated with AIPAC. Ford has faced past legal scrutiny: in 2012 federal prosecutors alleged he made false statements to a bank to obtain a $500,000 increase on a line of credit, and in 2014 prosecutors dropped 17 felony charges in exchange for a misdemeanor guilty plea.
Timeline
July 2025: Davis announced plans to retire from Congress.
March 2026: Ford defeated primary challengers in the Democratic primary.
November 3, 2026: Voters went to the polls to choose the 7th district's next congressman.
Season Trajectory
The election breaks a three-decade run of continuity in the 7th district's congressional leadership, ending the era of Davis's long tenure. Ford's win, if confirmed by the general result, would install a new representative in a seat that had not changed hands in thirty years.
Chicago-area voters in the 7th district have chosen a new representative to Congress, shaping the federal voice for the West Side and western suburbs. The winner will take office after the general election results are certified.
The takeaway
Voters who want to understand the district's new representative should review each candidate's stated policy positions and public record before the next election cycle. Ford's legal history and Koppie's residency outside the district are both matters readers can verify directly through public court and election records.
Further reading
For more on congressional contests across the region, see Chicago Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Tribune.
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