The 7th District, a deep blue spot long represented by Danny K. Davis, who announced last year that he would not seek reelection after nearly 30 years in office, was another fascinating primary battle featuring a Democratic slate packed with talent.
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The winner in the Democratic primary was state Rep. La Shawn Ford, 54, who has represented the 8th District on Chicago’s West Side since 2007 and (crucially) was endorsed by Davis. Ford was by no means our first choice, however; indeed, we found him mostly disengaged in our endorsement meeting even as others articulated their passion to serve this district in Congress, including Dr. Thomas Fisher, our choice for the Democratic Party nod, and such honorable and hard-working candidates as Richard Boykin and Jazmin J. Robinson.
But Ford does not face credible opposition in retired farmer, pilot and Republican hard-liner Chad Koppie, 88, a perennial candidate who has said he does not believe Joe Biden was duly elected president, which is disqualifying for us.
La Shawn Ford is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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