* Matthew Eadie…
As primary election day nears, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky plans to endorse Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss this week in his campaign to succeed her in Washington, a source with knowledge of the endorsement has told Evanston Now.
Schakowsky, 81, has represented Evanston and the 9th Congressional District since 1999, but announced last May that she would not seek reelection in the 2026 midterms.
Schakowsky’s endorsement plans have not previously been reported.
The longtime congresswoman told Evanston Now in July that she would not endorse a successor right away, despite nearly all of the top candidates courting her support for several months. […]
Schakowsky’s announcement, which is expected to be made public as early as Wednesday, is likely to be followed by more endorsements from high-profile names in the Chicago area, including potentially more members of Congress.
Kat Abughazaleh, you will recall, announced she would run against Schakowsky as Schakowsky was preparing to announce her retirement. Hard feelings may remain, but the Illinois AFL-CIO’s Biss endorsement may have been the tipping point. It gave people someone they know to rally around.
…Adding… Not a happy camper…
…Adding… Sen. Mike Simmons…
“Voters are hungry for the next generation of bold leaders. I respect Representative Jan Schakowsky and her decades of service for our communities. As a Black and LGBTQ+ elected trailblazer who grew up in public housing, I have a lifetime of experience in navigating systems that are not designed for me, and that’s shaped me into the progressive, active, and outspoken State Senator I am today: passing nearly 50 bills in less than 5 years and authentically representing the working class neighborhoods and diverse communities all across this district. That’s the kind of unapologetic and proven leadership the 9th District deserves, and that’s why I’m running for Congress.”
…Adding… Politico…
Phil Andrew, another Democratic candidate in the race also criticized Schakowsky’s endorsement, saying he knows Schakowsky, and “Daniel Biss is no Jan Schakowsky.”
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:08 pm:
Jan and Biss have always been close. As Eadie’s article notes, an immediate endorsement could have turned some people off. It was always likely this was coming early this year.
- E-Town Proud - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:09 pm:
It’s an Evanston seat. It will always be an Evanston seat.
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:10 pm:
Fine needs to get out. There is no path for her.
- TNR - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:26 pm:
Big get for Biss.
== Fine needs to get out. There is no path for her. ==
I dunno. She’s the first on broadcast television. The ads are strong and she’s red boxing, so there could be a whole lot more of them. She’s a long shot, but there’s a path.
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:26 pm:
=== Fine needs to get out. There is no path for her. ===
LOL. Fine has more of a path than most of the 17 Democrats running for that office. Why does she have to get out more than, let’s say, Mike Simmons or Hoan Huynh? Is it that you see her as more of a threat to your preferred candidate?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:29 pm:
===Is it that you see her as more of a threat to your preferred candidate? ===
You likely nailed it.
People, let’s try to avoid goofy drive-bys here. Don’t insult our intelligence. And if it’s because of your own ignorance, then maybe stop posting here.
- Evanston Voter - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:38 pm:
Can’t say I am surprised given their lengthy relationship and as members of the DPE(vanston), which is one of the better organized local party groups around. That said, I am not so sure how much voters will be moved by an endorsement. Ultimately there are so many candidates in the race it will likely boil down to name recognition and only one of the candidates has run for statewide office.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:01 pm:
well, she’s going out so as with every endorsement there may be things about the endorser that might affect votes.
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:12 pm:
The funny thing is, my preferred candidate is Laura Fine. My preference for not a candidate is Kat.
- Joseph M - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:23 pm:
The way I currently see it unfolding: the only real candidates are Biss, Abughazaleh, and Fine. Nobody else has a shot at getting over 10% of the vote. Biss has a seemingly insurmountable lead, but Fine could close the gap slightly if she leans into moderate talking points and appeals to older voters who aren’t as AIPAC-averse as younger Dems.
Abughazaleh might help Fine’s chances if she continues to generate attention on social media and siphon votes from Biss, but I still think Biss will dominate the race in March.
- Senator Clay Davis - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:51 pm:
==Abughazaleh might help Fine’s chances if she continues to generate attention on social media==
Kat is dominating the race to become a social media talker and MSNBC personality
- Just True Facts - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 6:39 pm:
I like Laura. On paper she would be a viable candidate in a normal election cycle. But this isn’t a normal cycle. We are in the middle of a fascist coup and she is talking about regulating insurance companies. She has no chance of winning and she is in a unique position to play spoiler to the only candidate strong enough to beat Kat. Which might conceivably be her real objective at this point. It would be crazy to see somebody squander an entire career worth of goodwill out of sheer spite.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 7:48 pm:
I’m a Laura supporter?
Is Daniel the favorite? Yes.
Is Save Ferris talking point unrealistic? Yes.
Daniel and Jan are taking their long run dislike of AIPAC into running up the score on the Lake to make any losses anywhere else.
Laura needs to win 50, finish top 3 on the lake and dominate the burbs.
Those are the paths.
Advantage Biss but three months will tell us more.
- Alton Sinkhole - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 8:07 pm:
Man, to be a bartender in Ben Head’s neighborhood tn would be legendary
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 8:37 pm:
I didn’t mean to have a ? after I’m a Laura Supporter.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 8:42 pm:
@Rich did you see Kat’s response. Wow.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 9:04 pm:
-Fine needs to get out.-
Why? She has every right to run for office. She’s a known elected official. Shouldn’t the voters decide who they want in March? It’s not March yet. I did expected Jan to endorse Biss. It’s not that shocking. Pundits and endorsements aren’t going determine this race. Endorsements might help. It will come down to who shows up.
- granville - Wednesday, Jan 7, 26 @ 1:32 am:
Was Kat’s response a “wow”? From what I can tell, her spokesperson said she’d gotten into the establishment’s head. I mean I don’t think that’s true at all, but it’s what I’d say too.
I used to live in the district and I got the impression that Jan Schakowsky was genuinely liked. I never got the impression she was out of touch. She mentored my friend’s daughter with no particular self-interest. I don’t think Kat’s campaign has ever really gotten that, but in fairness, you’ve probably got to live in a district for more than a few months before you pick up on that.
- Elmer Keith - Wednesday, Jan 7, 26 @ 8:42 am:
When Dan was my state rep, he took time to meet with me personally at the district office to help with a FOIA request from a state agency. Fine ducks appointments with constituents. Dan Biss works and has character, Laura Fine is the most useless rep I’ve had in my lifetime.
- Dan Johnson - Wednesday, Jan 7, 26 @ 10:01 am:
It would be nice to have ranked choice voting so the annoying “X should get out so Y doesn’t win” chatter could end. Also, ranked choice voting would help acknowledge and recognize so much talent in a crowded race without such a binary decision. Especially for institutions that endorse, it wouldn’t be such a total rejection of the non-endorsed candidates who are otherwise really good. They would be the second or third choice.
Also Jan is only the second retiring federal officeholder to endorse. Danny Davis endorsed La Shawn and now with Jan endorsing Daniel, that leave Durbin, Kelly and Raja choosing not to endorse (so far).
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Wednesday, Jan 7, 26 @ 10:42 am:
@Granville - to clarify (I was dealing with my daughter at the same time) - you hit the nail on why I said wow. She has no clue about what Jan stood for, why she was popular for so long, and in fairness, I have been critical of Jan for a while.