Dueling commercials by two well-funded Democratic candidates in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District race are taking aim at the Trump administration, and one takes a shot at former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, calling her “Wall Street’s favorite Democrat.”
In an election season when Democrats nationally are campaigning to make life more affordable for average citizens and to take on monied interests, the commercials by Junaid Ahmed and Neil Khot make a point of standing up to President Donald Trump.
Both campaigns claim six-figure ad buys, though neither would specify where those figures fall on the very wide spectrum between $100,000 and $999,999.
Ahmed: In Washington, who writes the rules? Big corporations that control politics, and members of Congress.
I am Junaid Ahmed, both parties have let us down. I will stand up to Trump, fight to make life more affordable and demand billionaires pay their fair share. And I won’t take a dime of corporate PAC money.
My opponent? She’s called “Wall Street’s favorite Democrat. Well, call me Junaid, the people’s favorite. That’s why I approve this message.
In response to Ahmed’s commercial, Bean campaign manager Jeremy Custer said the Ahmed campaign is “recycling the same line of attack they used when they lost to Raja Krishnamoorthi.”
“While they try to copy and paste their way through the final weeks of the campaign, Melissa is focused on talking to voters and reminding them of the kind of leader she is: one who had the courage to vote for Obamacare, even though she knew it would cost her re-election, and one who will hold ICE accountable and stand up to the Trump Administration as they continue to wage war on American cities,” Custer said in a statement.
I’m a first-generation American, raised by my widowed mother, in a family that understands the responsibility and sacrifice that come with building a life in this country.
I shouldn't feel like I need a passport to leave my front door. I'm running for Congress in the IL-08 to… pic.twitter.com/n8xq8T1JmO
* In the 7th CD, Melissa Conyears-Ervin has launched her first radio ad. Press release…
The Melissa for Chicago campaign today launched its first radio advertisement, “In It,” supplementing its earlier advertising launch. The ad will run throughout the day and during the most listened to periods of rush hour to reach voters across Illinois’ 7th Congressional District in the race for State Central Committee.
Melissa: Am I afraid to stand up to Donald Trump?
Please. Fear is a luxury I do not have.
Narrator: Finally, a candidate who gets where we’re coming from.
That’s Melissa Conyears-Ervin.
Born in Englewood. Raised on the west side…
Melissa’s fighting the same fight we are in Trump’s economy that’s crushing us.
Melissa: I don’t need to watch the news to know what people here are up against.
I’m in it. (And I have been in it my whole life.)
I was raised by a single mother.
Put myself through college.
Now we’re raising our daughter…
…and taking care of my sister, who is disabled and relies on Medicare and SNAP.
So when Trump cut those programs…we felt it.
And I won’t let it happen again.
Narrator: Melissa won’t stand on the sidelines against Trump. Melissa is who we need right now.
Melissa: You’re family and mine…we’re in this together.
Narrator: Vote early or on March 17 th for Melissa Conyears-Ervin in the 7 th Congressional District.
Melissa: I’m Melissa Conyears-Ervin, candidate for State Central Committee, and I approve this message.
Narrator: Paid for by Melissa for Chicago.
* Moving on to the 9th CD. Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie…
On her livestream tonight, #IL09 candidate Kat Abughazaleh teased what appears to be a new 60-second-long campaign ad pic.twitter.com/Q5j1bTi2Zh
The Democrats of Northfield Township are set to vote this weekend on a slate of endorsements ahead of the March 17 primary elections, but despite 15 Democrats on the ballot for Congress, the group initially only invited three candidates to speak at Sunday’s endorsement session.
Kat Abughazaleh, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), undoubtedly the frontrunners but not the only Democrats on the ballot, were the only three Democrats invited to speak with the group of Northfield Democrats at Sunday afternoon’s endorsement session, according to two people familiar with the plans.
On Wednesday, the Northfield Democrats extended an invitation to Phil Andrew, his campaign said. But Bushra Amiwala and State Sen. Mike Simmons’ campaigns confirmed to Evanston Now that they had not received an invite to speak at Sunday’s endorsement session.
Northfield Democrats committee chair, state Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, said the executive committee “reviewed publicly available information, including polling and other indicators of candidate viability, to determine which candidates are invited to speak at the initial forum.”
* More…
* E&E News | Green groups split in closely watched Dem primary: The youth-led Sunrise Movement endorsed Kat Abughazaleh in the primary to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky in Illinois’ 9th District. Another Democrat running in that primary, Daniel Biss, picked up endorsements this week from the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund.
* CBS Chicago | House Republicans want Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss to testify on Northwestern University Gaza protests: Biss noted he has not been formally subpoenaed by Congress, but he would be happy to comply if he was. Schakowsky issued a statement on the letter, writing, “Mayor Daniel Biss showed bravery and leadership by respecting students’ First Amendment rights and declining to deploy the Evanston Police Department in a way that could have undermined these rights. That principled judgment and defense of free speech is exactly why Daniel is uniquely qualified to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District.”
*Daily Herald | Another 9th Congressional District candidate is putting campaign ad on TV: Called “Yes,” the ad — loaded with fast cuts and visual effects, both usual techniques for a campaign commercial — features Amiwala speaking directly to viewers about her opposition to immigration enforcement efforts and donations from corporate special interests, among other topics. […] The campaign wouldn’t reveal the cost of the ad buy.
- Its not like the Chicago Tribune was going to endorse her anyway -
So what? Always confront your opponents yourself, don’t send lackeys.
- Ukrainian Village Usurper - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:00 pm:
A little performative to walk out of an endorsement meeting, but I do genuinely hate what the paper is/has become under their private equity overlords. Kudos in that respect.
Personally can’t stand her but smart move on Kat’s part. She knew she wasn’t going to get endorsement so why not get some free media out of it which she has because we are talking about it.
IL-07 is a weird one. Staying super quiet. Gets way less headlines (understandably so, in a lot of cases) than IL-08 or IL-09 and of course the IL Sen battle.
The Trib refused to make an endorsement for president in 2024…why would anyone running - especially from the left on the Democratic ticket - want their endorsement? This was probably the best outcome for Kat’s campaign.
====IL-07 is a weird one. Staying super quiet.====
Much like IL-02 there’s been drama behind the politics of it. Insiders definitely know. No one wants to touch it. It will be interesting to see what happens
- localgovhero - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 12:49 pm:
Its not like the Chicago Tribune was going to endorse her anyway
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 12:52 pm:
- Its not like the Chicago Tribune was going to endorse her anyway -
So what? Always confront your opponents yourself, don’t send lackeys.
- Ukrainian Village Usurper - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:00 pm:
A little performative to walk out of an endorsement meeting, but I do genuinely hate what the paper is/has become under their private equity overlords. Kudos in that respect.
- Helm - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:30 pm:
Personally can’t stand her but smart move on Kat’s part. She knew she wasn’t going to get endorsement so why not get some free media out of it which she has because we are talking about it.
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:46 pm:
IL-07 is a weird one. Staying super quiet. Gets way less headlines (understandably so, in a lot of cases) than IL-08 or IL-09 and of course the IL Sen battle.
Not clear to me who is the favorite
- Walker - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:50 pm:
I’m with Kat on her disdain for the Trib editorial endorsements.
I personally wouldn’t make a spectacle of it, but Kat does Kat.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:50 pm:
=== what the paper is/has become===
You’re under the belief that the editorial board was somehow better in the past?
- DS - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:00 pm:
Not a Kat fan but I can’t argue with her position on the Trib Editorial Board.
- Riversidian - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:01 pm:
The Trib refused to make an endorsement for president in 2024…why would anyone running - especially from the left on the Democratic ticket - want their endorsement? This was probably the best outcome for Kat’s campaign.
- Trinity - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:04 pm:
====IL-07 is a weird one. Staying super quiet.====
Much like IL-02 there’s been drama behind the politics of it. Insiders definitely know. No one wants to touch it. It will be interesting to see what happens