* The Chicago Tribune’s Editorial Board endorsed Sen. Laura Fine today. Her press release…

Today, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Laura Fine for Congress in the Illinois 9th Congressional District Democratic Primary.

“…Our choice among this crowded Democratic field, which includes many impressive people including political newcomers with diverse and fascinating resumes, is Laura Fine, 59, a state senator from Glenview. Fine has served in Springfield since 2013, first as a representative and then as a senator. She told us she got into politics after her husband lost his arm 15 years ago in a car accident, and the family’s health insurance provider canceled the policy, leaving them with $600,000 in medical debt. […]

Fine led the charge in Springfield to give the state Department of Insurance far more authority to regulate health insurers, a law enacted in 2024. She strikes us as a measured, reasonable and principled lawmaker who understands how to work with fellow legislators and should appeal to those in the district who admire Schakowsky for her record as a fighter for women’s rights and a powerful female member of Congress. Fine is extremely well regarded in Springfield, a major factor in our endorsement of her…”

Emphasis added.

While Sen. Fine was a hyphenated co-sponsor of the Healthcare Protection Act (HB5395), Sen. Robert Peters was the bill’s chief sponsor.

* The Tribune crunched the fundraising numbers for Illinois’ five open congressional seats, including a look at the 8th CD…

In the 8th Congressional District race, Melissa Bean, who held the office for three terms until 2011, led all candidates with about $1 million on hand to begin 2026, including a nearly $300,00 loan to her campaign.

Following her were Junaid Ahmed, who previously challenged Krishnamoorthi, with about $835,000 in his campaign fund, entrepreneur Neil Khot with $573,000, and U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate Dan Tully with $412,000. Cook County Board Commissioner Kevin Morrison had roughly $233,000 while Hanover Park Trustee Yasmeen Bankole had $171,000 in his campaign fund. Everyone else had less than $100,000.

Khot loaned his campaign $405,000 in the most recent quarter in addition to an even larger loan in the previous quarter, and Bankole loaned herself $136,000 at that time.

Among Republicans, entrepreneur Jennifer Davis led in cash on hand with almost $488,000, trailed by energy business founder Mark Rice with $173,000.

* Campaign consultant Dana Houle weighs in on 9th CD candidate Kat Abughazaleh’s fourth quarter expenditures.…

Though Abughazaleh did spend a lot on consultants, she never said she wouldn’t use any. Abughazaleh’s original pledge was “no consultants who haven’t won an election this century.” Her campaign page says “no useless consultants,” which I guess is TBD.

* Press release…

Today, Mayra Macías’s campaign announced that it has outraised establishment-backed candidate Patty García during the final quarter of 2025. This lead is particularly significant because Macías entered the race for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District as an Independent on December 3, 2025 — a full month after Patty García, who has the full backing of Congressman García’s political machine.

Even with the congressman’s endorsement and a 30 day headstart to fundraise, García was outraised by Macías, who notably raised the bulk of her funds during the busy holiday season. Macías, a lifelong Democrat and Back of the Yards native, launched her campaign to ensure voters have a choice after Congressman Chuy García announced his retirement following the filing deadline, essentially “anointing” his Chief of Staff, Patty García, as his successor. While the establishment campaign relies on the status quo and corporate PAC dollars, Macías is running a grassroots-powered campaign. […]

The campaign is now moving toward its next milestone by collecting over 11,000 signatures starting in February to secure Macías’s spot on the November ballot as an Independent.

Macías didn’t include her fourth-quarter numbers in her press release, which was $125,000. Democrat Patty García pulled in $123,000, and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, who just launched an independent bid, reported $7,000.

* In the 7th CD, Melissa Conyears-Ervin announces her fundraising haul for the first four weeks of the year…

The Melissa Conyears-Ervin for Congress campaign for the 7th Congressional District kicked into high gear at the start of 2026 with a strong cash position of $215,000 on hand and an announcement she raised $112,000 in the first four weeks of the year.

Now, her campaign announced the addition of a new member of her growing coalition: the proud professionals of the Chicago Teachers Union. Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin released a statement at the beginning of Black History month about the final six week stretch of the campaign.

“We have clear momentum in this race and I’m proud that the 25,000 members of the Chicago Teachers Union are by our side. As a proud Black woman and the mother of a young Black girl, I’m ready to kick off Black History Month by getting our message out to the voters: Donald Trump’s cuts to healthcare, SNAP benefits, and attacks on the people are personal to me and my family. Nobody is better positioned to fight back in Washington than I am,” said Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin.

* More…

* Daily Herald | Democratic hopefuls in 9th Congressional District divided on Gaza: Chicagoans Justin Ford, Mike Simmons and Kat Abughazaleh, and Skokie resident Bushra Amiwala insisted [genocide is] happening in Gaza. […] Three other candidates — Daniel Biss, Patricia A. Brown and Bethany Johnson, all of Evanston — criticized Israel over what’s happening in Gaza without labeling it “genocide.” […] Glenview’s Laura Fine called the situation in Gaza a humanitarian crisis but said Israel has a right to defend itself. […] Evanston’s Jeff Cohen, Chicago’s Hoan Huynh and Wilmette’s Phil Andrew each said the U.S. needs to support Israel.

* Evanston Now | Supermajority vote for acting mayor to stay, for now: While the need to appoint an acting mayor has seldom arisen in Evanston, Biss’ run for Congress raises the possibility that the City Council may need to appoint an acting mayor if he win a hotly contested Democratic primary next month and the general election in November. If that happens, Biss told Evanston Now late last year, he intends to resign as mayor early enough to have the mayor’s race appear on the April 2027 ballot. If he were to wait until less than 130 days before that election to resign, an acting mayor appointed by the city council would serve until May 2029.

* Press Release | Former Chicago Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, Endorses Donna Miller for Congress: Congressional candidate Donna Miller’s campaign continues to build momentum as she heads into the final full month before the primary election, March 17, 2026. The 6th District Cook County commissioner has received the endorsement of former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Mayor Lightfoot has come to know Commissioner Miller over the years and knows she is the right person at the right time to represent Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District “This endorsement is a no brainer,” says former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. ‘’Donna Miller is a proven leader who serves with integrity and effectiveness. She is exactly the kind of selfless public servant we need in Congress. Go, Donna, go!”

* Press Release | Illinois Progressives Endorse Morgan Coghill as Grassroots Support Keeps Building: Morgan Coghill’s campaign for Congress today announced an endorsement from Illinois Progressives, adding to a growing list of organizations backing his candidacy in Illinois 10. The endorsement follows recent support from Northside Democracy for America, The Justice Coalition, the Illinois Muslim Action Network, and Cook County Latino Democrats. These endorsements reflect a growing rejection of the centrist strategy that has dominated this seat for years.

* CBS Chicago | Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District?