La Shawn Ford Claims Victory in Illinois' 7th District Democratic Primary

State Rep. La Shawn Ford defeats 12 other Democrats to replace retiring Rep. Danny Davis.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:54am

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State Rep. La Shawn Ford has claimed victory in the closely contested race to replace retiring Rep. Danny Davis in Illinois' 7th Congressional District. A total of 13 Democrats were on the primary ballot, including Ford, Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, businessman Jason Friedman, former Cook County Board Commissioner Richard Boykin, and Kina Collins, who also ran in the 2022 and 2024 primaries. Though the race had not yet been called as of 8:50 p.m., Ford publicly claimed victory and his closest challenger Conyears-Ervin conceded.

Why it matters

The 7th Congressional District race was highly competitive, with several well-known candidates vying to replace the long-serving Rep. Danny Davis. Ford's victory sets him up to be the Democratic nominee in the general election, where he will face the Republican nominee in a district that leans heavily Democratic.

The details

Ford had been backed by the retiring Davis, while Conyears-Ervin was endorsed by United Democracy Project, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Teachers Union. On the Republican side, Chad Koppie was the GOP's nominee in 2024, losing to Davis in the general election. He'll be opposed by policy advisor Patricia Easley in the Republican primary.

  • The primary election was held on March 18, 2026.

The players

La Shawn Ford

State Representative who claimed victory in the closely contested Democratic primary race to replace retiring Rep. Danny Davis in Illinois' 7th Congressional District.

Melissa Conyears-Ervin

Chicago City Treasurer who was the closest challenger to Ford in the Democratic primary and conceded the race to him.

Danny Davis

Retiring U.S. Representative whose seat in the 7th Congressional District was up for grabs in the Democratic primary.

Chad Koppie

The Republican nominee in the 2024 general election who lost to Rep. Danny Davis, and will now face a new Republican primary challenger in Patricia Easley.

Patricia Easley

Policy advisor who will face Chad Koppie in the Republican primary for the 7th Congressional District.

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What they’re saying

“I pledged to work closely with him as City Treasurer to lift up the West and South Sides and address the financial literacy gap within the Black community.”

— Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Chicago City Treasurer (nbcchicago.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Republican primary between Chad Koppie and Patricia Easley will face La Shawn Ford, the Democratic nominee, in the November 2026 general election.

The takeaway

La Shawn Ford's victory in the crowded Democratic primary sets him up as the favorite to win the 7th Congressional District seat in the general election, continuing the district's long history of Democratic representation. The race highlighted the political dynamics within the Democratic party in Chicago, with Ford receiving the backing of the retiring incumbent while his closest challenger Conyears-Ervin was endorsed by prominent local leaders.