Four Candidates Vie to Replace Longtime State Rep. La Shawn Ford

With Ford running for Congress, voters in Illinois' 8th District will see a new face in the state legislature.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 6:05pm

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Four Democratic candidates are running to replace long-serving Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford in the 8th District, which includes parts of Austin, Oak Park, Forest Park, Brookfield, and North Riverside. Ford is running for the U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. Danny Davis, so the winner of the March 17 primary election will be the district’s new state representative. The candidates are Latonya Mitts, Shantel Franklin, John Harrell, and Jill Bush.

Why it matters

The 8th District has been represented by Ford since 2008, so this election will bring a new voice to the state legislature. The winner will have the opportunity to advocate for the district’s priorities, including issues like affordable housing, economic development, and healthcare funding.

The details

Mitts is the daughter of longtime Ald. Emma Mitts, an influential figure in West Side Democratic politics. Franklin previously worked as a legislative liaison for the Illinois Attorney General. Harrell is a pastor who also serves on the boards of local organizations. Bush works for Ald. Chris Taliaferro and previously worked at Loretto Hospital. Bush challenged Mitts’ ballot petitions, but Mitts still had enough valid signatures to qualify.

  • The Democratic primary election will be held on March 17, 2026.
  • Ford has represented the 8th District since 2008 and is now running for the U.S. House seat held by Rep. Danny Davis.

The players

La Shawn Ford

The long-serving Illinois State Representative for the 8th District who is now running for the U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. Danny Davis.

Latonya Mitts

The daughter of longtime Ald. Emma Mitts, an influential figure in West Side Democratic politics. Mitts currently works for an insurance company and previously served as chief of staff for State Rep. Jawaharial 'Omar' Williams.

Shantel Franklin

A real estate agent who previously served as a legislative liaison for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

John Harrell

A pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Austin who also leads Proviso Baptist Church in Maywood and serves on the boards of Loretto Hospital and Hire 360 Workforce Development.

Jill Bush

The director of community engagement for Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) and a property manager for her family's property management company, Bush Properties. Bush previously worked at Loretto Hospital and ran for 29th Ward alderman in 2011.

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What they’re saying

“It's really not about the seat for me; it's about expanding and continuing the work that I've already been doing.”

— Shantel Franklin, Candidate

“If elected, his priorities will be to advocate for what his constituents want and make sure they 'receive the maximum services they are entitled to receive from the State of Illinois.'”

— John Harrell, Candidate

What’s next

The Democratic primary election will be held on March 17, 2026. The winner will face any independent challengers who collect enough signatures to get on the ballot.

The takeaway

This election will bring a new voice to the Illinois 8th District, as longtime Rep. La Shawn Ford is running for Congress. The four Democratic candidates have diverse backgrounds and priorities, offering voters a choice in who will represent them in the state legislature.