Overview

• Rep. Jan Schakowsky confirmed at her annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch that she will not seek reelection in 2026, concluding a 26-year tenure in Congress.
• Schakowsky, 80, has represented Illinois’s 9th Congressional District since 1999, focusing on health care, senior advocacy, women’s rights, and consumer protections.
• Her retirement follows Sen. Dick Durbin’s recent announcement, signaling a generational shift among Illinois Democrats in leadership roles.
• The open seat has already drawn interest from Democratic contenders, including progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh, State Sen. Laura Fine, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, and State Rep. Hoan Huynh.
• Abughazaleh, who launched her campaign in March, has demonstrated strong early fundraising, raising over $100,000 within hours of her announcement.