Daniel K. Biss secured the Democratic nomination for Illinois’s 9th Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating progressive challenger Kat Abughazaleh in a closely contested primary to replace retiring Representative Jan Schakowsky.
Biss emerged from a 16-candidate field with 34,216 votes, capturing 29.5 percent of the electorate. Abughazaleh finished second with 30,075 votes, representing 25.9 percent of the final tally.
In the Republican primary, John Elleson won the nomination with 5,825 votes, equating to 48.5 percent. He defeated Paul Friedman, who received 4,023 votes, alongside two other challengers.
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois 9th shows tight races (The Center Square) – Illinois’ ninth congressional district looks to have stiff competition on both sides of the aisle. Everton Mayor Daniel Biss and content creator Kat Abughazaleh were neck-in-neck …https://t.co/lmAnx4xXXs
— The Black Chronicle (@BlackChron) March 18, 2026
The open seat triggered a highly competitive race within local politics following Schakowsky’s departure. Biss and Elleson will now advance to the general election on November 3, 2026, where they will also face Independent candidate Delila Barrera.