Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss (D) is projected to handily defeat Republican John Elleson in the race for Illinois' 9th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Biss will fill the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who endorsed him in the contest.
Biss, a mathematician and former policy consultant, will represent a district that covers parts of Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties in the northeastern corner of the state. Schakowsky, who has held the seat since 1999, announced her retirement in 2025, setting off a competitive Democratic primary.
During his campaign, Biss emphasized strengthening worker protections, restoring competition to the economy, and holding corporations accountable, according to his campaign website. He also highlighted his prior legislative record, which includes votes for abortion rights protections and stronger technology privacy requirements during his time in both the Illinois House and Senate.
Biss's bid received backing from prominent Democrats, including Sens. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.). However, his path to the nomination was not without turbulence. In the primary, he faced nearly $1.4 million in outside spending from Elect Chicago Women, a group aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Biss also faced scrutiny before the March primary when he acknowledged going on a "handful of dates" with a former student while teaching at the University of Chicago in 2004. His campaign confirmed the relationship in a statement to The Daily Northwestern, noting the student was 20 at the time and enrolled in a course Biss taught as a postdoctoral instructor when he was 26. Biss's campaign said he recognized the relationship was "ill-advised" and ended it at the time.
Despite these challenges, Biss's victory in the primary and now the general election solidifies his return to Washington, where he previously served in the state legislature. His win is part of a broader wave of congressional races across the country, including Koh's win in Massachusetts' 6th District and Stigall's victory in Missouri's 6th District.
Biss's victory also comes as the Justice Department has deployed a record number of election monitors to ensure integrity in races nationwide, a reflection of heightened scrutiny on electoral processes. His win adds to the Democratic hold on the district, which has been reliably blue for decades.
Looking ahead, Biss is expected to focus on economic fairness, technology policy, and abortion rights in Congress, aligning with the progressive priorities he championed on the campaign trail. His background as a mathematician could also position him to play a role in data privacy and tech regulation debates.
