U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) was reelected to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, leading her Republican challenger, Seth Alan Cohen, with over 80% of votes tallied. The Associated Press called the race for Schakowsky at 8:08 p.m. CT.
Schakowsky, who has held the district’s House seat since 1999, represents several North Shore suburbs, including Evanston. The district reaches from northern neighborhoods in Chicago to portions of suburban towns such as Crystal Lake and Algonquin.
Currently in her 13th term, Schakowsky, 80, aims to advocate for AI regulation, increased access to affordable healthcare and continue defending abortion rights, according to the League of Women Voters of Illinois’ nonpartisan voting guide.
When asked for a statement about Schakowsky’s reelection victory, political director Ben Head directed The Daily to an X post by Schakowksy. The post reads, “The fight for equal rights for all, an economy that works for everyday Americans, not just the rich, reproductive rights, and environmental protections goes on. Keep the faith. Let’s get to work.”
Cohen, a 27-year-old Marine Corps veteran, failed to oust Schakowsky from the role. Cohen, a Jewish American, wanted to advocate for a stronger position against antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric in the district, according to his website.
“This is my entrance into politics,” Cohen said. “I’ll note that Senator (Tammy) Duckworth lost her first congressional race. … We’re learning. We’re improving. We’re figuring things out.”
Cohen told The Daily that he was proud of completing his first congressional race and that he is looking forward to running again when the seat is up for reelection in 2026.
“The voters of the 9th (District) deserve a candidate who will run twice in a row and not just once and dump them. And so I’m really excited for 2026,” Cohen said. “I promise you that the result will not be the same, and actually it’ll be much improved or a victory for us.”
Prior to her election to Congress, Schakowsky represented the 18th District in the Illinois General Assembly for eight years and served as the program director of Illinois Public Action, a public interest organization.
Schakowsky serves in the House Democratic Leadership as a Chief Deputy Whip and is a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Energy and Commerce Committee.
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