Fifth Ward resident Joe Dugan remembers when U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) first took office. While he has supported her as a politician, he believes that it is finally time for her to step aside.
“I’ve cooked for her,” Dugan said. “She’s a nice woman, and she’s very knowledgeable, and I agree with 80% of her policies, but I wonder why she didn’t retire years ago.”
In May, Schakowsky announced she would not run for reelection for the seat that she’s held since 1999, leaving the field wide open for contenders.
21 candidates filed to be on the ballot for the primary election, giving voters several options to pick from in March.
Progressive content creator Kat Abughazaleh and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss currently lead the primary polls at 18% each, according to a poll conducted by left-wing think tank Data for Progress. State Sens. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), as well as Gen Z politician Bushra Amiwala, also remain competitive.
For Dugan, a variety of issues are important when picking a candidate to vote for.
“Inflation and grocery prices are right up there,” Dugan said. “I don’t know what’s going on with this ICE stuff. I just think they’re going about it the wrong way.”
Dugan, a graduate of Evanston Township High School, said while cracking down on criminals who are here illegally may be necessary, seeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents active around his alma mater is concerning.
Though Evanston resident Joslyn McLaughlin (Communication M.F.A. ’24) likes to wait until candidates have fully fleshed out their policy platforms before pledging her vote, the issues most important to her now are the same ones that were important to her when she cast her first vote.
“Healthcare, healthcare, healthcare, healthcare and family-smart legislation,” McLaughlin said. “Having lived in France and the United States as a mom, and seeing the difference between the kinds of intelligent legislation and services in place for families there versus here, it’s mindboggling.”
Seventh Ward resident Andrea Gordon said she feels frustrated with certain narratives being pushed in the current political climate. She said Trump’s claims about illegal immigration, as well as his promises to reduce the costs of drugs while prices continue to climb, seem illegitimate.
“I’ve seen comments saying, ‘Oh, how wonderful it is that we’re not giving illegal immigrants healthcare,’” Gordon said. “That was never the point. I’m also on Medicare, and my Plan D is going to cost me a lot more than it has, and drugs are not getting less expensive.”
Along with candidates’ stances on certain issues, for many prospective voters, political experience matters too.
For McLaughlin, local races have become increasingly important, and after seeing recent election results around the country, she wants to see somebody in office who will bring new perspectives.
“I would love another version of (Zohran) Mamdani,” McLaughlin said, referring to the newly elected mayor of New York City.
Evanston resident Jeanne Mayer prefers a candidate who has held an elected position before.
Mayer said that despite wanting a younger person in office, somebody from Generation X would strike the right balance between age and political qualifications.
“I would like to see someone with experience in the government as either a mayor or a senator for the state of Illinois, and I know there are several in that position,” Mayer said. “It’s about knowing how to handle yourself and navigating the many different factions in government — there’s a skillset.”
Regardless of their age or political views, however, everyone The Daily spoke to emphasized the importance of getting out the vote.
With Schakowsky having held the seat without much contest for over two decades, Mayer said it is critical that young people make it to the polls.
“I know young people traditionally don’t (vote), but it is their future, and they need to have a good future,” Mayer said.
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