On March 17, 1998, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) won a three-way primary with 45% of the vote. Twenty-eight years later, to the day, the district’s voters will choose from 15 candidates in this seat’s first competitive Democratic primary this century.

Given that the district doesn’t have ranked choice voting, polling viability matters. State Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), Skokie school board member Bushra Amiwala and former FBI agent Phil Andrew all make compelling cases for the seat.

According to an Evanston RoundTable poll conducted this week, however, the top three contenders are progressive content creator Kat Abughazaleh, Mayor Daniel Biss and State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

While their policies sound similar — they’re all focused on opposing President Donald Trump, prioritizing affordability and improving healthcare options — the real difference between them is how they would exercise power if elected.

The question then becomes about identifying the candidate who has already demonstrated tactics, along with these values, that would be effective in Congress.

First, Biss is the current mayor of Evanston. His strongest legislation finds creative solutions to Evanston’s problems. One of his first acts in office was establishing the Reimagining Public Safety Committee. Subsequently, in 2024, City Council approved Crisis Alternative Response Evanston, which sends a mental health team, rather than police, to appropriate situations.

Also, he introduced Envision Evanston 2045, a long-term comprehensive plan and zoning reform for economic development, housing, transportation and environmental improvements. The comprehensive plan wasn’t an easy policy to pass, and it demonstrates his ability to negotiate with those who disagree with him, which is an essential skill for Congress.

Though controversial, I understand why he hasn’t been clear on if he will vote for U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as Speaker of the House of Representatives if Democrats regain the majority in November. Not giving an answer allows him to seek concessions if he enters a House with a slim Democratic majority. Still, he could be pushing harder now on concrete, creative strategies to restore Congress’s institutional power.

Voters have critically pointed out that Biss has sought five offices in sixteen years and declared his candidacy six weeks after being reelected mayor. If he wins this election, he should promise to stay in the House: Incumbency in Congress is everything, and the Illinois’ 9th Congressional District deserves a leader who will rise in the ranks.

Abughazaleh represents a more insurgent version of power. She has national appeal — in 2025, her campaign received contributions from people in 49 states.

She has pledged that she’d use her privilege as a legislator to draw attention to causes she feels passionate about, and has the record to prove it. Her protesting, along with Biss, at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois — and her subsequent federal indictment — highlights her willingness to engage in the causes she supports.

One concern about her effectiveness as a legislator is that she’s very new to the district. Although she declared her candidacy last March, she told me that she didn’t move within district lines until the summer. This could detract from her legislative potential; the Center for Effective Lawmaking emphasizes that successful lawmakers often develop policy agendas rooted in granular knowledge of their district and its interests.

While Abughazaleh has built an online following, building coalitions in Congress requires different skills. I view local government and community organizations, not Congress, as the place to learn how to negotiate with stakeholders and political colleagues. The various methods of resistance that she’s suggested — calling points of order “every 30 seconds” and breaking quorum — would certainly make for captivating clips on her social media. But in practice, it would at best mildly delay House proceedings while potentially convincing her colleagues that she’s an institutional hindrance.

That being said, there are reasons why she’s popular. Americans want someone who speaks their mind without calculating how it’ll affect their polling numbers. They want to be communicated with plainly and often. They want someone with tons of energy who can use it  to help people.

These messaging skills can — and should — be learned quickly by whoever is elected. However, the experience gained from over a decade of legislating — which Biss and Fine have — is harder to replicate.

Fine, meanwhile, has a compelling personal story and has passed legislation, specifically regarding healthcare, in the State Senate which has provided great benefits to Illinois residents. She’s also recently proposed bills to restrict ICE’s power in the state.

What Biss has that Fine doesn’t is an endorsement from Schakowsky, whose judgment I greatly trust, as well as U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). He’s also been endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group that would be a good fit for the district’s member to join.

Furthermore, the ads supporting Fine’s candidacy from mysterious groups have cast a cloud over her campaign.

Because of Biss’s demonstrated legislative ability and his consistent progressive values, I am supporting him in this election.

This seat hasn’t been open since 1999. This election is not just about these next two years, but possibly the next two decades. Voters should consider which legislator will be the most effective at building influence over this time period when heading to the polls.

Talia Winiarsky is a Weinberg senior. She can be contacted at [email protected]. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.