17 Democrats Hope to Replace Retiring Rep. Bobby Rush
Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Chicago) is leaving Congress and has 17 Democrats hoping to replace him.
After nearly 30 years in office, Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Chicago) is not seeking reelection in Illinois’ 1st Congressional district. Unsurprisingly, a slew of candidates, 17 Democrats and four Republicans, are vying for his spot.
What to know about the 1st Congressional District
The district, which President Biden won by 42 points, has been redrawn and encompasses South Loop in the north, snaking south through Bronzeville, Englewood, Auburn Gresham, and Morgan Park, and into the suburbs of Blue Island, Robbins, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox, Homer Glen, Channahon, Bradley, and Bourbonnais.
Bobby Rush
When Rush, who co-founded the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther party, won the seat in 1992, people were surprised that someone considered so radical at the time could win. He went on to hold the seat for 15 terms, winning each election by overwhelming margins and even defeating a young Barack Obama in 2000. He told the Chicago Sun-Times that he’s retiring to spend more time with his grandchildren, but that he plans to stay active on civil rights and other issues.
Who’s running in the Democratic primary? Here are a few names to know:
Jonathan Jackson, the activist and businessman, son of Civil Rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, and brother of former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. He’s running on a platform of “fighting for Chicago’s working families,” and says he’ll fight for good-quality jobs, affordable childcare, Medicare for All, affordable housing, and better early childhood schooling, among other things.
Jacqueline Collins, who has been an Illinois state senator (D-16th) since 2003. Like Jackson, she says she will work for working class families. She says she “will work to close the racial wealth gap by making business and home ownership more accessible to Black and Brown communities, protect hardworking families from the predatory practices of financial institutions and advocate for common sense gun laws so people feel safe in every home, school and neighborhood.”
Pat Dowell, currently an alderman of Chicago’s third ward and chair of the City Council Budget Committee. Her platform focuses on infrastructure (especially transportation infrastructure) and economic development through supporting small businesses and building homes in areas like Bronzeville. She was previously running for Secretary of State, but dropped out of that race to run for Congress.
Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and the candidate with Bobby Rush’s endorsement. She says she’ll push for universal basic income, stronger affordable healthcare, creating jobs programs for neighborhoods, and fighting “ghost” guns.
Jonathan Swain, a small business owner who has held various roles in city government. He says the community suffers from “a void in leadership” and that he will work with the community to alleviate financial burdens (through gas relief, student loan relief, child tax credits), develop new jobs, promote entrepreneurship, close the gap between wages and housing affordability, and more.
As of March 31, Swain had the most cash on hand at $322,000, followed by Dowell with $297,000 Norington-Reaves with $237,000, and Jackson with $130,000.
The Issues
Residents of this district care about economic development, healthcare costs, and crime/gun control. The candidates have fairly similar platforms, all pledging to help working class families and focus on public safety. There is very little debate about what the concerns and challenges for the district are, and for the most part the candidates agree on major issues.
So how can they stand out? Sen. Collins talks about her record in government, and says she has proven results, not only statements about what she plans to achieve. Same for Dowell, who can point to work in city council. Norington-Reaves has the Rush endorsement, partly given because a woman has never held this seat, but she’s not the only woman in the race and was little known in the community before this election.
On the issues, every candidate has talked about the need for gun legislation. Some, like Collins, have tied job creation and increasing generational wealth to crime, and have argued that gun legislation alone won’t solve crime.
The election is on June 28. Stay tuned to see if name recognition prevails, or if a lesser-known progressive takes the seat.