Illinois primary features competitive congressional races in the Chicago area

CHICAGO (AP) — Voters are set to cast their ballots Tuesday to decide competitive U.S. House races during the Illinois presidential primary.

Democratic incumbents in at least two Chicago-area congressional races are locked in energetic challenges in the strongly Democratic territory.

Here’s a look at both races:

7TH DISTRICT

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis faces one of the toughest reelections of his long political career.

The 14-term Chicago Democrat was able to fend off a 2022 primary challenge from progressive, anti-violence activist Kina Collins, who received about 45% of the vote. She is giving it a third try, saying the 82-year-old Davis isn’t the right fit for the district covering downtown Chicago, large swaths of the south and west sides and inner ring suburbs.

“We almost won the last election,” Collins said. “We plan on finishing what we started.”

It’s a crowded five-candidate primary field, including Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, a former Davis ally who now says it’s time for him to be voted out.

Conyears-Ervin, who has backing from the influential Chicago Teachers Union, leads in fundraising and is married to a city alderman, says her perspective as a working mother resonates with voters.

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