Politics
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis Not Running for 16th Term in Congress
Danny Davis, who has represented Illinois’ 7th District in Congress for nearly three decades, will not be running for a 16th term in office.
The Chicago Democrat on Thursday announced he will not be running for reelection next year and has instead thrown his support behind Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford to fill his congressional seat.
“I want to thank the thousands of people who believed we could make a difference,” Davis said at a press conference in Chicago. “Chicago, Illinois has done some marvelous things — marvelous things. Yeah, the road has not always been the easiest, but I tell you I’ve had so much fun doing this job, I would do it for nothing. I would pay to do it.”
Davis, 83, will leave Congress as one of the most senior members of the House of Representatives and the ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
A native of Arkansas, Davis moved to Chicago in 1961 and eventually began his political career serving as alderperson in the city’s 29th Ward from 1979 to 1990 and later as a Cook County commissioner from 1990 until 1997.
Davis threw his hat into the ring for the 7th District seat in 1996, entering a field of nearly a dozen candidates and emerging as the winner ahead of fellow commissioner Bobbie Steele and a handful of Chicago alderpersons.
In the years since he has regularly cruised to reelection in the strong Democratic district, often receiving more than 80% of votes. That includes his latest re-election campaign in 2024, when he earned 83% of votes to defeat Republican challenger Chad Koppie.
But before he made it to the general election, Davis emerged victorious in a five-way Democratic primary featuring Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and local organizer Kina Collins.
The 7th District covers downtown Chicago and portions of the South Side, as well as several western suburbs.
Davis on Thursday reflected on his many years in office, pointing to the growth and improvements made in areas like the South Loop and the Near West Side, which he said is now one of the hottest real estate markets in the country.
In backing Ford, Davis said it would be his “honor, pleasure and delight to endorse you.”
Ford, 53, had previously said he would not run for Davis’ seat if the congressman had planned to seek another term. He has represented Illinois’ 8th District in the state House of Representatives since 2007.
“Congressman Davis has passed the torch, but he told me you’ve got to finish the race,” Ford said. “And so that is my intention.”
Beyond Ford, at least eight other candidates have launched bids for Davis’ seat. That includes Conyears-Ervin, who officially announced her candidacy Thursday.
“If you send me to Congress to fight for you, I’ll never give up until they are the ones that throw in the towel,” she said in a video. “Those landlords? They’re going to pay to fix those properties. Those billionaires? They’re going to pay their fair share in taxes to fix our roads and our schools. And Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans? I will stand up to them because I work for you, not them.”
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, former U.S. Marine John McCombs, businessman Jason Friedman, pastor Je’Rico Brown, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, Kamaria Kali and Danica Leigh have also entered the race, while former Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. and state Rep. Kam Buckner are considering runs.
Friedman on Thursday called Davis a “trailblazer” and hopes to follow in his shoes.
“I will work to honor and build on his legacy of compassion and progress,” he said in a statement, “by focusing on public safety, affordable housing, and affordable, quality healthcare for everyone.”
While Davis will remain in office and serve out the remainder of his term, his announcement Thursday adds to the list of open Congressional races across Illinois next year.
In April, U.S. Sen Dick Durbin announced he won’t be running for re-election, which prompted current Illinois Reps. Robin Kelly (2nd District) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District) to launch their respective campaigns for that open Senate seat.
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (9th District) has also announced she won’t be running for another term, opening up yet another Congressional seat.
