La Shawn Ford Projected to Win Illinois 7th District Seat

CBS News projects that Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford has won the election for the 7th Congressional District. The Democrat from Chicago defeated Chad Koppie, a Kane County farmer and perennial Republican candidate, in the race to replace longtime Rep. Daniel Davis.

Ford won the Democratic nomination after defeating 12 other candidates in the primary. Koppie secured the Republican ballot line by defeating radio host Patricia Easley. The district covers the Loop, much of Chicago's West Side, and several western suburbs.

At his victory party, Ford's campaign team played the gospel song "Never Would Have Made It Without You" after the network projected his win. Rep. Davis attended the event and shared an embrace with Ford before the new congressman took the stage.

Wiping his eyes with a handkerchief, Ford told supporters he was ready to leave but had to make a speech. "I think the message is clear already, the song was played, and I can actually just go home, but I have to say some things, because that's what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to write a speech on a day that you become the congressman in the United States of America," Ford said.

Ford has served as an Illinois state representative since 2007. His state district overlaps with the 7th congressional district in parts of the West Side and western suburbs including Broadview, Oak Park, Forest Park, La Grange Park, Maywood, and Westchester.

Koppie has run for office in Illinois for decades. He sought the U.S. Senate in 1992, 1996, 2008, 2014, 2016, and 2020. He also ran for governor in 1998 and lieutenant governor in 2018 without success. Davis has represented the congressional district for nearly 30 years.