U.S. Rep. Danny Davis cruises to reelection: 'Don't ever write off the senior citizens'

Complete coverage of the local and national primary and general election, including results, analysis and voter resources to keep Chicago voters informed.

A pair of entrenched Democratic Chicago congressmen easily fended off bids for their seats Tuesday night as U.S. Rep. Danny Davis maintained his grip on the West Side district he’s represented for nearly three decades, and U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García brushed aside the first primary challenge of his congressional career.

With 71% of votes counted in the 7th Congressional District, Davis had 53% of the vote compared to 22% for Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and 18% for progressive activist Kina Collins, according to Associated Press estimates.

Teacher Nikhil Bhatia had about 5%, and Kouri Marshall, a former deputy director to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, had 3%.

With 58% of votes counted in the 4th Congressional District, which stretches from the Southwest Side to Oak Brook and other west suburbs, García had 69% of the vote over 31% for Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th).

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Both contests were called barely an hour after the polls closed.

A defiant Davis called out critics who’d said he was “getting scared” in his five-way race, claiming the incumbent had to call the “big guns” of the Illinois Democratic Party to help him across the finish line.

“Let me tell you, I helped make the big guns,” Davis said to cheers at his campaign headquarters across the street from his East Garfield Park office.

“And all of these prognosticators — all of those who thought the people of my community would not recognize the work that we’ve done practically all of our adult life — I am so affirmed that the people know the work that we’ve done,” Davis said.

He concluded: “Don’t ever write off the senior citizens. Don’t write off President Joe Biden, because he’s going to lead this country to where it needs to be. And I’ll be there right beside him.”

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Davis raised more than $457,000 and rounded up all the establishment support you would expect for a congressman vying for his 15th consecutive term in the district, which stretches from west suburban Hillside into the Loop and down to the South Side.

Davis was backed by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Mayor Brandon Johnson, to name just a fraction of the Democratic heavyweights in Davis’ corner.

It was an easier election night for Davis than it was in 2022, when Collins gave him one of the closest primary races of his career, taking 46% of the vote in a three-way race.

In her third challenge, Collins — a 33-year-old Austin native and an organizer for progressive advocacy groups — argued again for a fresher vision for the district. Davis will turn 83 before November’s general election.

Conyears-Ervin led fundraising in the race with more than $619,000, and she also boasted perhaps the biggest progressive boost in the race with the endorsement of the Chicago Teachers Union.

Jim Vondruska|For the Sun-Times

But her campaign was saddled with ethics questions after the city inspector general’s office found she fired two city employees who complained that she used city resources for a prayer service. Conyears-Ervin could still face thousands of dollars in fines pending a city ethics board ruling, but she maintains the allegations “misrepresent” her office.

Declaring victory in the 4th District, García fired off a confetti cannon during his victory speech with supporters in Brighton Park.

“Tonight we showed everyone across the country that are paying close attention to this race, that hate and the right-wing attempt to hijack our movement will not succeed,” the longtime progressive leader said. “There’s been a clear attack against immigrants, against women, against African Americans, against Muslims and the LGBTQ community. Our work together will be tough, but we are tougher.”

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Lopez had challenged García from the right, criticizing him as out of touch with a district redrawn to include Hinsdale and other west suburbs. The challenger called for a tougher crackdown at the Southern U.S. border.

García, a fixture in Chicago politics for four decades as an alderperson, Cook County commissioner, state senator and two-time mayoral candidate, raised more than $487,000 in the campaign to retain the seat he has held since 2019.

Lopez, one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s most vocal critics, raised about $72,000 for his upstart bid, the first primary challenge García had since taking office.

García doesn’t have any opponents in November’s general election. Davis faces nominal opposition from Republican Chad Koppie.

Contributing: Elvia Malagón, Emmanuel Camarillo and Cindy Hernandez