HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (WLS) — The Democratic race in the 8th Congressional District is shaping up to be a crowded and competitive contest.
Former Congresswoman Melissa Bean, who is no stranger to the district, held the seat from 2005 to 2011 before being defeated by a then-Tea Party candidate. Now, she is running again—but this time in a newly redrawn 8th Congressional District. Recent redistricting has made the district more diverse and Democratic, creating new dynamics in the race.
Bean is facing strong competition in a crowded field of Democratic candidates. One of her challengers, Junaid Ahmed, a tech entrepreneur making his second run for the seat, has criticized Bean for receiving contributions from big donors and Super PACs. Ahmed has made a point of refusing any PAC money, positioning himself as the most progressive candidate in the race.
In total, eight Democrats are vying to replace Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is currently running for Senate. The winner of the Democratic primary on Tuesday will go on to face one of four Republican candidates in the November general election.
Stay tuned as this pivotal race continues to develop.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-primary-election-2026-crowded-democratic-race-8th-congressional-district-rep-seat-held-raja-krishnamoorthi/18726969/