Jan Schakowsky Vs. Sargis Sangari: 9th Congressional District

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston Democrat Jan Schakowsky is seeking a twelfth term in the U.S. House of Representatives in a largely uncompetitive race in Illinois 9th Congressional District. Neither Schakowsky nor her challenger, Skokie Republican Sargis Sangari, faced a competitive primary.

Schakowsky, 76, is a senior chief deputy whip and a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She is also a member of the House Budget Committee and chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Sangari, 51, is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who founded the nonprofit United Assyrian Appeal and a think tank called Near East Center for Strategic Engagement. He immigrated to the United States from Iran at age 10 following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and has previously sought the Republican Party nomination in the district.

Sangari raised about $27,000 and has less than $1,600 remaining as of his last report at the end of last month, according to fundraising numbers from the Center for Responsive Politics.

Schakowsky raised nearly $1.8 million in this election cycle, spending about $1.4 million of it as of the campaign's most recent report last month.

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More from Patch Candidate Q&As:
Q&A: Sargis Sangari, Republican Candidate, 9th Congressional District
Q&A: Jan Schakowsky, Democratic Candidate, 9th Congressional District

Illinois' 9th Congressional District is the 72nd-most Democratic district in the nation, according to data compiled by the Cook Political Report. In 2012, it voted for former President Barack Obama by a 32-point margin.

In 2016, 9th District voters voted for former U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton by 50 points over President Donald Trump. That year, Schakowsky defeated Wilmette Republican Joan McCarthy Lasonde by about 33 points.

In 2018, Schakowsky defeated challenger John Elleson, of Arlington Heights, by a margin of 73.5-26.5. Earlier that year, Elleson had emerged atop a four-way primary where Sangari had finished second.

Schakowsky has the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune editorial board, which credited her office with providing especially strong constituent services: "Schakowsky is a progressive, and her politics aren’t our politics. But she is deeply committed to the job. Any replacement would be hard-pressed to outwork her."

The Chicago Sun-Times also endorsed Schakowsky, but the Daily Herald editorial board refused to endorse either of them, writing, "Schakowsky is too far to the left for us; yet, Sangari seems to lack passion to confront many of the issues we consider most urgent."

Sangari has the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 7.