Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss Secures Illinois Primary Victory Despite Heavy AIPAC Spending

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss emerged victorious in Tuesday’s Democratic primary to replace retiring Representative Jan Schakowsky, successfully navigating a crowded field and significant outside spending. The race became a high-profile battleground for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which funneled over $5 million into attack advertisements against Biss in an effort to promote state Senator Laura Fine. Despite his personal background as the son of an Israeli mother and grandson of Holocaust survivors, Biss drew the ire of the pro-Israel lobby for his vocal criticism of the war in Gaza. His win serves as a major setback for AIPAC, which sought to exert influence over the future of the heavily Democratic district.

Biss, a former state legislator and math professor, maintained his momentum by securing the formal endorsement of Schakowsky, who held the seat for 14 terms. His campaign platform focused on progressive priorities, including the expansion of Social Security, increased federal funding for affordable housing, and a ban on congressional stock trading. While AIPAC-aligned groups attempted to fracture the progressive vote by backing alternative candidates, Biss’s established local roots and legislative experience proved decisive. As the presumptive winner of the general election, Biss is now poised to bring his history of activism, including his public clashes with federal immigration authorities, to the national stage.