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Daniel Biss, Donna Miller, Melissa Bean win House primaries as Democrats fight over Israel and four Illinois open seats

Biss was projected to win the 9th District Democratic primary amid heavy outside spending and debate over Israel policy.

Daniel Biss, Donna Miller, Melissa Bean win House primaries as Democrats fight over Israel and four Illinois open seats
Image · NBC News

SOURCE CHECK

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Outlet credibilityNBC News85/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 8, 2026
NBC News
Mar 17, 2026
tl;dr

Democratic candidates Daniel Biss, Donna Miller, Melissa Bean and La Shawn Ford won or were projected to win contested Illinois House primaries. The races drew heavy outside spending and highlighted divisions among Democrats over Israel policy.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Daniel Biss D · IL
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Biss in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Biss’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Evanston mayor and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 9th District

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Former representative and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 8th District

Bean's version of this story ↗

Cook County commissioner and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 2nd District

Miller's version of this story ↗
La Ford
D · IL

State representative and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 7th District

Ford's version of this story ↗

Tech consultant and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 8th District

Chicago treasurer and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 7th District

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who supported Robert Peters and Junaid Ahmed

Retiring representative who supported Daniel Biss

Richard J. Durbin
D · IL · SEN

Senator who supported Yasmeen Bankole

Tammy Duckworth
D · IL · SEN

Senator who supported Daniel Biss and Melissa Bean

Brad Schneider
D · IL-10

Representative who supported Laura Fine

Nancy Pelosi
D · CA-11

Former House speaker who supported Melissa Bean

State senator and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 2nd District

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Senator who supported Junaid Ahmed

Retiring representative who supported La Shawn Ford

Laura Fine
D · IL

State legislator and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 9th District

Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 8th District

Ro Khanna
D · CA-17

Representative who supported Kat Abughazaleh

ALSO MENTIONED  Jesse Jackson Jr., Former representative and Democratic candidate in Illinois’ 2nd District; Kat Abughazaleh, Progressive Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 9th District; La Shawn Ford, State representative and Democratic House candidate in Illinois’ 7th District; Lori Lightfoot, Former mayor who endorsed Donna Miller and Melissa Conyears-Ervin

Part of a bigger story

10 OUTLETS
Daniel Biss Wins Democratic Primary for Illinois’s 9th Congressional District

Outlets agree Daniel Biss won the Democratic primary for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District. His victory puts him in position to succeed retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Left-leaning outlets focus on outside spending, presenting the result as a blow to the left and AIPAC. Center outlets place the win amid wider Democratic divisions over Israel policy, outside spending and scrutiny of Biss’s past relationship with a former student. Right-leaning outlets mostly present progressive candidates’ losses as a setback, while one argues the allegation should not disqualify Biss.

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