Nbcchicago
Melissa Bean, Jennifer Davis battling in 8th district Congressional race
Bean is seeking a return to Congress and describes her priorities on election funding and voter confidence.
ElectionsINFORMATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE · U.S. HOUSE · ILLINOIS · 8TH DISTRICTDEMOCRATIC NOMINEE · IL-8
Melissa Bean
Melissa Bean is the Democratic nominee for Illinois’s 8th district in the November 3, 2026 election, against Jennifer Davis (R). The seat is held by Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), who announced a run for U.S. Senate (IL).
Bean served as a U.S. representative from Illinois from 2005 to 2011.
Bean earned an associate degree from Oakton Community College in 1982 and a Bachelor of Arts from Roosevelt University in 2002. Bean served as a U.S. representative from Illinois from 2005 to 2011.Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Running for
- U.S. House · IL-8
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Stage
- Nominee
- Raised
- $2.1M
- Age
- 64
- RAISED
- $2.1M
- STAGE
- NOMINEE
- AGE
- 64
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Photo: House of Represenatatives / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
TAP A TAB FOR CAREER, ELECTION, ISSUES & MORE
Melissa Bean at a glance
NET READER RATING
COVERAGE MIX · 2 STORIES
Click a row to open that column below.TOP TOPICS
STORIESLATEST ACTIVITY
NEWSEditorial: Melissa Bean for US House of Representatives in District 8 Chicago Tribune · Oct 5STATED POSITIONS
2026 IL U.S. House district 8 general election · 2026-11-03 · No sourced statements are available for this campaign yet.
Melissa Bean’s career and background
- BORN
- January 22, 1962 · Chicago, Illinois
- OCCUPATION
- Businessperson and consultant
- EDUCATION
- Associate degree, Oakton Community College, 1982 · Bachelor of Arts, Roosevelt University, 2002
2026 election: Illinois’s 8th District
NEXT ELECTION · IL-8
28DAYS
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
LAST D+14.1ON THE BALLOT
IN THIS RACE · 2026
Jennifer DavisREP$1.5M raised
PAST RESULTS
No earlier House or Senate results on record (ChamberLight’s results start in 2018).2026 IL-8 HOUSE RACE →STATED POSITIONS
2026 IL U.S. House district 8 general election · 2026-11-03 · No sourced statements are available for this campaign yet.
Melissa Bean’s stated positions and sources
Stated positions for the campaign named below. Each summary keeps the conditions in the cited statement.
An unknown topic does not mean support, opposition, or indifference. An office statement describes what the candidate said in office; it is not automatically a campaign pledge.
How we research and check stated positions2026 IL U.S. House district 8 general election · 2026-11-03
Economy
Research is not yet complete.
Healthcare
Research is not yet complete.
Immigration
Research is not yet complete.
Education
Research is not yet complete.
Defense
Research is not yet complete.
Climate
Research is not yet complete.
Gun Policy
Research is not yet complete.
Abortion
Research is not yet complete.
Housing
Research is not yet complete.
Taxes
Research is not yet complete.
Voting Rights
Research is not yet complete.
Crime
Research is not yet complete.
Foreign Policy
Research is not yet complete.
Energy
Research is not yet complete.
Other
Research is not yet complete.
Melissa Bean’s campaign fundraising and spending
- RAISED · 2025–26 CYCLE
- $2.1M
- CASH ON HAND
- $145K
- SPENT
- $1.9M
- DEBT
- $396K
WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM
- Individuals
- $1.5M · 70.8%
- PACs
- $276K · 13.5%
- Self-funding
- $323K · 15.8%
AIPAC · 2025–26
AIPAC TRACKER →HOW WE COUNT →- THROUGH AIPAC PAC
- $28K
- Earmarked gifts · 12 donors
- $18K
- From the PAC itself
- $10K
AIPAC-BACKED SUPER PAC (UNITED DEMOCRACY PROJECT)
- SUPPORTING
- —
- OPPOSING
- —
SUPER PACS UDP FUNDED
Earmarked gifts are part of Individuals above. AIPAC PAC filings through Aug 31.- Elect Chicago Women AKA ECW35% of its money from UDP
- SUPPORTING $4.0M
TOP DONORS
Wislow, RobertParkside Realty · REAL ESTATE$9K
Wilson, Donald JrDrw · FOUNDER & CEO$7K
Stack, GeoffreySares-Regis Group · OWNER$7K
Sacks, MichaelGcm Grosvenor · BUSINESS EXECUTIVE$7K
Sacks, CariNot Employed · NOT EMPLOYED$7K
Rogers, JohnAriel Investments · CO-CEO$7K
Patel, RaginiVinacom · SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER$7K
Braunrot, FabriceNot Employed · NOT EMPLOYED$7K
Amin, KetukumarVinacom · OWNER$7K
Bluhm-Wolf, MeredithSelf-Employed · ATTORNEY$7K
Totals by donor name from itemized FEC receipts: individuals and committees that gave over $200.OUTSIDE SPENDING
- SUPPORTING
- $5.5M
- OPPOSING
- $60K
Elect Chicago Women AKA ECW$4.0M / $0
New Democrat Majority$935K / $0
Protect Progress$557K / $0
Justice Democrats PAC$0 / $57K
The People'S Lobby$0 / $2K
CAMPAIGN SPENDING
Other$1.1M
Fundraising$431K
Administrative$62K
Loan-Repayments$60K
Advertising$51K
No stories in this column yet.
Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Melissa Bean for US House of Representatives in District 8
The editorial board endorsed Bean, praising her pragmatism, principles and political experience.
ElectionsINFORMATIONAL
No stories in this column yet.
Nbcchicago · 3 MIN READ
Melissa Bean, Jennifer Davis battling in 8th district Congressional race
Bean is seeking a return to Congress and describes her priorities on election funding and voter confidence.
ChamberLight is not an official government source. Reader ratings reflect public reception, not editorial judgment.