Rep. Danny Davis wins Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th District
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Biden talks with Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) after delivering the 2023 State of the Union address in Washington. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis fought off formidable challengers to win the Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th Congressional District, AP projects.
The big picture: The incumbent will now set his sights on securing his seat in November's general election. The 7th District has been under Democratic control since 1949.
By the numbers: When the race was called Tuesday night, Davis held a commanding lead (52%) over Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin (21%) and Kina Collins (19%).
Context: Davis is running for his 15th term in the district that represents Chicago's West Side, some western suburbs and parts of downtown.
- The 82-year-old secured the endorsement of Gov. JB Pritzker and a slew of Illinois Democrats, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
What they're saying: "Don't ever write off the senior citizen," Davis said in his acceptance speech Tuesday night.
Flashback: In 2022, Davis barely escaped the Democratic primary, defeating Collins with just 52%, which was about 4,000 votes.
- This year, Conyears-Ervin initially said she'd run only if Davis retired, but she changed course and jumped in after the incumbent decided to give it another go.
State of play: Davis, first elected in 1996, is the longest-serving Illinois representative in the U.S. House. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.
What's next: Davis will square off against Republican newcomer Chad Koppie in the general election.
Editor's note: This is a developing story. Check back for details.