Report: Longtime Democratic Rep. Danny Davis expected to retire from seat

By: Sally Lynne

Illinois Democratic Rep. Danny Davis is expected to announce that he will not run for reelection in 2026 on Thursday, according to a Wednesday report.

Davis is planning a news conference Thursday morning, two anonymous sources told Politico. He is reportedly expected to endorse another candidate in what is anticipated to be a competitive congressional race.

Davis, now 83 years old, was elected in 1996 and has served 15 terms as the representative for Illinois’ 7th congressional district. The district includes downtown Chicago, the West Side, and some of Chicago’s inner western suburbs.

Illinois Democratic State Rep. La Shawn Ford is expected to receive Davis’ endorsement, according to Politico. Former County Commissioner Richard Boykin, businessman Jason Friedman, and Marine Corps officer John McCombs have also announced their campaigns.

Davis will likely be joining Illinois Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky in retiring from Congress, joining an expected trend of retirements as Democrats’ most senior lawmakers start facing primary challengers, according to Axios.

His reported retirement will open up a strong Democratic seat, as Davis won 83% of the vote against his Republican opponent in 2024, according to Fox 32 Chicago.

Davis is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Progressive Caucus, and Congressional Equity Caucus, and he was reappointed to the Committee on Ways and Means in the 118th Congress.

In 2022, he came under fire for renting office space from a butcher who was convicted for his involvement in a Chicago cocaine trafficking ring, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records.

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