Polling Average
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
23%
15%
12%
10%
IL-07 Democratic nominee?
$67.2K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age54 years old (Feb 28, 1972)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundState legislator
EducationLoyola University Chicago — B.A., Elementary Education (minor in Political Science)
Notable personal detailsLa Shawn K. Ford is a Democratic politician from Chicago who has served in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2007, representing the 8th District. He ran for U.S. House in Illinois' 7th Congressional District in 2026 and is listed with the FEC as a Democratic candidate for IL-07. He earned a B.A. in elementary education from Loyola University Chicago and has been described as a former teacher and small business owner.
SourcesShowHide
fec.goven.wikipedia.orgilga.govfordforcongress.comcookpolitical.combeta.ilga.govaxios.comcbsnews.comchicago.suntimes.comfollowthecrypto.orgpatch.compolymarket.commy.ilga.govdocquery.fec.govnews.wttw.comlashawnkford.comaccessliving.orgmorninganswerchicago.comriverbender.comchicagocrusader.comilhousedems.comwglt.orgoakpark.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgstatic.politico.comballotready.orghouse.govlahood.house.govcongress.govappropriations.house.govrobinkelly.house.govdocuments.ncsl.orgdavis.house.govvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgziplook.house.govvotesmart.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering taxes for working families and small businesses while closing corporate loopholes and providing targeted tax relief (including expanding the Child Tax Credit) and incentives for small employers. Emphasizes reducing the tax burden on everyday Americans and protecting small businesses from excessive taxes while ensuring corporations pay their fair share.
Healthcare
Supports protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare; aims to restore affordability protections and expand access to preventive, behavioral, and community-based care. Emphasizes defending existing programs and pursuing improvements such as increased access, lower costs, and community health investments rather than advocating for single-payer systems.
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Immigration & Border
Supports humane, practical federal immigration reform including a path to citizenship for longtime residents, Dreamers, and essential workers; expanded legal work visas and faster, fairer asylum processing; and targeted border management focused on real threats rather than families. Has supported sanctuary-state/local protections at the state and city level while also saying dangerous criminals should be removed.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports codifying the right to reproductive healthcare including abortion and contraception at the federal level and affirms that women should be trusted to make their own medical decisions. Describes defending patient privacy and protecting providers from political interference as federal priorities.
Climate & Energy
La Shawn Ford supports clean-energy investment and training programs (including solar workforce training) and has advocated for Illinois to move toward cleaner energy goals by 2030 while criticizing federal cuts that slow clean-energy and EV infrastructure progress.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports stronger measures to reduce gun violence, including creating and chairing a Firearm Public Awareness Task Force, pursuing stricter controls on illegal gun sales and straw purchases, and promoting commonsense firearms reforms while also advocating increased police presence and operational improvements. He has sponsored hearings and legislative activity aimed at addressing gun trafficking and public-safety responses to gun violence.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 9, 2026
La Shawn Ford is in the news because a crypto industry PAC spent nearly $2.5 million targeting him in the Illinois 7th District primary. He has also been speaking out against what he calls "dark money" in the race, saying super PAC ads are misrepresenting his past legal issues. The broader primary fight has drawn heavy outside spending and criticism over the influence of untraceable political money.
fec.gov+37
Polls
IL-07 Democratic nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$653.5K
$490.1K
$326.7K
$163.4K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$653.5K
$86.4K
$567.1K
$37.8K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements