








Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current roleAttorney
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationIllinois
BackgroundAttorney
EducationColumbia Law School (J.D.)
Notable personal detailsReed Showalter is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District (2026 cycle). He has worked as an attorney and policy staffer in federal roles, including at the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice, and has focused on antitrust/competition and affordability issues. He has described his background as including federal government experience and antimonopoly advocacy.
Supports creating a truly progressive income tax and instituting a wealth tax, raising taxes on millionaires and billionaires, and making a large portion of income tax‑free (e.g., first $50,000). Advocates using tax policy and public investment to fund expanded social programs and reduce costs for housing, healthcare, and food.
Supports a universal single‑payer system (Medicare for All), banning for‑profit corporate ownership of hospitals, federal manufacturing of essential drugs to lower prices, capping copays and eliminating surprise billing, and codifying abortion rights. Advocates major public investments in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare workforce training to expand access and address shortages.
Supports dismantling and remaking ICE under accountable leadership, treating immigration violations as civil matters, curbing use of firearms and armed arrests in immigration operations, and creating a comprehensive, accessible pathway to citizenship with affirmative programs recognizing immigrants’ contributions.
Supports protecting access to reproductive healthcare and advocates codifying abortion rights into federal law. Describes healthcare as a human right and calls for federal action to ensure abortion access.
The candidate emphasizes federal investment in infrastructure and expanded public transit as priorities and describes himself as a progressive Democrat, but public campaign materials and local Q&A provide only general references to sustainability and transit rather than detailed climate or energy policies. There is no clear, specific public position found on major climate policy tools (e.g., Green New Deal–style legislation, carbon pricing, or fossil-fuel phase-out).
The candidate supports eliminating assault weapons and restricting unregulated guns, and prioritizes investing in community resources (housing, healthcare, education, crisis response) to reduce violence rather than expanding militarized law-enforcement approaches.
Reed Showalter is in the news in connection with Illinois’s March 17 primary election, which includes the 9th congressional district race. The primary will decide who advances to the November election, and the district contest is one of the highlighted races mentioned.








Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
2026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.