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Melissa Bean wins 8th Congressional District primary, moves to reclaim seat she lost 16 years ago

WBEZ Chicago - WBEZ Chicago [Unofficial] March 18, 2026

Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean coasted to victory Tuesday in the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary to replace Raja Krishnamoorthi, taking a step toward reclaiming the congressional seat she lost 16 years ago.

Buoyed by more than $7 million in super PAC funding, the Barrington resident took an early lead in the eight-way Democratic primary and kept it, rounding up 32% of the vote with 91% of expected votes counted. The Associated Press declared Bean the winner shortly after 9:15 p.m.

She was trailed by South Barrington tech entrepreneur Junaid Ahmed, who had 27% of the counted votes.

Melissa Bean addresses supporters Tuesday at her election night party at Hyatt Regency Schaumburg after winning the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary.

John Starks/Daily Herald

With Krishnamoorthi seeking Dick Durbin’s open U.S. Senate seat, Bean had amassed the largest war chest in her attempt to reclaim the seat she lost in 2010 in a Tea Party wave upset.

Bean, at her election night party at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, spoke about the attainability of the American dream and the "corruption and the cruelty" of the Trump administration.

"I want to thank my friends, family and fellow Americans who powered this renewed movement with their unshakable belief that our government belongs to the people," Bean told the crowd. "And, tonight, we begin the work necessary to take our democracy back into our own hands."

Bean is returning to the political arena after she lost her post to conservative Joe Walsh in 2011. The solidly Democratic 8th Congressional District, redrawn in 2023, stretches from the Far Northwest Side, near O'Hare, west to parts of Elgin and Geneva.

With a moderate platform, and preaching pragmatism over polarization, Bean said she wants to confront President Trump over his administration's policies. Since losing the seat, a loss Bean has pinned on her vote for the Affordable Care Act, she has worked at private finance firms.

Bean's campaign has benefited from $3.4 million from groups associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The pro-Israeli group has been flooding local congressional races with cash for candidates who are most friendly to Israel.

She was also backed by the most amount of super PAC money of any Congressional candidate in the state.

Bean received endorsements from U.S. reps. Bill Foster, Brad Schneider and Nancy Pelosi, and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who once represented the same Congressional district.

As an early front-runner, Bean was the subject of attack from many of her more progressive primary opponents.

Kevin Morrison received 9% of the vote in the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary on Tuesday.

Karie Angell Luc/For the Daily Herald

Kevin Morrison, a two-term Cook County commissioner who received 9% of the primary vote, said even Joe Walsh spoke more vocally against attacks on the Constitution and civil liberties than Bean did.

Ahmed, who ran for the seat and lost in 2022, called to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and an end to military aid to Israel over its war in Gaza. He was endorsed by progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Other Democratic primary candidates were Neil Khot, Dan Tully, Yasmeen Bankole, Sanjyot Dunung and Ryan Vetticad.

Supporters filled the room of Bean's election night party in Schaumburg.

Bruce Pfaff, 71, says he’s been supporting Bean since her first stint in Congress. He remembers when her vote for the Affordable Care Act left a sour taste among more conservative district residents.

Sixteen years later, Pfaff thinks a now more Democratic district is moved by her views on health care.

“I think everyone realizes the Affordable Care Act is a good thing and health care is really important,” Pfaff said.

The Republican primary was led by Jennifer Davis, a tech entrepreneur, who had 51% of the vote with an estimated 74% of expected votes counted. She was followed by Mark Rice, who had 40% of the votes.

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