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  "path": "/government-politics/elections/2026/03/17/melissa-bean-wins-8th-congressional-district-primary-moves-to-reclaim-seat-she-lost-16-years-ago",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-18T03:37:25.169Z",
  "site": "https://www.wbez.org",
  "tags": [
    "the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary to replace Raja Krishnamoorthi",
    "Junaid Ahmed",
    "Bean",
    "$3.4 million",
    "Kevin Morrison",
    "Ahmed",
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  ],
  "textContent": "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.\n\nBuoyed 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.\n\nShe was trailed by South Barrington tech entrepreneur Junaid Ahmed, who had 27% of the counted votes.\n\nMelissa Bean addresses supporters Tuesday at her election night party at Hyatt Regency Schaumburg after winning the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary.\n\nJohn Starks/Daily Herald\n\nWith 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.\n\nBean, 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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nBean 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.\n\nWith 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.\n\nBean'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.\n\nShe was also backed by the most amount of super PAC money of any Congressional candidate in the state.\n\nBean 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.\n\nAs an early front-runner, Bean was the subject of attack from many of her more progressive primary opponents.\n\nKevin Morrison received 9% of the vote in the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary on Tuesday.\n\nKarie Angell Luc/For the Daily Herald\n\nKevin 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.\n\nAhmed, 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.\n\nOther Democratic primary candidates were Neil Khot, Dan Tully, Yasmeen Bankole, Sanjyot Dunung and Ryan Vetticad.\n\nSupporters filled the room of Bean's election night party in Schaumburg.\n\nBruce 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.\n\nSixteen years later, Pfaff thinks a now more Democratic district is moved by her views on health care.\n\n“I think everyone realizes the Affordable Care Act is a good thing and health care is really important,” Pfaff said.\n\nThe 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.\n\n**Voter resources**\nVoter Guide > \nBallot look-up tool >\nCandidate profiles > \nPolling place look-up > \n\n**Races we’re watching**\nU.S. Senate >\nU.S. House > | 2nd District > | 7th District >](https://chicago.suntimes.com /elections/2026/03/17/us-house-illinois-7th-congressional-district-primary-results) | 8th District > | [9th District > \nGovernor (GOP) > | Illinois Comptroller > | Illinois General Assembly >\nCook County President > | Cook County Board of Review > | Cook County Assessor >\n",
  "title": "Melissa Bean wins 8th Congressional District primary, moves to reclaim seat she lost 16 years ago",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-18T03:37:25.169Z"
}